Depressed after exercise

[FrankG]

I don't know if I am alone in this, but after a ride/run I feel great for about half an hour then get very depressed. This is worst after a race, I feel on top of the world and very "euphoric" and then bam, I feel horrible. I feel like I want to start crying. Has anyone experienced this?

How do you feel most of the time when you aren't exercising? Cycling may briefly lift you from a depressive state in which case see a doctor asap.

[Yo-Yo]

Did anyone read that open letter by Clyde Rathbone last year (google it)? True he's a bit of a di*k but there is a lot in there. He never really found joy in exercise, winning, his career or the rest. It was a test, a battle, to do better, to over come. He had deep downs after almost all contests & only after suffering, losing family & the rest he sought help for depression & now can actually enjoy sports & more importantly family. Worth a read. 

 

As a side note, my wife did a Skype call with a psychic / advisor recommended by a recently retired springbok. A lot was very true covering her work, personality & our children but at the end she told my wife I was bi-polar and I needed to see someone as I was in a bad place right now. Funny thing was it was just as we'd gone from Millars joy to AB murdering that run out & our office had been at the bar while she was chatting to this woman riding the emotions of the game.

[GlockG4]

I have been to a psychiatrist and I am using medication for bipolar disorder for a while now. I did ask her about this, but she told me she does not really have a answer for me. She said that it is like a sugar rush and then a crash afterwards and the best advice she can give me is to go to sleep after exercise. I was just wondering/hoping that someone has a suggestion other than that who has a similar problem.

[Joe Low]

I have been to a psychiatrist and I am using medication for bipolar disorder for a while now. I did ask her about this, but she told me she does not really have a answer for me. She said that it is like a sugar rush and then a crash afterwards and the best advice she can give me is to go to sleep after exercise. I was just wondering/hoping that someone has a suggestion other than that who has a similar problem.

Was a bit surprised at a lot of the insensitive 'funny (?)' replies your thread got - i dont think you are going to get much thats more useful than your doc said; unless you go to a medical professional who is sports oriented.

 

I probably do know what you mean but your situation deserves better than me adding to the Hub57 varieties of advice.

[Little Fish]

I have been to a psychiatrist and I am using medication for bipolar disorder for a while now. I did ask her about this, but she told me she does not really have a answer for me. She said that it is like a sugar rush and then a crash afterwards and the best advice she can give me is to go to sleep after exercise. I was just wondering/hoping that someone has a suggestion other than that who has a similar problem.

Your medication is designed to prevent spikes & drops in your chemicals & emotions.

Exercise creates the spike in endorphines - what you are feeling is after effects of that - unfortunately for people suffering from bi-polar disorder, they feel these emotions much more than others do.

I really feel for you, as its a constant battle to keep yourself on an even keel - the only advice I can give you is that you need people around you to constantly monitor you - depending on how long you have been taking the medication it may be time to change it or if you havent taken it for long it may still be building up to correct levels. Otherwise it may not be right meds for you - OR you werent starting from 0 when you started them.

Hard to explain but Im sure your doc explained to you - most important thing with bipolar is that you start meds when there is no manic or depressive spike or drop.

If you think of a graph with spikes & drops below the middle line (0) the meds are designed to work best from 0 - if you start them when you're off that line, you will always be trying to balance out highs & lows.

if your meds are working you shouldnt be feeling any severe highs or lows, so you are right to be concerned about the level of the low you are feeling.

If its the only time you feel that, then your doc is probably right about it being the opposite low to the high of exercise.

Good luck with everything & dont be scared to just keep calling your doc - you need to have a very good relationship with her in order to properly manage the condition.