Struggling with lifting/depression

thescrumisfun
thescrumisfun Posts: 355
in Motivation and Support
Hey guys,

I have just recently (as in, Friday 2/14) started seeking help for the way I've been feeling for a time now. It's basically depression or a sub-form of it. I'm also waiting the results of blood work to see if it could be an underlying medical issue. Some days I'm fine, some days I really struggle. I'm finding a lot of my struggle is becoming physical as well. I'm feeling incredibly drained because I'm not sleeping well at all, and I go from keeping a consistent diet to barely eating, or eating unhealthy. I'm taking long to recover and I feel so weak during lifting. Again - some days, the weights feel like nothing, and I put up superb/normal numbers. But increasingly I feel weaker and it's incredibly frustrating. I'm in off-season training for rugby and I know I'm severely limiting my potential. Lifting was one of my favorite things to do now and now I'm just kind of, "Ehhhh."

Any tips to push through? Has anyone else with sleeping problems (having trouble falling/staying alseep, nightmares) found things that may help them sleep better?

Thanks. I'm just sick of feeling this way and I want to get back to normal.

Replies

  • kellymac518
    kellymac518 Posts: 132 Member
    i have PTSD, bipolar, and insomnia... my mood stabilizer puts me to sleep for about 7 to 8 hours so i take it at night and it helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. before i was on this medication i was prescribed a sleeping medication. hopefully as your doctor helps you figure out what is going on they will prescribe you something to help. be patient, and you'll get the help you need!
  • KCoolBeanz
    KCoolBeanz Posts: 813 Member
    Lifting was one of the main things that helped me with my PTSD/panic problems. Sometimes it sucked hard, but I dragged myself to the gym. I'd sometimes have to visualize myself driving there and walking in the door. And every time I forced myself to do it, I concentrated on how much better it felt after the fact.

    If your stalls are causing you grief, take a deload week, or change up your program so you have something new and different to look forward to. Make sure you eat regularly, even when you don't want to. Meet your calorie/macro goals. Set an alarm on your phone if you have to.

    When you (not you specifically, you in general) struggle with those kinds of things, you have to put in the extra oomph to get past it. It's not necessarily fair, but that's the way it is. And you'll feel better when you overcome it :flowerforyou:
  • writergeek313
    writergeek313 Posts: 390 Member
    Could is potentially be Seasonal Affective Disorder? I'm not sure where you're located, but this winter has been a brutal one, and I think it's causing a lot of problems for people with SAD. If that turns out to be the issue, get out into the sunlight whenever you can, and try to eat foods rich in Vitamin D (leafy greens was one a doctor suggested to me awhile ago). Light therapy can also be really effective in helping to treat SAD.

    I'm about a year out of a pretty severe bout with depression and anxiety. In December of 2012 I started taking a medication called Trazadone. It's not very commonly prescribed for depression anymore, but my doctor chose it because it's also a sleeping medication and when I was at my worst I couldn't get any decent sleep. When I first started taking it, I'd literally fall sound asleep within five or ten minutes, but now it's a lot gentler than that. The drawbacks are that I can't have any alcohol and that one of the side effects is sleepiness. It's not constant, but I find that I definitely need 8-9 hours of sleep when I used to get closer to 7.

    Valerian root is a natural remedy for insomnia. You can get it in capsules or as a tea in most natural/health food stores. Be warned that the tea smells awful unless it's mixed with mint or something else. Once your doctor figures out what's going on, definitely check with him or her to make sure valerian won't interfere with any medication you might be prescribed.

    My recovery process has taught me the importance of listening to my body. Push yourself to do what you can when you can, but don't force yourself to do something you really don't feel ready to do, especially if you're tired. On days like that, maybe try something gentler like yoga or going for a walk. Sometimes that can be enough to help you feel energized enough to head to the gym, but if it's not, at least you were able to be a little active.

