Depression and exercise habits - Anyone here been diagnosed?

[martina92685]

Okay so I took the advice of several of you guys and I stopped taking the meds.

However, now i can feel myself slipping back into the "funk." What can I do to help myself snap out of it? Work harder at the gym? I don't even WANT to go to the gym! Ugh.

Advice anyone?

[Mad_Mike]

Originally Posted by sparklebear00

Okay so I took the advice of several of you guys and I stopped taking the meds.

However, now i can feel myself slipping back into the "funk." What can I do to help myself snap out of it? Work harder at the gym? I don't even WANT to go to the gym! Ugh.

Advice anyone?

You aren't supposed to just quit taking anti-depressants. I would talk to your physician and pharmacist ASAP.

[ragexzero]

For some people medication is very helfpul. Just because it hasnt worked for some, it doesnt mean it wont work for you. If you feel like youre sinking into depression again, and you feel worse than you did while on meds, Id take that as a sign that the meds were really helping and Id get back on them. But thats just me.

Clinical depression is not something you can just "snap out" of. It takes a lot of time to develop a good enough strategy to deal with it and some people never find the right combination of things to help them out of it, so they just pretty much live with it as best as they can.

Anything you can do to feel better is important. Pushing yourself as much as possible to do things is also a must. If you just lay there and wallow in it, youll get nowhere and youll just sink farther down.

I can totally relate to what youre going through tho, as Im finding it harder and harder to exercise lately as my small "wave" of motivation is running out.

Edit: also, as the poster above me said, you are not supposed to just get off the meds cold turkey. It has to be done under a psychiatrist's supervision. ANY change in medication has to be cleared and directed by him.

[Jumbo Rider]

I am chronically, clinically depressed. Genetics can be a bitch. This has run through 4 generations that I know of now.

Don't stop taking your meds without talking to your doc. If you don't trust your doc go to another doc for another opinion. I doubt that anyone here has the ability to diagnose or prescribe so take our words as our personal experience.

Your medication may not be working for you. Talk to the doc and ask for a change.

Depression is a snake that eats its own tail. You tend to sabotage anything that will help get you out of the depression. But you are posting on these boards so I know you can see some light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

Force yourself to go outside and walk for 15 minutes if nothing else. Go outside even if it is raining or cold. Breath real air.

Find a partner. There are many things that I won't do for myself when I am depressed, but if someone is depending on me I refuse to let them down. If you can't find a partner hire a trainer. Place yourself in a position where others have expectations of you and you will rise to meet them.

Lastly, forgive yourself for being depressed. On the blackest of days allow yourself to veg out. If your leg is broken you don't expect to run. If your shoulder is shot you don't expect to lift. So give yourself a break. Beating yourself up just leads to more depression.

Good luck to you and may God bless you.

[martina92685]

I DID speak to my doctor about it - don't worry, I'm not THAT crazy. I should have stated that in my post. I did not like the idea of being chemically dependent, and knowing that other people felt the same way made me feel more comfortable about speaking out.

Thank you all for your concern, though.

[Rozlyn]

I've been diagnosed with PPD. I was suffering from it pretty severely for the first couple months after my son was born. I refused to talk about it with my doctor for fear of being put on medication and just stuck to going to the gym as a stress release.

Sadly, this wasn't enough for me. I finally caved and talked to my doctor and she prescribed Celexa for me, and honestly, it was the best thing that I could have done.

I'm sure it's already been said, but you have to do what's right for you. If you feel better on the meds, keep on them. If you feel happier you'll be more willing to get out there, and eventually you'll be able to wean yourself off the medication. That's my plan.

Good luck.

[crazymutha]

Originally Posted by sparklebear00

I DID speak to my doctor about it - don't worry, I'm not THAT crazy. I should have stated that in my post. I did not like the idea of being chemically dependent, and knowing that other people felt the same way made me feel more comfortable about speaking out.

Thank you all for your concern, though.

I was depressed - amongst other things - for like 2-3 years straight.

I found I have a wheat allergy and gluten intolerance. Other doctors said I was depressed; I did meet all the criteria.

Since I cut those things out of my diet...it is like night and day.

Sometimes I start to think like the way I did while I was depressed (which was becasue of the allergy).

I have to talk myself out of it.


As a man thinks, so he is...

