Get depressed a lot lately.

Hello there,
I appreciate the honest in your post. One thing i would suggest is just taking your time in working out. You just had an injury, let your body, emotions and mind get stable. Don't over do. I am confident that you will bounce back just fine. I would try and do something you enjoy. Since you are feeling a lil under the weather, don't put any extra unnecessary stress or strain on you emotionally or physically. Every thing will come together, just be patient.

I was over 200 pounds since I was about 16. Why after this long would it smack me around? It started with injury but even now healing great, great energy, abs, etc. I am more depressed than I've ever been, at best on par with teenage years.

I don't know, it doesn't make sense but I know it sometimes happens. People sometimes get depressed, even if they are doing everything "right". Diet and exercise help a lot with depression but since you are already doing these things maybe its more. Have you considered talking with someone? I know this is something a lot of people don't like to do, but counseling can be beneficial and help you sort through some feelings or why you feel that way. It wouldn't make you look weak. I think you would look stronger because you knew when you needed more help and sought it out. Sometimes we cant do things alone. That's a personal decision of course and only you will know if its needed or right for you. Good luck! Depression is a hard thing to deal with whether its a short bout or more long term.
Here are a couple articles that might be helpful. You may already know all of this, but I read them recently and found them helpful.

http://www.thehackedmind.com/the-unbalanced-brain-part-1/

http://www.thehackedmind.com/the-unbalanced-brain-part-2/

When you were losing all that weight did you drop calories really low how was your fat intake?

When you were losing all that weight did you drop calories really low how was your fat intake?

He has a good point! Too many people still believe low fat is the way to go, fat is bad, fat makes you fat and ill, wrong! I see in your diary it's the lowest of the macros. The body needs fat to burn fat even and low fat can lead to serious depressions. Next to some supplements like magnesium and vitamin D3 try extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, real butter, fatty fish and like I said before cod-liver oil.

http://authoritynutrition.com/7-ways-the-low-fat-diet-destroys-your-health/

When's the last time you got your anemia evaluated? Weakness, depression, listlessness can all be signs of increasing anemia issues. You may need something more substantial that a standard multi-vitamin, since they are not fully metabolized.

Secondly, I think you are experiencing a very common situation... That is, "I lost all this weight and thought I would feel better but I don't" syndrome. When we are substantially overweight, we generally have an underlying mental health issue that needs to be addressed, unless we have been proven to have a biological cause for the excessive weight gain. Many people neglect to take care of their mind, thinking that the weight is the cause of their inadequacy and depression feelings, but more often than not, it's actually a symptom of those problems.

If you are afraid or find it difficult to relax and rest your body despite major injury, it's time to find a therapist. It is not a healthy practice. If your doctor has cleared you for long range exercise, okay, but I would fathom to guess that your doctor would not be too keen knowing you are cycling for 20+miles only 7 weeks after a fracture, during the time you are still healing. YOUR BONES ARE STILL BROKEN. You cannot expect yourself to be 100% when you're literally still healing a fracture!!!

Internal stress like healing and swelling, pain, can contribute to your feelings of depression. You may not recognize pain, but weakness and instability are signs of a base level body reaction to injury. You are most definitely going to be weaker after an injury, and expecting more than gentle progress is a recipe for disaster. I would suggest doing something moderately active that isn't putting stress directly on your injured area, and asking your doctor about transitioning back into a workout routine. Get a physical therapist to help you, or a medically endorsed physical trainer.

I'm not sure why there's a justification around every suggestion, with the exception of my stating you should find a therapist. I stand by that statement. Episodic depression can be an indicator of manic depression. You do not have to have out of control mania episodes to be experiencing serotonin and dopamine swings.

If all things are the same and your doctor states you should be able to ride for 20 miles or more on your bike, then you have to do something you haven't already done if you are concerned about this issue. Being told to use your arm so it won't freeze is not the same as being told to lift weights. You also stated that you broke your neck riding. Cycling can have a certain amount of stress that it exerts on the cervical column because of the way you hold your head so unless you are sitting recumbent while doing these miles, I'd ask about it specifically.

