Running used to help my depression. Now it seems to trigger it. Anyone else?
First post ever, here or anywhere on Reddit. I’ve lurked through Google searches for a while.
Quick background: I’ve dealt with long-term, treatment-resistant depression for years. It’s gotten a lot worse since my son was born 9 months ago. I don’t think he’s the cause, but the intensity of parenting definitely isn’t helping.
I’ve been a recreational runner for over a decade, and in the past, running was one of the few things that reliably helped. Even in bad patches, it gave me a real mental boost.
Lately something’s shifted. I’m still running, but instead of the usual lift, I get hit with intense dark thoughts almost as soon as I finish, and it lasts until I go to bed. I’m fuelling properly, not overtraining, nothing’s changed there.
Has anyone else had running flip from a coping tool to a trigger like this? Would genuinely appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through it.