I’ve read more “suicide”, “Depressed” and “I can’t take it anymore” threads in the last month here than your typical drug dependency “Hotline” gets the friday night after SS checks goes out.
Is there something in the water out there?
Buck up campers. We’ve got it good. Hell we’ve got it GREAT! If your posting here at very least you have access to a publicly available computer and likely aren’t starving to to death. You’ve got clothes on your back and and enough expendable time to post here.
~Matt
Slowtwitch is just a microcosm of society. The people who post here are just comfortable talking about these things here. As a whole, I think triathletes are happier than the greater populous (if the clients in my first due are any indication). Writing about it is probably good for them, so write away!
I understand your post. Your heart seems to be in the right place…
But if you haven’t been to the edge, stood, and looked down…its hard to have any concept of where these folks are…
Sometimes a person can’t “Buck up”…no matter how hard they really want to…
Triathletes are humans…and have complex lives…there are a ton of reasons why someone might find themselves depressed…
Better to just lend an ear…reach out…give one of them your phone number…help them get help…anything…but don’t just say “buck up”…likely as not they’re trying like hell to get out of the dark place they’re in…they don’t need any more pressure to do so from outside sources…
Competitive people are quite often obsessive compulsive types; there are propably more crazy people per dozen triathletes than you’d find in the general populace.
Alan said, “Slowtwitch is just a microcosm of society.”
He’s right. The other threads on this forum about careers, etc. allude to that.
And Slowtwitch is just a microcosm of triathlon. I tend to see the people here are a bit different then many of the people I train and race with.
Overtraining and burnout are major contributors to depression and feel down in the dumps and irritable. Think of what we put our bodies through on a weekly basis with minimal recovery, on top of everything else that life demands. I know I have my moments, and I would expect most people here have them too.
Last week I worked out three days and took four days off. My mental outlook has changed tremendously. I feel guilty about the missed workouts, but at least I don’t feel depressed, weepy, and grouchy anymore.
Hmmmm, yes, I guess those are some lyrics from days of old…totally unintentional though…
in all honesty, no matter how many clothes, how much money, or how great the spouse and kids are, we are all human and have the human condition.
the emotional state of mind is a fragile one and is so imperfect. we all have issues and it’s hard to work them out. we all have behaviors and feelings that we don’t like. we all have tragedies that are so difficult to overcome. we all have traumatic events that shape our lives. we are all people.
not only are we people, but we are all athletes. and for the most part we understand each other. and life is full of tragedy and triumph. on this board we share it all.
when you’re up, you can encourage others. when you’re down, someone else will encourage you. we’re all good for each other in that way ;).
oh, and this “when they are done, the immediate thought is I’ve got to do it again next year” was totally me.
Mostly, people here are depressed because they can’t be more like me.
You’re Style Man, aren’t you?
“Slowtwitch is just a microcosm of society.”
Certainly this is true. However I’m wondering what “dynamics” abound here that would allow someone to be so “free” as to discuss ones detailed view of ones personal life as to include thoughst of suicide, radical career moves, personal relationships etc etc.
In my “microcosm” of real life I know of very few people that discuss seriously such thoughts. Sure we have the glancing, “light hearted” discussion of “Oh freakin kill me” and “I’m gonna quite my job and go work at…” or any number of version of what’s been discussd here. Frankly however if any of my friends in the “real world” were to talk as some do here I’d escort them to local mental health clinic…if I thought they were serious.
Are people posting “Serious subject matter” with only “semi-serious” intent? Maybe as a sounding board?
Obviously people are different, I just don’t comprehend being in such a place as walking the tightrope with darkness, suicide must be and having the desire to post publicly my thoughts.
Of course playing the “devils advocate”. I’ve been in a number of situations in “real life” where one has “attempted” or spoke of attempting suicide or other radical behavior that was more a “grasp for attention” then anything else.
The question then becomes is this “playing up to the need for attention” healthy and helping the individual or making matters worse?
Not positive but historicaly aren’t the ones that are most successful at radical behaviors also the ones that talk about it the least?
Not trying to be a “Prick”, as others who have posted have been called, but seriously trying to open up dialogue on what could be and possibly is a very serious problem.
~Matt
Maybe reality is just a crutch for people who can’t handle life without triathlon.
Anonymous message board posts and conversations with faceless strangers who share a common passion make it easier for some folks to open their hearts and share their deepest fears and desires.
You could consider Slowtwitch analogous to an AA/NA meeting for a different type of addict.