Why do I sometimes feel deeply depressed after going on a jog?
April 5, 2019 4:28 PM Subscribe
Sometimes, after a jog, I fall into potent, crushing sadness for about 30 minutes to an hour. It feels chemical, as I've burned through all my serotonin, but my brain can get mighty creative about finding a life situation to latch onto to "explain" it.
Added layer: I recently started taking a small (prescribed) dose of Adderall, and I think it's making this thing—whatever it is—worse. More details inside.
I've been running for about 10 years now, and have pretty much always had this problem. One out of every 10 jogs, I get inside, get in the shower, and then this... darkness just falls over me. Everything feels hopeless and washed out. It gives me great empathy for those who have lifelong depression, because it is truly wrecking. Exactly the opposite of the "runner's high" you want to have after physical activity! (I often feel great afterward, too, thank goodness. This is just sometimes.)
After many years of struggling against myself, and thanks to you lovely MeFites (this thread in particular, which absolutely changed my life) I finally have an ADD diagnosis and started on a small dose of Adderall (5mg once or twice a day) a few weeks ago.
Now I've had the post-run sads twice this week, including today, which is why I'm writing this.
It was a pretty standard 5-mile run. I was right around my average pace, didn't exert myself too hard, was sufficiently hydrated, etc. I took 5mg of Adderall at 9am (and had an espresso a bit later) and then started the run at around 5pm.
As you might imagine, if I feel this too often I'm going to associate the dark, gnawing feeling with running and lose motivation to do it, which I absolutely do not want. I know that running makes me overall less anxious, happier, etc. I also do not want to give up the Adderall, necessarily, though I will certainly bring this up to my psychiatrist during my next visit in a couple weeks.
Does anyone else out there experience this? Or do you have any insights into what might be going on with me? Tips for overcoming the post-run sads? I have talked to my GP about it, and he hadn't heard of it happening before. He did put me on some iron supplements over the summer, which got my levels up. But here we are.
Thanks in advance for your insights, MeFites!
I've been running for about 10 years now, and have pretty much always had this problem. One out of every 10 jogs, I get inside, get in the shower, and then this... darkness just falls over me. Everything feels hopeless and washed out. It gives me great empathy for those who have lifelong depression, because it is truly wrecking. Exactly the opposite of the "runner's high" you want to have after physical activity! (I often feel great afterward, too, thank goodness. This is just sometimes.)
After many years of struggling against myself, and thanks to you lovely MeFites (this thread in particular, which absolutely changed my life) I finally have an ADD diagnosis and started on a small dose of Adderall (5mg once or twice a day) a few weeks ago.
Now I've had the post-run sads twice this week, including today, which is why I'm writing this.
It was a pretty standard 5-mile run. I was right around my average pace, didn't exert myself too hard, was sufficiently hydrated, etc. I took 5mg of Adderall at 9am (and had an espresso a bit later) and then started the run at around 5pm.
As you might imagine, if I feel this too often I'm going to associate the dark, gnawing feeling with running and lose motivation to do it, which I absolutely do not want. I know that running makes me overall less anxious, happier, etc. I also do not want to give up the Adderall, necessarily, though I will certainly bring this up to my psychiatrist during my next visit in a couple weeks.
Does anyone else out there experience this? Or do you have any insights into what might be going on with me? Tips for overcoming the post-run sads? I have talked to my GP about it, and he hadn't heard of it happening before. He did put me on some iron supplements over the summer, which got my levels up. But here we are.
Thanks in advance for your insights, MeFites!
Best answer: I asked this same thing in 2011. It was a personal issue that, once resolved, made it possible for me to exercise without the runner's low. I was under extreme stress and duress and running was meditative enough that it let all the stuff I was pushing down boil up to the surface. YMMV, of course, and it's easy to try having a banana before or after your workout for a bit to see if it persists, so maybe see if it's your blood sugar and if it isn't, perhaps it's something deeper. Take care.
posted by k8lin at 4:37 PM on April 5, 2019 [9 favorites]
posted by k8lin at 4:37 PM on April 5, 2019 [9 favorites]
Low blood sugar makes me really sad and depressed- it's enough to epically ruin my day. Adderall is an appetite suppressant and tends to accelerate the metabolism, so you're likely eating less AND burning more calories, which could tank your blood sugar even before you exacerbate the sugar-burning with exercise. Make sure to eat enough calories, eat complex carbs and add extra fat a little while before the exercise, and more protein afterwards.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:53 PM on April 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:53 PM on April 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Doh! I swear I searched for this question before posting. But now I'm reading your older thread k8lin. Super-helpful, and I'm relieved to learn I'm not the only one. (No one in my "real life" experiences this.)
executive_dysfuncti0n (ha!), it's regular old Adderall, not XR.
posted by gold bridges at 5:19 PM on April 5, 2019
executive_dysfuncti0n (ha!), it's regular old Adderall, not XR.
posted by gold bridges at 5:19 PM on April 5, 2019
I think it is blood sugar and that the Adderal is making it worse.
The mechanism is that one of the functions of your adrenal glands is to raise your blood sugar when the usual sources, such as glycogen in the liver, are exhausted; this is called gluconeogenesis.
Adderal is similar enough to adrenalin, however, that it tends to depress adrenal activity (thereby helping maintain homeostasis), and this also suppresses or limits glad condo genesis, er, that is, gluconeogenesis.
posted by jamjam at 5:30 PM on April 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
The mechanism is that one of the functions of your adrenal glands is to raise your blood sugar when the usual sources, such as glycogen in the liver, are exhausted; this is called gluconeogenesis.
Adderal is similar enough to adrenalin, however, that it tends to depress adrenal activity (thereby helping maintain homeostasis), and this also suppresses or limits glad condo genesis, er, that is, gluconeogenesis.
posted by jamjam at 5:30 PM on April 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
This always happens to me with any strenuous exercise. It's not blood sugar (I'm T1D and do multiple fingersticks before and after at regular intervals, and always eat appropriate snacks) and I don't take Adderall. Everyone preaches about exercise being universally good for depression, but AFAIC that's highly specific to individuals
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:40 AM on April 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:40 AM on April 7, 2019 [3 favorites]
If I forget to eat something before my morning exercise I can pretty much guarantee I’ll have a depressive spell afterwards.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:28 PM on April 7, 2019
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:28 PM on April 7, 2019
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