“I ride because I am addicted to the endorphins and to the adrenaline. I ride because the second my legs start turning circles I become a happier person. I ride because I love to feel the wind on my face and listen to the birds and bugs. I ride because it allows me to take out my aggression and anger. I ride because it stabilizes my life and creates balance. I ride because going downhill at 40 mph makes me feel wild and free. I ride because I can’t cry and pedal and the same time. I ride because it allows me to play with the boys. I ride because I can go alone. I ride because even though I have ridden the route a 1000 times, I never know what is around the next bend.” — Emily Kachorek

Depression affects everyone at some point or another, but there is a difference between feeling down and having a condition that takes over every aspect of your life. Being in college and having depression can leave a student feeling hopeless. In 2011, the National Institute of Mental Health found that 30 percent of college students felt so depressed they couldn’t function.

As the stigma surrounding mental health issues begins to fade, different ways to cope are emerging. Science has shown that exercise releases similar results as antidepressants. One of the most notable exercises to fight depression is cycling.

Cycling decreases stress, increases the endorphins and gets the heart going. It connects the rider back to nature, and gives them full control of their life: The freedom to go where you want, when you want and at whatever speed that seems fitting is the ultimate form of control. This is especially powerful for someone who feels like their life and emotions are out of control.

Not only does cycling give a sense of freedom, but also a sense of completion. Going out, and conquering a ride, getting the miles in and seeing it through to the end is a great feeling. That feeling also leads to rest. Anxiety often goes hand in hand with depression, sometimes making it hard for a person to be calm enough to get an adequet amount of sleep. Cycling helps the rider sleep, and gives them a sense of completion at the end of the day.

Also — cycling gets you high. A cycling ‘high’ is similar to a runner’s ‘high.’ These are thanks to those nifty endorphins that are released when a person is doing something physical. It keeps the body going physically, but more importantly, it clears the mind. Instead of thinking about life problems and having negative self thoughts, a cycling ‘high’ switches the riders thinking to one of self praise.

Depression is a serious mental health condition that many people struggle with and should not be ashamed about. But, there are ways to cope. And there is no safer way than going for a ride.

Be healthy, be seen, ride on.