[fullbacklifter]

i have been living with depression and anxiety for the past 4 and a half years. I have tried virtually every single medication out there and none have helped. I have gained about 35 pounds in the last 9 months from invega and zoloft, but it is the only thing that slightly helps. I am always in bed or always trying to avoid going to school up until the point i became truant. This made it so i had to go to school which made my depression worsen to the point where when i got home from school, i wouldn't do anything but go straight to my room. It's been this way for the past 4 and a half years and im starting to feel that it isn't going to get better. The worst part is the appetite from the medication. I am eating absurds amounts of food and it has made my physical image very upsetting.

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

Originally Posted by fullbacklifter

i have been living with depression and anxiety for the past 4 and a half years. I have tried virtually every single medication out there and none have helped. I have gained about 35 pounds in the last 9 months from invega and zoloft, but it is the only thing that slightly helps. I am always in bed or always trying to avoid going to school up until the point i became truant. This made it so i had to go to school which made my depression worsen to the point where when i got home from school, i wouldn't do anything but go straight to my room. It's been this way for the past 4 and a half years and im starting to feel that it isn't going to get better. The worst part is the appetite from the medication. I am eating absurds amounts of food and it has made my physical image very upsetting.

Do you have any good friends? I'd almost want someone in my life to be kicking me in the ass to get up and go out if I was in that situation (sorta like the guy's gf from earlier this topic).

[fullbacklifter]

Originally Posted by d3ad1ysp0rk

Do you have any good friends? I'd almost want someone in my life to be kicking me in the ass to get up and go out if I was in that situation (sorta like the guy's gf from earlier this topic).

I really don't have any friends anymore. I used to have lots and was invited to parties and everything, but up to about 2 years ago, that all stopped. No one that i know really understands depression.

[d3ad1ysp0rk]

Originally Posted by fullbacklifter

I really don't have any friends anymore. I used to have lots and was invited to parties and everything, but up to about 2 years ago, that all stopped. No one that i know really understands depression.

Hmm, ****ty. It's hard for me to understand, I think I may have a very mild case of depression, but I'm still often able to just be like "Ok time to just ****ing do it" and get up and go to the gym/work/etc, so I obviously don't know well enough to help really.

Have you ever tried to literally yell at yourself over it? Almost like a drill instructor would? It's weird but it worked for me for going to the gym when I was feeling reallllly bad one day.

[fullbacklifter]

i haven't but i will give it a shot. Thanks for your help.

[martina92685]

Originally Posted by fullbacklifter

i haven't but i will give it a shot. Thanks for your help.

I seriously recommend a therapist/psychologist/life coach (whatever you want to call it). I was lucky enough to get a REALLY good one (go through your general practitioner), who is helping me learn how to deal with MYSELF. Depression is about YOU, not about other people.

I know what it feels like to go somewhere, come home and get into bed, and avoid all other people until it is time to get up again. It sucks, and it is a bad place to be.

Please seek out someone with a medical degree to speak with. It will be hard talking to someone at first, but if you can trust them, you will feel SO much better!

I wish you luck

[pikesgeorge]

i have an anxiety disorder that is pretty bad, i suggest The Linden Method. All OCD, depression, phobias and anxieties are linked together as one. check it out try to download it for free. Basically you need to get it out of you subconscious that you are depressed. and then distract yourself when your feeling depressed. after a bit, maybe weeks or months dependin how well you do it. you wont even notice. its like driving remember when you first started to drive? you were conscious and scared of everything, now you can go to point A to B without even realizing you drive. Treat your depression like driving, a phase that'll has the ability to leave as long as you dont think about it.
good luck hope this helps
george

[fullbacklifter]

Originally Posted by sparklebear00

I seriously recommend a therapist/psychologist/life coach (whatever you want to call it). I was lucky enough to get a REALLY good one (go through your general practitioner), who is helping me learn how to deal with MYSELF. Depression is about YOU, not about other people.

I know what it feels like to go somewhere, come home and get into bed, and avoid all other people until it is time to get up again. It sucks, and it is a bad place to be.

Please seek out someone with a medical degree to speak with. It will be hard talking to someone at first, but if you can trust them, you will feel SO much better!

I wish you luck

i already have one thats been working with me for about 4 years. Hasn't really helped all that much so im guessing its time to find a new one.

[Hesh]

Originally Posted by ragexzero

One of the pills I took for my other issues, made me instantly fat a few years ago, and I was never able to lose the weight (not that I tried), even after quitting the pill.

What medication was this?

