| Topic: |
Sociology > Depression |
| User: |
"can_dori" |
| Date: |
03 Oct 2006 03:11:46 PM |
| Object: |
exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
Hi,
I've had chronic depression most of my life (though I didn't know
that's what it was) I thought I was just lazy, over sensitive,
'difficult', etc.
Anyway, over the last 30 years, I've tried many types of exercise and
other physical activities, dancing, biking etc., and I've found two
things:
1. I don't feel better during or after exercise.
2. I can't sustain regular exercise past about six months, because
after maybe the first 6 - 8 weeks, my energy gets less and less, and my
legs feel more and more leaden, until, in frustration, I finally give
up. This has happened so many times over the 30 years, that it's clear
that it's real.
I feel weird being the only person I know who doesn't feel better after
exercising (except people with CFS or MS - and I don't think I have
either), and being the only person I know (period) who experiences this
depletion of energy over months of exercise.
Does anyone here relate to either of these experiences?
Still hoping,
can_dori
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| User: "CyberDroog" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
04 Oct 2006 02:20:54 AM |
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On 3 Oct 2006 13:11:46 -0700, "can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
I feel weird being the only person I know who doesn't feel better after
exercising (except people with CFS or MS - and I don't think I have
either), and being the only person I know (period) who experiences this
depletion of energy over months of exercise.
Are you sure you are getting you're heart rate into the aerobic target zone
(i.e. neither under nor over the target heart rate)? Not doing so makes a
lot of people, depressed or not, give up on exercise.
Getting the heart rate into that zone is what causes all the benefits of
aerobic exercise including the endorphin rush.
But if you have tried working in the zone, it may just be a chemical
problem in your brain. Endorphin resistance, or some fault in the part of
the brain that releases endorphins.
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| User: "can_dori" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
04 Oct 2006 08:46:40 PM |
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CyberDroog wrote:
On 3 Oct 2006 13:11:46 -0700, "can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
I feel weird being the only person I know who doesn't feel better after
exercising (except people with CFS or MS - and I don't think I have
either), and being the only person I know (period) who experiences this
depletion of energy over months of exercise.
Are you sure you are getting you're heart rate into the aerobic target zone
(i.e. neither under nor over the target heart rate)?
Many, many, many times over the last 30 years, yes.
But if you have tried working in the zone, it may just be a chemical
problem in your brain. Endorphin resistance, or some fault in the part of
the brain that releases endorphins.
But that's my question. No one has even come up with a theory before. I
would get blank stares, or I'd be told that they'd never heard of it
before. I wrote this post to see if someone has heard of or experienced
this before, and had any suggestions that might help.
.
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| User: "boutshka" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
04 Oct 2006 09:56:03 PM |
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But that's my question. No one has even come up with a theory before. I
would get blank stares, or I'd be told that they'd never heard of it
before. I wrote this post to see if someone has heard of or experienced
this before, and had any suggestions that might help.
I have found exercising to be a tricky thing. Every exercise program I
have undertaken (including swimming) has ended up with an injury that
forced me to stop it.
The thing that has been shown to be effective for depression is walking
for 3 miles a day. That worked for me several years back, and I only
walked about 1 and a half miles a day, about 5 days a week. Have you
tried simply walking?
Heart or lung problems can cause fatigue with exercise. Are you
exposed to cigarette smoke, or inhaling chemicals of some kind?
Sounds like you need a doc to take a good history from you, as well as
looking for sub-clinical conditions. Could also be related to meds, or
the depression itself.
Good luck. If I come across anything on the internet, I'll pass it on
to you.
Carol :)
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| User: "can_dori" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
15 Oct 2006 02:21:59 AM |
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Hi Carol,
If you ever find anything on the net, please pass it on.
As to the rest of your questions :-) I know they're well meaning, but I
want to point out that this proves my point that my experience seems,
how should I put it... unbelievable to virtually everyone who hears it;
There was, though, one person in this group who seems to have had the
same experience as I have.
I will now answer your questions:.
The thing that has been shown to be effective for depression is walking > for 3 miles a day.
I've done a lot of walking in my life, and it's never worked for me.
See comment in brackets.
[Actually, if you look at the studies, it's never 100% of the group who
are positively affected. It's just that no one ever seems to talk
about, never mind research the percentage who are not helped.]
Heart or lung problems can cause fatigue with exercise. Are you exposed to cigarette smoke, or inhaling chemicals of some kind?
Is the pope Catholic? I live in a big city. Do I work for a chemical
company? No. I did smoke at one point (OK, 18 years), but I've known
dancers who smoker. I've had my lungs checked and they're fine. I
haven't smoked since 1989, and nothing has changed in my reaction, or
lack of, to exercise. I've had 2 stress tests, and have been told
everything is just fine.
Sounds like you need a doc to take a good history from you, as well as > looking for sub-clinical conditions.
Remember the blank faces? That includes the doctors, exercise people
(kenesiologists?), stress testers, dieticians, the cardiologist, and my
GP, as well as regular folks who give me the blank looks, shrugging
shoulders, and, if I'm lucky, ask me the same questions you just did.
Actually, you did better than most, in that you actually suggested
someone a take good history looking for subclinical conditions. No one
has ever taken me even that seriously. I appreciate that you did. I've
someone to do something like that for years.
Could also be related to meds,
No, because I had it long before I was on meds.
or > the depression itself.
Well, that is, in a way, an oxymoron, in that everyone tells me that
exercise helps depression. So, unless there is type of depression that
is not improved by exercise, that "They" have not identified yet, I
would have to say, it's not the depression.
Good luck. If I come across anything on the internet, I'll pass it on > to you.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Dori
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| User: "%" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
15 Oct 2006 02:23:06 AM |
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"can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160896919.596138.259970@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Hi Carol,
If you ever find anything on the net, please pass it on.
As to the rest of your questions :-) I know they're well meaning, but I
want to point out that this proves my point that my experience seems,
how should I put it... unbelievable to virtually everyone who hears it;
There was, though, one person in this group who seems to have had the
same experience as I have.
I will now answer your questions:.
The thing that has been shown to be effective for depression is walking
for 3 miles a day.
I've done a lot of walking in my life, and it's never worked for me.
See comment in brackets.
[Actually, if you look at the studies, it's never 100% of the group who
are positively affected. It's just that no one ever seems to talk
about, never mind research the percentage who are not helped.]
Heart or lung problems can cause fatigue with exercise. Are you exposed
to cigarette smoke, or inhaling chemicals of some kind?
Is the pope Catholic? I live in a big city. Do I work for a chemical
company? No. I did smoke at one point (OK, 18 years), but I've known
dancers who smoker. I've had my lungs checked and they're fine. I
haven't smoked since 1989, and nothing has changed in my reaction, or
lack of, to exercise. I've had 2 stress tests, and have been told
everything is just fine.
Sounds like you need a doc to take a good history from you, as well as >
looking for sub-clinical conditions.
Remember the blank faces? That includes the doctors, exercise people
(kenesiologists?), stress testers, dieticians, the cardiologist, and my
GP, as well as regular folks who give me the blank looks, shrugging
shoulders, and, if I'm lucky, ask me the same questions you just did.
Actually, you did better than most, in that you actually suggested
someone a take good history looking for subclinical conditions. No one
has ever taken me even that seriously. I appreciate that you did. I've
someone to do something like that for years.
Could also be related to meds,
No, because I had it long before I was on meds.
or > the depression itself.
Well, that is, in a way, an oxymoron, in that everyone tells me that
exercise helps depression. So, unless there is type of depression that
is not improved by exercise, that "They" have not identified yet, I
would have to say, it's not the depression.
Good luck. If I come across anything on the internet, I'll pass it on >
to you.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Dori
i found something that might help ,
www.mighthelp.org
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| User: "can_dori" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
15 Oct 2006 10:43:55 PM |
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% wrote:
"can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160896919.596138.259970@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Good luck. If I come across anything on the internet, I'll pass it on >
to you.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Dori
i found something that might help ,
www.mighthelp.org
Is www.mighthelp.org for real, or a joke? I don't see anything there.
Dori
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| User: "CyberDroog" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
05 Oct 2006 10:04:30 AM |
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On 4 Oct 2006 19:56:03 -0700, "boutshka" <carollombard@gmail.com> wrote:
Heart or lung problems can cause fatigue with exercise. Are you
exposed to cigarette smoke, or inhaling chemicals of some kind?
Heh... I have both. I'm a smoker - a chain smoker when very anxious. And
after my recent move I over did it with the bleach while cleaning the old
apartment. I wanted those kitchen counters to be nice and white again, so I
just pooled bleach on them.
Worked great. I damned near needed sunglasses to look at the counters
afterwards. That was last week and I'm only now getting my sense of smell
back.
Damn OCD. Every apartment I have ever moved into needed to be cleaned - not
just picky touching up, but often gross oversights. Most tenants, it seems,
just do a quick wipe down with a damp sponge. Yet when I leave an
apartment I leave it in such a state that the new tenant won't have to
clean anything.
Sometimes I wish I didn't care. I spent nine hours cleaning the old place.
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| User: "CyberDroog" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
05 Oct 2006 09:54:24 AM |
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On 4 Oct 2006 18:46:40 -0700, "can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
CyberDroog wrote:
On 3 Oct 2006 13:11:46 -0700, "can_dori" <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
I feel weird being the only person I know who doesn't feel better after
exercising (except people with CFS or MS - and I don't think I have
either), and being the only person I know (period) who experiences this
depletion of energy over months of exercise.
Are you sure you are getting you're heart rate into the aerobic target zone
(i.e. neither under nor over the target heart rate)?
Many, many, many times over the last 30 years, yes.
But if you have tried working in the zone, it may just be a chemical
problem in your brain. Endorphin resistance, or some fault in the part of
the brain that releases endorphins.
But that's my question. No one has even come up with a theory before. I
would get blank stares, or I'd be told that they'd never heard of it
before. I wrote this post to see if someone has heard of or experienced
this before, and had any suggestions that might help.
Pretty tough issue. Science is still in the Dark Ages when it comes to the
workings of the brain. Endorphin resistance or a fault in the part of the
brain that releases endorphins was just uneducated speculation. It could be
other chemicals - depression can be so bad that it over shadows the
chemical boost caused by exercise.
It certainly doesn't seem to be lack of motivation since you said you have
tried exercising for up to six months.
I'm guessing the answer is yes, but have you tried a regular physician
(maybe even a sports physician) as well as a psychiatrist? Maybe together
they can figure something out. A referral to an endocrinologist could rule
out hormonal problems. Thyroid, testosterone, tests for adrenal function,
etc. One theory of depression involves a dysfunction of the HPA axis
(Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal).
Are you currently taking any anti-depressants? Unfortunately, given
science's limited knowledge of the chemical machinery of the brain, current
anti-depressants, like the chemotherapy drugs used for cancer, are like
cluster bombs that can have one good effect, but a lot of collateral
damage. AD's can lift depression mentally, but sap your energy physically
(and even turn your willy into an invalid.)
At any rate, don't give up.
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| User: "Contrarian" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
03 Oct 2006 08:40:57 PM |
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can_dori <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi,
I've had chronic depression most of my life (though I didn't know
that's what it was) I thought I was just lazy, over sensitive,
'difficult', etc.
Anyway, over the last 30 years, I've tried many types of exercise and
other physical activities, dancing, biking etc., and I've found two
things:
1. I don't feel better during or after exercise.
2. I can't sustain regular exercise past about six months, because
after maybe the first 6 - 8 weeks, my energy gets less and less, and my
legs feel more and more leaden, until, in frustration, I finally give
up. This has happened so many times over the 30 years, that it's clear
that it's real.
Huh. Exercise nver helped my depressive pain. Only Rx
affected that. I used to regularly exercise, about
an hour a day (biking on hills, with/without a pack)
and sometimes I got a glimmer of feeling a bit better.
Does anyone here relate to either of these experiences?
I don't have the "can't keep it up" (well I don't really
know for sure right now, I just started again) but I
do know the frustration of having a recurring symptom
phenonmenon ignored.
--
Breaking news: http://lazerbrody.typepad.com July 24/25 especially
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| User: "can_dori" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
04 Oct 2006 01:37:08 AM |
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Contrarian wrote:
can_dori <can_dori@yahoo.com> wrote:
Hi,
I've had chronic depression most of my life (though I didn't know
that's what it was) I thought I was just lazy, over sensitive,
'difficult', etc.
1. I don't feel better during or after exercise.
Huh. Exercise nver helped my depressive pain. Only Rx
affected that. I used to regularly exercise, about
an hour a day (biking on hills, with/without a pack)
and sometimes I got a glimmer of feeling a bit better.
Was anyone ever able to give you an explanation of why exercise didn't
work for you? Or have you heard of other people for whom it didn't
work?
can_dori
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: exercise does not help - any others experienced this? |
03 Oct 2006 03:38:07 PM |
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can_dori wrote:
Hi,
I've had chronic depression most of my life (though I didn't know
1. I don't feel better during or after exercise.
2. I can't sustain regular exercise past about six months, because
Still hoping,
can_dori
I've had a problem with depression since the 1970s. I run for exercise
but the "runner's high" after a run is only temporary for me. For some
reason running is the only passtime that I've been able to remain
motivated for over the years. Other interests have come and gone. Yes,
I'm on medication.
Bill
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