How cycling improved my mental health

This health stories is by Lauren Ephithite www.laurenephithite.com; in paid collaboration with cycling brand Jorvik who asked her to share how cycling helped with her health. Thank you for supporting this post as our sponsors help ensure we can pay our writers!

Cycling is known to have multiple benefits to our physical health-after all, the story behind Jorvik Adult Tricycles is that they originated when the owner was trying to find a trike for his father who had Parkinson’s. But they can also help our mental health- I have struggled with my mental health for over 10 years; since I was a teenager. I have anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. It’s always much worse during periods of high stress like when I was a student or recently when I was being made redundant from the job I loved. The stress of the redundancy led to a breakdown. I was having suicidal thoughts, life didn’t feel worth living, my future did not feel positive. I just felt exhausted. Completely drained. I couldn’t stop crying. Initially what I needed was rest. Lots of rest and time to get my head around what was happening. Seven weeks of rest and starting some counseling helped me return to work to finish my notice.

Since then cycling regularly has been a key part of my recovery. Once I’d got some of my energy back, I wanted to do some exercise. I started off with walking and progressed to cycling. I have found a 4-mile route which starts from my front door. It takes me about 30 minutes, and I try to do it a couple of times a week. I try and go first thing in the morning. If I plan to go later, I will make an excuse and not go. I don’t go very fast and that’s okay! If I’m not feeling great and it’s a real struggle to get out on my bike then I will have a slower, shorter ride. If I’m feeling happy and energetic then I might ride faster or for longer. I try and get out on my bike even if I don’t want to.

Endorphins

Exercise releases endorphins and dopamine which help to relax our mind and improve our mood. It can also help to expel the stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. I’ve heard people say that they feel better after exercise but I have never believed them! But I do feel better when I get home after a bike ride. I’ll feel sweaty and tired but I will also feel proud of myself. Proud that I have got out of the house, proud that I’ve achieved what I set out do and proud that I have exercised.

Mindfulness

I can be fully in the present moment when I’m cycling. The freedom of being able to go anywhere on my bike and being in the fresh air is a great way of practicing mindfulness. I’m not thinking about anything apart from continuing to push my feet down on the pedals.

Goals

Having a goal to work towards is really good for your mental health. I’ve found that monitoring my progress is motivating and helping to increase my confidence. I have a real sense of achievement every time I cycle as I feel that I’m getting stronger.

Social

I have now joined a women’s cycling group. Once I was confident with my regular route I plucked up the courage to join a women’s cycling group and go cycling with other people. This has really boosted my confidence with cycling, I could keep up with all the other riders and met some lovely, friendly people.

Now, my mental health is much better. I have just returned to work in a part-time role alongside my self-employed business. I try to think about my mental and physical health as being linked. I’m trying to think of my whole wellbeing and look after all of me.

About the author and sponsor

Lauren Ephithite is a mental health writer and advocate based in Norfolk, UK. She writes about her experiences of anxiety and depression with the aims of increasing awareness and reducing stigma. She hopes that sharing her mental health story will help herself and others. Jorvik are a York-based company which specialize in a range of different tricycles.