The only person that can help you evaluate and identify your issue with depression, if it's depression at all, is going to be a mental health professional. If the episodes are increasing in frequency, you are experiencing episodic depression and thus, the best way to understand it is with therapy and journaling. When you experience a depressive episode, record what you've eaten, taken, what has happened that day, what exercise you've done, what sleep, what happened at work, anything you can remember. Tracking these patterns and then discussing with a psychologist will help guide you when finding the reason. If you're not willing to do this, that should tell you a lot about the actual severity of the problem. Unwillingness can mean one of three things, generally... Either the depression is so bad it feels hopeless (this would be self-harm and suicide territory), you are in denial of the problem, or it's not actually depression. Depression is not the same as feeling sad sometimes or feeling low key occasionally.

However, symptoms of anxiety and adrenaline sensitivity issues can mimic depression feelings like sinking chest sensation, feeling tired, headaches, feeling physically overwhelmed.

First of all, congrats on your amazing weight loss. Well done!

As for your depression, you may want to consult a doctor. People can develop clinical depression at any time in their lives. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for it, just body chemistry. To me, this sounds like what you are describing. I'm not a doctor, so I can't say for sure, but I have had clinical depression since my early teens and am now almost 40 and know the symptoms. I have good days and bad days, but it's always a struggle. I don't take medications for it because I don't want to...went down that road in my 20s and teens. Anyway, I have symptoms similar to yours. I will be fine, but then sometimes, and at times rather suddenly, I will have a deep sadness and hopelessness come over me for really no reason. These episodes of depression are not just something I can "snap out of" like some claim. It's not just me feeling a little upset about something or feeling sorry for myself, it's depression which is a whole different ball game. Sometimes the clouds clear within a rather short amount of time, and sometimes they stick with me for days at a time. I lose energy and just want to sleep. Like I said, it's a struggle. But unfortunately, not much advice can be given to you here to help with it. No one person can tell you what to do because what helped them may not help you. I saw someone above say go for a trip and made it sound like they choose not to let it take over their life. That doesn't work for everyone. It's not always about making a choice when it comes to your body chemistry and clinical depression...if only it were that simple. You can try vitamin supplements like D3, that may help. Being as you've lost a lot of weight, I assume you eat a pretty well balanced diet, and it sounds like you exercise regularly. Those are things that have helped with my depression, but haven't completely alleviated it, so I think you are doing the right things. But if you are still having these bouts of sadness after doing all these things. I would see your doctor. Maybe have your blood levels checked to make sure you are not severely deficient in anything and go from there.

Good luck, and if you would like to chat more you can inbox me any time.

ETA: I just saw in your most recent post that you recently had blood work done. Sorry I missed that before I posted.

As someone who has struggled through depression and come out in a better place, I can empathize with what you're feeling. My depression hit hardest when I had the life I want - loving family, children, house, and a career I love. It made no sense. Unfortunately that's the way it works sometimes.

Some of the things I found helpful were already mentioned - carbs, chocolate, magnesium, sleep, B6. I also found that essential fatty acids can be helpful, like amy Omega-3-6-9 supplement. Iron is important as well, but it sounds like you've been taking care of that.

Hormones have the biggest impact on our emotions, and being that you lost so much weight, I would think that your weight loss has impacted how your body produces, distributes and reabsorbs hormones. If it's at all possible, I suggest talking to a doctor about your depression, which may be a symptom of your body recalibrating to it's new normal state. It may be temporary.

But if it isn't temporary, don't be afraid to step into the realm of counceling and/or medications. Personally, both have changed my life for the better. I am thankful everyday that I had the strength to get help and not give in to the hopelessness. You have already shown the strength to change your life by taking charge of your physical health - you have the strength to change your mental health too!

Best of luck :flowerforyou: