depression and lifting

[smaretick]

Sorry about your loss...here's my 2 cents:

A few years ago I experienced a similar situation in which I was involved in a bad car accident & my wife was killed. I had been training for ~30 yrs up to that point. After I got out of the hospital & finished rehab I immediately went back to the gym. Started with some cardio (recumbent bike) & worked my way up to machine workouts, then free weights. One thing I observed first hand (and was validated by docs) was that working out made me feel better both physically and psychologically. Essentially, exercise releases endorphins, which give you that feeling of well being. (..."high intensity Exercise, this produces an increase in feelings of well being, protection of mental illness, and brings about feelings of relaxation which is caused by the endorphins. "A runners high" is experienced after prolonged exercise, caused by endorphins.")

The bottom line is that getting back in the gym will help you out. Also, I'm sure you've heard it before, but time does heal all wounds...it will get better.

Good luck!

 

[ErikZ]

Man, first of all, my sincere condolencies (i hope this is how you spell it) to you and your father. I am sure that in time, things will heal and I do pray that everything improves to you. However, as previously posted, I do agree that you have to keep doing some exercise, as to prevent yourself from entering a downard spiral of depression-lead apathy. I believe exercising will help get your mind off things and possibly make you feel better.
I sincerely wish you and your father the best of luck.

Erik B

 

[kish]

Sorry about your mom dude. Working out may be the best medicine for any depression or frustration you might be feeling. Life delt me a few crappy cards in the past and I ended up in such a rut at one point. I stopped caring about almost everything. A short while after I got back into working out again, I took on an entirely different perspective when nothing else seemed to help.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

Brother I am deeply sorry to hear of your loss. I fear I can offer no words that could ease the pain you are going through at this moment. Know that life is only the start, and as long as you keep your mom within your heart, she will always be with you.

I find that during any times of great depression, the weights become my best friend. But maybe right now you need time to clear your mind. Remember we are all brothers and sisters here on Elite. You are part of a family here, and we are here for you. PM me anytime you need to talk my friend.

 

[swaptrex]

very sorry to hear that, but i can say that lifting helps bring up my spirits. it gets me out, around, and makes me feel like i accomplished something for that day. i know it must be hard to lift after such a tragic loss, but you never know.

 

[b fold the truth]

Right now, do whatever you feel like doing. Nothing more, nothing less.

I am a VERY emotional person and lifter. I can't have two different emotions at the same time and I don't do anger very well. If I ever get angry...someone is getting hurt.

My month has been bad and I can't go into a lot of it on a personal forum. I will say that there have been family issues (always have been...not my family). A good friend of mine died of a heart attack, my new puppy (my dogs are my children) got sick then well then died in my hand (.55 pounds) while I was on my way to the vet, the rear differential broke in half (along with the brake line) in our vehicle while going UP a mountain, and the list could go on.

I sucked in the gym because I can't transfer emotion like that. My best training is when I am mentally the most happy.

Rest. If you feel like going to the gym..plan it so that you can be done in 15 minutes or less. Hold that concentration for 15 minutes then get out. Don't rest between sets, just go in and pick 2-3 exercises for the day's body part and do them back to back as hard as YOU can (given the circumstances) and go home.

The heart and mind must heal before the body can grow.

 

[kaukasion]

thanks for all the support i have kept lifting
well not my normal routine though i used to lift 6 days a week
ive been lucky if i get down there 4x a week

im noticing myself sliding back a bit on bench press and other things
but ive been trying to combat that with up'n the weight and doing less reps not to mention it speeds up the workouts

i still max out the same 225 on bench press
but on any lower weight im sliding backward in reps
it just seems like i havent been able to put the same effort into the workout
and its not just on bench press but its an easy example
its like this on every exercize

thanks again