![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
Hello,
I've had treatment resistant depression for about 6 years now. I know moderate exercise has been shown to improve depression. However, as an avid runner, I really haven't noticed much improvement with regular exercise. In fact, it seems that my mood worsens after very intense exercise. For example, every time I complete a half or full marathon, I feel more depressed. While most people are proud and excited about their accomplishment, I always feel more depressed. It's as if I feel mentally drained for a few days following the marathon.
Has anyone experienced this? My psychologist thinks this is unusual, and that I should follow up with a sports medicine doctor. Perhaps there's some test the sports medicine doctor could do that might explain why I feel worse after I exercise and perhaps provide some insight into my chronic depression.
Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2011, at 10:32:44
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I feel it's normal the excitment before the race, the hard excercise during the race, then post race let down and a tired body. Do you feel better after a few days of rest? Phillipa
Posted by creepy on November 17, 2011, at 15:09:38
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
Ive had a similar issue in the past. With me its the extreme irritability that used to be an issue. Whether thats a component of the depression or caused by a medication is anyones guess. =(
You might look to see if theres some endocrine issue going on.
I have noticed that depression causes me physical symptoms of pain and fatigue which seem to worsen if I eat too much carbohydrates.
NRI's might be useful for those symptoms.
Posted by linkadge on November 18, 2011, at 5:57:00
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I run all the time. Yes, I get depressed too after long periods of exercise.
If I don't exercise for days however, I get more depressed.When I exercise, my brain shows me the things in my life that are not where I want them to be. This sobering effect, usually causes me to make important changes, which seems to get me to a better place mentally after a few days. When I don't exercise, I just become avoidant and things build and get worse. Thats me, anyway.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on November 18, 2011, at 5:57:40
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I guess like a 'bottom up' antidepressant effect rather than a 'top down' one.
Linkadge
Posted by TxMex on November 18, 2011, at 12:56:21
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
Thanks for the feedback. I would say the first few days after my race, my depression is moderate-severe, and then it goes back to about moderate. I guess things could be worse without frequent exercise. Maybe the exercise is keeping my suicidal ideation at bay. Who knows?
Anyway, I had some endocrine labs done earlier this year and everything was normal. I wonder if there's some special tests that a sports medicine doctor could do to check for any abnormalities?
Posted by Phillipa on November 18, 2011, at 20:46:14
In reply to Re: Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 18, 2011, at 12:56:21
I'm too old to run now but did. Most ever ran was 13.5 miles in snow and ice. I knew when I did it that this was the first and last time just wanted to prove to self I could. I don't know if constant long distance running is good. I'd run shorter distances and see if it makes a difference. Phillipa
Posted by Raisinb on November 20, 2011, at 10:46:58
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I had exactly the same experience as an avid runner. I ran two marathons and several halves and 10ks. Every run put me into a black, intense, angry mood. As my depressions got worse over the years I had to stop running because it was too deleterious.
I don't know the reason, but I have two theories about myself: one, the intense rumination and pushing myself were bad for me; two, since I have a bipolar dx, the running, for some biological reason, was putting me into a mixed state.
Not all exercise does it to me. Walking is fine and so is yoga. But running certainly did.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2011, at 19:51:57
In reply to Re: Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by Raisinb on November 20, 2011, at 10:46:58
That makes sense to me if I as a person who wasn't depressed ran it gave me a runner's high which I imagine could trigger mania in someone bipolar. What a seriously interesting post. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by rculater on November 21, 2011, at 9:40:18
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I've had this for a couple of years.
I just take it easy now, light jogs, no weights otherwise if I push it too far im irritable, depressed for a few days.
What meds have you taken previously ?
What is your diag ?
Posted by TxMex on November 22, 2011, at 23:31:35
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
I have treatment resistant depression. I've tried the majority of psychiatric meds except for MAOIs and TCAs. I did try Parnate for several months, but the antidepressant effect eventually wore off and I was unable to manage the insomnia. I went up to 70 mg, but my BP spiked so I decided to taper off it. I'm now trying Emsam 12 mg for about two weeks but haven't noticed much improvement.
It's good to know I'm not the only one that feels worse after a long run. However, I'd hate to give up running. My depression has already taken so much from me (career, relationships, etc) I'd hate to have to give up on running.
Posted by Lamdage22 on December 7, 2011, at 4:17:16
In reply to Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by TxMex on November 17, 2011, at 0:24:05
For how long has this been going on?
I am sure there was a time were you actually felt good about running, otherwise you wouldnt have trained yourself to the point of attending marathons.
I am by no means an expert in training for Marathons but to me it sounds like overtraining.
For whatever reasons it has come to this point, i would not write of the running for now and just get it out of your head a bit, keep running but take it easy and cut down for a while.
Then after some relaxation and recovery of your body (and mind), reflect and/or get counseling on why this happened and how to prevent it in the future. In the time you cut downl and seek, try to see it as a chance to become a better, more knowledgeable athlete.It really sounds like you got too much of something in your training/competition.. or not enough of something in terms of nutrition, minerals antioxidants and what not. You most likely have more knowledge in the running field than me. I just figured out alot about my probs and aches with exercise and im pretty positive this will happen for you, too.
Once i had a sense of where my problems roots are i consulted someone for help with it. (Personal trainer)
It feels really good doing work at the source of it and i am excited about how this will turn out.Dont give up your sport if you once really enjoyed doing this. What you describe is actually not uncommon at all. There are just many possible causes.. I bet you have more than one specific cause but some combination of them.
Hope this helps,
dont rush with picking up more severe training again!
a greeting from Lamdage
> Hello,
>
> I've had treatment resistant depression for about 6 years now. I know moderate exercise has been shown to improve depression. However, as an avid runner, I really haven't noticed much improvement with regular exercise. In fact, it seems that my mood worsens after very intense exercise. For example, every time I complete a half or full marathon, I feel more depressed. While most people are proud and excited about their accomplishment, I always feel more depressed. It's as if I feel mentally drained for a few days following the marathon.
>
> Has anyone experienced this? My psychologist thinks this is unusual, and that I should follow up with a sports medicine doctor. Perhaps there's some test the sports medicine doctor could do that might explain why I feel worse after I exercise and perhaps provide some insight into my chronic depression.
>
> Thanks.
Posted by alchemy on December 7, 2011, at 22:43:01
In reply to Re: Exercise Worsening Depression?, posted by Lamdage22 on December 7, 2011, at 4:17:16
I try to exercise because it's good for me, but I have never found it to help my mood. There has been occasions when it has seemed to decrease it Everything says that it releases endorphins- what are those?! I don't think my body knows how to make them.
Currently I am in a phase where I sometimes get these "wave" feelings (that often precede some depression). I don't dare exercise until late evening because there seems to be a correlation. This feeling also seems to sometimes be triggered if I eat (and I have hypoglycemia). Holy cow, anything seems to "tip" me.
It's good to hear that other people have found that exercise can worsen depression. My psychiatrist didn't believe me.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.