Also, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I learned a lot.

[Griff79]

Originally Posted by sparklebear00

Okay so I took the advice of several of you guys and I stopped taking the meds.

However, now i can feel myself slipping back into the "funk." What can I do to help myself snap out of it? Work harder at the gym? I don't even WANT to go to the gym! Ugh.

Advice anyone?

Not taking your meds is a really dumb idea. I would not have done that. Please go back on them, especially right now.

Some things that I have read that help a great deal are:

Try and not isolate yourself from others

Get up and go to bed at the same time

Eliminate sugar and carbs

Don't drink or do drugs

Exercise

Get some therapy

Take life day by day. I have been going through some pretty heavy stuff recently and I have been focusing on a silly little saying, I do not know where I heard it but it is keeping me from getting overwhelmed.

Inch by inch life is a cinch; yard by yard life is hard. I know it sounds dumb but think about it. I know when I start to worry and worry and then beat myself up I can get really down.

However; I have been taking life one day at a time and effecting what I can do today and working on what I need to item by item, min by min, hr by hr, day by day. It has really helped me control being worried and feeling overwhelmed and then becoming paralyzed and not being able to function.

Try and stay active as possible and surround yourself with people.

I hope this helps,

Griff

[xxxexsatcyxxx]

iM happy to see all the responses from everybody ... Its really amazing how many people relate to one another and makes people realize were not alone. For the last year i have been on a downturn at my life where nothing went up and I woke up feeling like ****. I finally was forced to hit the gym ( i used to lift in high school) and its true that exercise really helps. One advice i would give to you is to plan the days and times that you go to the gym . And oh yea talk to people, even if its the lady that you swipe the card with ..lol

[martina92685]

Originally Posted by Griff79

Not taking your meds is a really dumb idea. I would not have done that. Please go back on them, especially right now.

I spoke to my doctor about it and she said it was my decision. I have been over 2 months medication free and I do not feel any worse than before. In fact, cleaning up my diet has made me feel better, I think.

[Tenacious Tones]

Originally Posted by martina92685

I spoke to my doctor about it and she said it was my decision. I have been over 2 months medication free and I do not feel any worse than before. In fact, cleaning up my diet has made me feel better, I think.

Here's something to think about when it comes to depression. When I was in High School (quite a few years ago) I played basketball, trumpet and had lots of friends. Life was hard because of my living situation but I always had something to do that I enjoyed or something to make me feel confident about myself. Once I left high school I went to college for two years on a full music scholarship. Played basketball everyday with my friends and worked out at the gym.
Then I joined the Marine Corps....made lots of friends and life was great....Until I got married, got out the Corps and moved back to her family's home in MD. We started having kids and I started working full time shift work. Our social life went away...my music disappeared and friends were hard to come by. I learned real soon that my self confidence was and self esteem were built around my network of friends and how I took pride in the role I played in my network of friends and what hobbies I enjoyed. I didn't have fun any more and had no joy in life. My marriage sucked because I had gotten married to the wrong person and living with that on a daily basis resulted in high levels of anxiety. After a couple of years dealing and battling with the different levels of unhappiness depression crept in. I am now in the same situation as then except I have recognized some of the causes of my negative moods. This allows me to combat them. I try to get out more and do things to socialize and make friends. I have reengaged in music and try to stay optimistic. If I start thinking about the things I am not happy with I get bogged down and get right back into depression. For me it is important when it comes to anxiety and anger to control them. These are triggers that propel my depression. I can easily look at my life and hat it. Because in the grand scheme of things life turned out FAR from what I have planned. But as long as I CHOOSE to control my triggers and make an effort to re-engage in those things that I love and become more social...the depression seems to come and go less often.
I am predisposition to mood disorders...my father had anxiety, paranoia and maybe schizophrenia. My brother has been diagnosed with OCD, anxiety and depression. He is on meds started living with my mother (away from his daily stay at home dad duties) and truly is a different person. The doctors told him that anxiety is the root of it all. Once anxiety sets in it simply opens the door for the other disorders.
Ultimately to control you life you need to be happy. Do the things you love...spend LOTS of social time with friends. You must have a network and a role within it...an Identity so to speak that will bread inner confidence. Joy and happiness and sadness and stress actually effect your chemical levels in you brain. It is more than just genetics. But when you put those genetics in the wrong environment they will take over and you will be miserable.
At least that is my take on it and what I have observed so far with my life.