    I hope you're able to get to the bottom of this and start feeling better soon.
  • ausheli
    ausheli Posts: 43 Member
    I'm bi-polar 1, it's really just a matter of pushing through and forcing yourself to do it, my meds put me to sleep as well and wake up every morning like I've just come out if surgery, so I lift/cardio at night after work, but I know in myself that there is NO excuse not to go, and I generally feel better after, Even if you didn't do it perfect, you still did it!!
  • thescrumisfun
    thescrumisfun Posts: 355
    Thanks so much everyone. I don't believe it's SAD (which definitely does affect people) because I felt like this in the summer and fall as well; now it's getting progressive. I have group on Tuesdays and I am waiting to be put on a caseload for individual therapy. I want to do both, and my hope is to progress in individual therapy to the point where group counseling is enough (it's free, funded by general student fees, hehe).

    I am a bit unsure about medication right now.
  • KCoolBeanz
    KCoolBeanz Posts: 813 Member
    This is just my opinion, and by no means is meant towards anyone. Personally, I feel medication is a last resort type of thing. I had been on it (had a panic episode severe enough to land me in a hospital) and have worked my way off of it. It was hard work, and there were a lot of tears and not so great days. But the feeling of accomplishment and being in control is amazing, and the bad days are few and far between. I really think you're doing a good thing for yourself by going to talk to someone about it, be it in a group setting or individual. :flowerforyou:
  • thescrumisfun
    thescrumisfun Posts: 355
    This x10. I don't think I am at the point where I necessarily need medication. When I saw the doctor on Monday, she was kind of quick to ask, "Do you want to start on a low dose?" I said I'd rather see a psychiatrist first. She was very supportive of that and wants me to be comfortable with anything we/I decide.

    Also, I play rugby, so I don't want to be dealing with side effects of medication while trying to train individually or with the team. I'm keeping it on the DL with my team, and I don't want or need questions to be raised.
  • threshkreen
    threshkreen Posts: 79 Member
    I think it is wonderful that you reached out for help when you recognized that you had a problem. I get therapy every week and take meds. I realize that taking meds is a personal decision and wouldn't think of forcing it on anyone. But, I am a huge advocate for talk therapy. HUGE. My doctor has helped me more by listening and pointing out the "distorted thinking" in my feelings and has played a massive role in getting me on the right track. The drugs helped the severe downs at first, but it was the talk therapy that moved me along intellectually.

    Good luck and keep going. Just like weight loss, you won;t notice the changes quickly, but one day, you will sort of say to yourself "Wow, a year ago, I wouldn't have reacted so well to that" or something. Sometimes, it takes the doctor to point it out to you. But keep going.

    My final word is that I am totally open that I go to a shrink every week. I refused to let it define me and I so strongly believe that so many people are suffering in silence out there it has become my little mission to take the stigma of mental health issues away from those I come into contact with. My own mother doesn't understand it and tells me to just "think this way...don't think that" like it is as easy as deciding what color to wear. Well, it isn't and it is a shame that people are so reluctant to go get help.

    Now, I am not trying to be critical of someone that does not go.. Sometimes, it is an issue of money, time or availability. But I am just saying, it is nothing to be ashamed of and it should be given careful consideration and not dismissed out of hand.

    Finally, I agree with those that said push yourself to go to the gym. Sweating and losing yourself in a workout will make you feel somewhat better. Sometimes, I used to go to the gym, sit around moping for 20 minutes and then finally get on a piece of cardio equipment and warm up and go through an entire workout. Also, even people without problems can have days the weights are light as a feather and you feel like you can lift anything and days where you wonder how you lost all your muscle overnight! Just keep going - you've identified it as something you love, so don't put it aside.

    Sorry for rambling.
  • threshkreen
    threshkreen Posts: 79 Member
    Sorry, one more thing. It could be due to something medical. It is encouraging that your doctor is looking both ways. If you were older, I'd say "Welcome to pre menopause" because it is just like that. Not to make light of what you are going through. but keep working with your doctor(s).
  • nenshali
    nenshali Posts: 331 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1198789-how-to-stay-motivated-while-being-depressed-after-a-relapse

    Maybe this helps you a little bit :flowerforyou:
  • thescrumisfun
    thescrumisfun Posts: 355
    Sorry, one more thing. It could be due to something medical. It is encouraging that your doctor is looking both ways. If you were older, I'd say "Welcome to pre menopause" because it is just like that. Not to make light of what you are going through. but keep working with your doctor(s).

    Even if she wouldn't have looked both ways, I would have demanded blood tests, lol. The physical changes are too weird not to ignore. As an athlete, as for anyone, really, they're infuriating.

    Thank you for the support everyone!

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