mood swings?

TheGreatGatsby

Right, my girl last night and my parents for sometime have accused me of having the worst mood swings. When I come in from my ride they say they basically cant talk to me until I've had a shower and come back down. I said its cos I'm tired from the ride but now they say they're starting to slip into the day. Now I've read a few things about irritability due to magnesium deffeciency, early diabetes etc etc but I can't see its any of them.

Any one else suffer from mood swings after a ride or know of any possibilities why?

Gats

PhilofCas

the other way for me, on finishing ride i'm the nicest person there is, i personally find exercise a proper stress buster.
A quick Google just now shows only stress-busting/improved moods after exercise, not the other way.
Ease off the raw meat and hammer yourself more

TheGreatGatsby

I don't eat raw meat? In fact I don't eat much meat at all. As for the hammering myself - I do every single ride regardless of length! This week I have mostly been doing tempo training - 1.5hrs a day way above my usual cadence and HR nice and high! Usually exercise is a stress buster but I just get really irritable especially if I'm waiting for something like dinner.

Gats

AndrewBye

TheGreatGatsby wrote:

r but I just get really irritable especially if I'm waiting for something like dinner.

Gats

Perhaps you might be tired / hungry after training?

If so get to bed early to get your sleep, and have a snack / drink while you wait for dinner / straight after exercise.

All this training lark can make you tired and hungry - I was pretty grumpy last night too cuz I was tired and hungry :twisted: but then I went to bed and now im feeling alright..

Jeff Jones

It's normal to be tired after a ride, but if you're getting irritable at different times then maybe it's a lack of sleep in general? Or a combination of that and other stresses, work, not eating enough, etc. Look at all areas of your life.

A GP might be able to tell you more, although I haven't exactly been overwhelmed by the quality of GPs in this country.

I had a virus last year and asked one when I should start riding again. "Just go with the flow" were her exact words. Previously, I'd been told by a Belgian GP that exercising with or shortly after having a virus is the quickest way to kill yourself, or at least do permanent damage to your heart.

Anyway...

Mike Willcox

i'm always grumpy and blame training even when I don't feel tired.

TheGreatGatsby

can't be lack of sleep. Despite getting up early to ride I'm usually getting 7hours which is good for me. Not stressing about work cos I like my job - guess I do have trouble switching off from it though...

wouldn't go to a gp unless it was absolutely the last option in the book! About as much good as a chocolate fire guard - less so.

Gats

Garybee

I read Lemond's article in Pro Cycling a month or so ago and he talked about longer, harder rides causing a change in mood for the worse. He was pretty adament that this kind of training session causes muscle loss too.

Klassiker

I dont't think this is such an unusual problem, and may be a direct result of your current intesity of training. It's certainly something I am aware of within myself when I'm training hard. Probably something to do with stimulation of hormones or something (e.g. adrenaline). I also read somewhere that increased levels of lactate in the blood lead to increased agression. Try to cool down properly before you get home by riding really gently for 20mins. and ask your loved ones to give you a bit of space for a while straight after training.

sylvanus

Its definitely real when you're training hard. I realised what a problem it was when I found myself screaming at drivers on the Kings Road after early morning hard sessions in Richmond Park or alternatively bawling at the children after a hard Sunday ride. I now regard it as one of the invevitable symptoms of stress / overtraining and ensure more sleep / rest and more stretching / music / meditation / massage if I find myself beginning to get more ratty.

I now actually score my irritability in my training diary and regard it as a useful symptom / check on progress etc..!

alzeb

i find after the 3 hr mark my mood swings dramatocally and i either come home and literally hide from people or i start to self harm.ive also been told to eat more and i will be stronger and more even keel emotionally,there again im trying to lose weight so a bit stuck with it all,but i defo agree its a sign of syatem overload,make sure you eat even a little as soon as you get in,dont wait for your designated meal time,and try to keep away from people ,svae shte hassle of upsetting them and ruining relationships just for the sake of your "hobby"

sylvanus

You're definitely right about keeping properly fueled and I find that helps too (although if I'm trying to lose weight I just have to accept I'm going to be a bit ratty!).

However...alzeb, I'm not sure how to interpret your posting but if you're starting "to self-harm" in any situation as a result of overtraining then I really think you're pushing far too hard. Surely its not a good idea to stress a mind that may be fragile for other reasons? How about a few gentle group rides to help you in becoming more happy and relaxed and leave the hard training to later?

Papa Smurf

I can be abit of both, sometimes if I'm all puffed out and just wanna sit and get my head in gear I can be abit ratty but normally I'm ok.
Personally I find the weather has alot to do with it, if you've just had the cold wind in your face and you feel all cold, your joints hurt etc... Your not really inclined to be all bubbly about it...

ut_och_cykla

Irritability for no apparent external reason is probabaly due to effects of training either hormonal imbalance (eg cortisol the long term 'adrenaline') or lack of nutrients. I would guess that in Gats' case it is the latter perhaps accentuating the former.

Eat on the ride and immediately on return - before showering even - eg bread & fruit & milk and see if it helps. If you're very low on body fats you have few reserves and its important to keep topping up a bit all the time.

MAgnesium deficiency is unlikely to exist alone - most likely you are lacking in B vits too (from grains etc) but both might have an effect on mood. The easiest cure is to eat a balanced diet.

thats my guess anyway and the same applies to alzeb too. Self denial is all very well but if its making you 'self-harm' , give yourself and your body a break - before something bad happens like an accident because you're too cold/tired to concentrate, or too ratty to stay out of a fight. I take it you're neither of you pros so ease up - you only have one body - be kind to it!

TheGreatGatsby

I had another weird thing today on my ride. About an hour into the ride I got this weird sensation everytime I looked down that my eyes were going to fall out - like a pressure behind them kind of thing. It only happened when I looked down and was fine if I was looking straight ahead or closed my eyes looked down and the opened them again. It got better as the ride went on but lasted about an hour and a half.

anyone every herad of that before? So symptoms after a training ride so far are

1) Dizziness and temporary blindness when standing
2) Mood swings and general irritability
3) Strange pressure behind the eyes

sounds good dunnit?

Gats

sylvanus

I doubt its anything serious and it sounds like simple overtraining / stress combined with a virus / dehydration. I've had all of them from time to time. Have you just increased your training load or has life been more stressful recently?

However just in case I'd suggest you get a check from a doctor. If you repeat the list of symptoms above to them then they may refer you for a scan for possible sinus issues / inflamation / virus. Since you're not having fits or blackouts then it seems unlikely to be anything more serious. I'd check anyway and if you don't the keep a close eye on yourself. If you start to get more / worse headaches or sickness then get to a doctor straight away.

Edwin

Sounds like overtraining.
Have some cake and a few days off. Seriously!

TheGreatGatsby

I have cake every sunday (if I've earned it!) and I have a three day rest planned for the end of march.

Gats

allen

Overtraining recovery is part of training !

Edwin

Is thread a joke by the way? I love training but if people are going so hard that they start mutilating themselves, your eyes feel like they are falling out, or you are dizzy and almost passing out when standing up then quite frankly you've gone wrong somewhere.
A rare mineral defficiency is unlikely to be the answer.
Stop wasting time on the internet and seek medical and/or psychological help

Smeggers

Those of us who know some of Gats previous posts will be concerned about threads like this.

FFS Gats, get some help before you kill yourself. NOW.