Just a thought..

[chilliconcarnage]

Back in September this year I went to Greece with my family for two weeks. In preparation for this I went a bit Gym mad and managed to loose nearly two stone in weight over about the previous 6months before the holiday. I really looked forward to the holiday and it turned out to be THE best holiday I've ever had. It was also a sort of a belated Honeymoon(but with 2 kids in tow..lol) for me and the wife as we couldnt afford one when we got married. It was two weeks of 30 degree heat, eating nice and healthy food and generally having a blast.

When we came back to the uk we had to go to a wedding in Scotland so flew again up to Scotland. But we went with my folks which was a bit stressfull... Now flying wise I'm ok. Usual IBS Anxiety that ive had for years rears its ugly head but thats soon dealt with by Immodium :).  It was about nearly three weeks after the holiday that I had my sudden depressive episode (See Rabbit hole thread 22/12/2011).

Now I've been thinking about all of this...
Prior to going on holiday I used up a lot of Adrenalin by going to the gym a lot.
Whilst on Holiday I was soaking up the sun and probably getting a lot of Serotonin into me.

Then I came back to the Uk. And stopped the gym - Therefore not using up excess Adrenalin.
And the typical UK weather wasnt great, hence a probable sudden drop in Serotonin.

Could this have been a contributor to my Depressive episode?? I suppose its a possibility. Just a thought..

[Zaf]

I guess it could be something about various chemical balances but you'll need someone cleverer than me to tell you...

[chilliconcarnage]

I  mentioned it to my Psychiatrist. She said it could be a possibility. Just wondered if anyone else had a bout of depression after going on holiday and getting lots of sun. Or after giving up the gym. kinda makes sense that the usage of Adrenalin at the Gym suddenly stopping and also Serotonin no longer being absorbed could cause an episode.?

[Lol]

I can see it might be a possibility. You had stopped 3 main mood enhancing things sun, fun, and gym, pretty much all at once!

[chilliconcarnage]

Yeah, possibly a shock to the body's/brain's chemical balance. Just something I was pondering which I thought I would share :)

[SteveW]

So far as I'm aware serotonin synthesis has nothing to do with sunlight.I'll quote

Serotonin in mammals is made by two different tryptophan hydroxylases: TPH1 produces serotonin in the pineal gland and the enterochromaffin cells, while TPH2 produces it in the raphe nuclei and in the myenteric plexus

You are also assuming that depression is a serotonin deficit. This is by no means established fact. Nice little theory but I'm afraid you haven't convinced me even remotely.

[Got]

There are lots and lots of studies on many animals, not just mammals, but others as well, such as fish, that have found changes in levels of hormones and neurotransmitters, resulting from changes in light periodicity and even spectrum. Trytophan, serotonin, melotonin, growth hormone, etc are influenced by photo period...not neccessarily directly.

I doubt going to the gym then stopping brought on your depression, it may have been a number of this, combined with a genetic predisposition.

Whatever the cause, depressive episodes are horrible, and so I wish you a rapid recovery.

Steve

[SteveW]

PS
You don't get serotonin into you as such. The raw material from which it is made is the amino acid Tryptophan. If you had stuffed yourself with the following on holiday you might just have increased your serotonin levels,probably not even then: chocolate, oats, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, corn, spirulina, and peanuts

[Got]

I have a friend with an addiction to cheese, without it, he claims to be depressed, and he puts this down to tryptophan.

[SteveW]

In our little debate I forgot to send my best wishes for your recovery. I hope whatever you are taking works soon.

[Glen53]

Its more likely to be a simple case of having such a wonderful stressless time and then having it all end suddenly with a crash. The chemical imbalance thing tends to make you more sensitive to low moods, but in the end something needs to set those feelings off.

Just my opinion, but either way, its best not to look too deeply into why. Sometimes you can feel worse for looking so hard and finding no answers because there arent any.

Concentrate on doing whatever makes you feel happy. Be good to yourself and take plenty of rest. Talk to us on here if you need support and Im sure you will pull through  :)

[Got]

Yes, my worse depressive episodes have been triggered, but sometimes, I become depressed for no obvious exogenous reason.

[chilliconcarnage]

Interesting, I thought Serotonin levels were dependant on sunlight. Thinking about it now its probably the length of daylight rather than the intensity of it. Hence SAD syndrome during shorter daylight hours. Im getting a SAD bulb. My Identical twin brother (who has also suffered bad Depression on and off for a long time) swears by his.

Thanks guys!

[woozywoo]

I bought myself a sad light the other day because i do think the lack of sunlight affects my mood...

[Zaf]

I use a SAD light too and I also find my daylight clock indespensible