Depression can be defined as a medical illness that impairs the mind and body and strikes over 16 million American adults annually, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. By affecting how you feel, think and behave, depression can eventually lead to emotional and physical problems. For a triathlete, depression can result from the emotional and physical stresses of training factors such as goal setting for competitions, training programs requiring a significant time commitment and detailed nutrition plans.
Training
Training for a triathlon requires a detailed training program and nutrition plan along with a list of performance goals. Throughout the training program, a triathlete is forced to allocate a significant amount of time to the workouts, which can reduce the amount of time spent for relaxation or family. Many triathletes have a nutrition plan and set a goal for a specific body fat percentage or race time. Depression can set in if these goals are not accomplished.
Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms of depression include frustration, loss of interest in normal activities, reduced sex drive, irregular sleep patterns, changes in appetite, restlessness, decreased concentration, fatigue and unexplained physical problems such as back pain or headaches. Triathletes, however, may think these symptoms are side effects from the training program. For example, back pain or headaches could be a result of A running workout or strength-training session, while changes in appetite can be associated with a nutrition plan.
Assessment
Proper assessment and treatment is critical to lessen or cure depression for anyone, including triathletes. According to the American Psychiatric Association, people may fail to identify their symptoms because they are ashamed to seek help. For a proper assessment, the Mayo Clinic suggests scheduling an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. If you don't feel comfortable speaking with a doctor, consult a friend or family member, health care professional or another person you trust.
Treatment
While 15 percent of chronic depression cases end in suicide, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, triathletes who seek assessment and consider the treatment options can experience a full recovery. Numerous antidepressant medications have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, including Wellbutrin, Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil. Other treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and electroconvulsive therapy.
