You’re resolutely avoiding/ignoring my repeated mentions of therapy. May I ask why?
It’s like you’ve come in here with cardiac issues and are carefully responding to things like “you might try an air purifier,” “I tell you, walking 15 minutes a day fixed me right up,” and “I was having palpitations, but now I do a Calm.com meditation every evening and haven’t had any trouble since” but ignoring “you should talk to your PCP and get a referral to a cardiologist.”
Cool story bro. Good luck.
This got a genuine chuckle out of me.
Have you tried oragami? because there aren’t many physical pursuits that don’t come with a risk of injury.
At 40 with no other hobbies, I genuinely wonder what someone is saving their body from injury for.
All those increases in energy, strength, and mobility once you hit 80.
This should be in my Woo Woo thread, lol.
My buddy told me fifteen years ago that there are two types of dudes at 40 - those that are married and depressed, and those that are single and depressed.
In the Joseph Campbell model, depression is the dark night of the soul. It’s a sign that you are awakening and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Embrace it.
Look at it this way - you could be me, So, you aren’t, and you have that going for you.
As mentioned, Buddhism, yoga, volunteer. All good advice, none of which I follow, lol.
Great topic.
I’ve been in a similar rut. It took me a couple years to break the cycle. And the only thing that made it possible for me was to move. Literally, I had to ditch my current life, move to another state and start something completely new. New job, new house, new friends. I highlight doubt I would be happy if I didn’t make such a drastic change.
Can’t answer for him, but I know of 2 possible causes.
Some people like to fix stuff Then seek help to show everybody how good they did.
Scheduling appointments and whatnot makes it real. Once something becomes real it’s not as easy to wave away or pretend it isn’t Really a problem.
Just an observation though. I’m sure there are plenty more.
Find an outdoorsy hobby. Something that requires fitness and skill and gets your ass out in nature. Just being in nature has proven benefits on emotional well-being, and adrenaline and endorphins from outdoor sports will help as well.
Get into photography. Take cooking classes and learn real technique in the kitchen, not just robot recipe following. Etc.
You know what I do when I’m scared or anxious to do something? I just jump in and trust it’ll workout. Just like writing, if you keep waiting for inspiration and the perfect words you’ll never start. Just send it, and figure it out on the fly.
Hey EmilyQ, not trying to ignore you here. I think therapy is a very good idea. And I appreciate your advice, really.
You make a really good point. And yes spending time in natural surroundings has been proven to be very effective as a tool to help against depression and anxiety.
Never mind my previous question, I see that you already answered it in a prior post. Thanks!
I’m curious why? Because of the progressive overload? So far it’s working well for me although I may choose to stop progressing and just maintain at a certain point. My goal is not to hulk up, but I like gaining strength week by week and seeing progress.
I’ll check out Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy.
Why do people assume it’s hard to avoid being superhumanly jacked? If your goal is not to hulk up, you’re a goal-meeting motherfucker, my friend.
Among other things yeah. If like that style of training do a classic 5x5 like madcow or Bill Starr template. Thib put out this recently also.
if going to perservere with SL then once you stall(which will happen soon) move on straight away to something off Tnation pref with a good amount of metabolic work and varying intensity -this will build you energy in turn should help lift mood
Yeah as above, dont worry about this. Doubly so if 40+ …Bit like saying “hmm if go for a run every morning, dont want to accidentally end up in the Olympics next summer”
Well my plan just got shot to shit
I worry about that, too, up there in the spare bedroom, running on my 15-year-old treadmill. “What if I get too fast? THEN what?”
The kettlebells, too. What if I accidentally complete the 10K Kettlebell Swing Challenge and make everyone feel like shit because they all whined about DOMS and here I barely notice I’m doing it?
What if I finish Sheiko and accidentally hit a 3 plate deadlift… the horror… 
I’d equate it to newb gains