Exercise and depression

starlaca

I've noticed that when I don't exercise on a daily basis that I get depressed. I have been told that it's not necessary to exercise every day but I find if I don't, I feel down. When I do, I am in such a good mood. Just wondering if there are others out there who treat depression with exercise.

AlongCame_Molly

Here! I was medicated for light, chronic depression for years. When I moved out and had no insurance I had to stop taking the meds, and I felt terrible for a good many years. Now that I'm exercising regularly, I find I rarely have any bouts of depression anymore, and when I do, they are much more mild and don't last as long.

typo

randomtai

Me too... I notice when I don't get regular exercise, things get bad... It is just sometimes hard to get past the depression to go exercise.

starlaca

Randomtai: I too have a hard time getting passed the depression to exercise. It's amazing how the human body can fix things if we just work with it and allow it to.

Alongcame_molly: Thanks for sharing. My son has suffered with depression for many years and has been off his meds for quite a while. I will tell him about your experience...but then again, kids don't think moms know much.

pcastagner

I take rest days, but on those days I'm totally wiped and I need it., so I go for a hike or whatever for exercise, but I don't TRAIN on rest days.

I have been stable since I made exercise a habit.

Pamstimelines

sorry, I'm not depressed if I don't workout. I just like the topic and want to hear how it works for people as that is still motivating. I tend to grumble through the start and sometimes the whole workout. Although I am better off and don't regret working out, I still grumble. I think that is a bad emotion and probably not good.

pcastagner

There are bad emotions?

eileen0515

Daily exercise is a mood lifter, attitude adjuster for me. However I am not clinically depressed without it.

XTSH

Depression? No, I won't say it's that serious. However I feel that my discipline lacks during my rest days. Lack of discipline lead to eating without second thought which then lead to over eating. I do feel regretful sometimes.

Exercise keep me occupied and also, I always feel accomplished after a good sweat. Due to this reason, I try to keep my rest days minimum.

Awesomers

I've had irregular bouts of depression throughout my life. I was also diagnosed with PTSD a few years ago. I have noticed that, besides my TOM, I feel so much happier. I do get an "itch" to work out on my rest days, though. I think that as long as I'm not pushing myself toward an injury that exercising as much as I want is okay.

Cortelli

I've noticed that when I don't exercise on a daily basis that I get depressed.

Lucky you - you've discovered at least one way to help stave off depression. :flowerforyou:

I enjoy working out, but can't say that a lack of exercise induces any real problems for me.

KANGOOJUMPS

FOR SURE!
exercise helps beat any depression.
we always feel good coming back from working out.

D_squareG

Works for me too. I was on medication, but it didn't work for me as well as exercise. There are studies that say exercise is as effective as medication for treating depression. I believe it.

csuhar

I take rest days, but on those days I'm totally wiped and I need it., so I go for a hike or whatever for exercise, but I don't TRAIN on rest days.

I'm in much the same boat. I find that, rather than becoming depressed, I become more irritable if I have too many idle days. So I try to have some physical activity each day. I've found that even just taking my dog for a walk for 20-30 minutes instead of just letting her run around the back yard, while not as cathartic as a training day, is usually enough to take the edge off.

Hornsby

Exercise is nature's Prozac.

fannyfrost

I had about 9 really bad years. First my best friend died, on the 2 year anniversary of his death another best friend was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, he died 3 months later. Our 4 year old cat died of stomach cancer 8 months later, my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's and gradually got worse. My Mother-in-Law was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer (she had 4 good years before she died) my dad was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. When this all started my daughter was about 5. So I had a child to take care of and run around, I worked and my mom would say things like "your MIL ruined my Thanksgiving" and "you spend too much time with your daughter, I need you to do stuff for me" (my mom was so bad that at my dad's funeral she said "Nancy you did something right" everyone in car was so surprised we actually don't know what I did right.)

Oh I had some breast cancer scares and some uteran cancer scares during that time too. It was fun stuff. What got me through was exercise. When the stress got really bad, I worked out. So yes it really does work to elevate mood. They have even done studies that show exercise raises endorphines.

FYI = Yoga stretching is a good day off too if you still want to workout, but take it easy. Really works

edryer123

I totally feel this way. I found that even on rest days, if I just get up and going for a walk around the mall or something (keeps me away from food because I don't care for mall food anymore) It isn't really exercise but it is moving.

LeanButNotMean44

I don't feel depressed per se, but I definitely feel a bit more lethargic and not as happy as usual. Although they are important, I am not a fan of rest days. I try to do *something* everyday, even if it's what I would call "active rest" (i.e. not lifting or doing cardio - yoga, ab workout, etc.).

MickeS

Exercise work to treat depression. Here in sweden the doctors write exercise on prescription. Just like any other drug.

FrnkLft

I don't mean to go deep here, but you brought it up of course. This is pretty common and alright, at least that someone should feel better when they workout, but it's important to look at why you feel depressed when you're not working out too, yea?

It could just be a stressful job, which isn't a bad thing, (for instance my gf is in med school, and working out helps her manage stress/feel better, and get some activity in), or maybe there's more to it.

So yeah managing stress with activity is a great way to work through it, but make sure you're dealing with your issues as well.

starlaca

I had about 9 really bad years. First my best friend died, on the 2 year anniversary of his death another best friend was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, he died 3 months later. Our 4 year old cat died of stomach cancer 8 months later, my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's and gradually got worse. My Mother-in-Law was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer (she had 4 good years before she died) my dad was diagnosed with Prostate cancer. When this all started my daughter was about 5. So I had a child to take care of and run around, I worked and my mom would say things like "your MIL ruined my Thanksgiving" and "you spend too much time with your daughter, I need you to do stuff for me" (my mom was so bad that at my dad's funeral she said "Nancy you did something right" everyone in car was so surprised we actually don't know what I did right.)

Oh I had some breast cancer scares and some uteran cancer scares during that time too. It was fun stuff. What got me through was exercise. When the stress got really bad, I worked out. So yes it really does work to elevate mood. They have even done studies that show exercise raises endorphines.

FYI = Yoga stretching is a good day off too if you still want to workout, but take it easy. Really works

Nancy (I hope you don't mind me calling you that),

I'm so sorry to hear about all of your losses. I can't imagine how you pulled through all of that. Thank you for sharing, I appreciate it.

starlaca

I don't mean to go deep here, but you brought it up of course. This is pretty common and alright, at least that someone should feel better when they workout, but it's important to look at why you feel depressed when you're not working out too, yea?

It could just be a stressful job, which isn't a bad thing, (for instance my gf is in med school, and working out helps her manage stress/feel better, and get some activity in), or maybe there's more to it.

So yeah managing stress with activity is a great way to work through it, but make sure you're dealing with your issues as well.

I see what you're saying but I don't think that my depressed feelings when I'm not working out is a "major" issue. It's not like I feel like slitting my wrists or anything, or isolating myself from the world when I don't exercise. I think it just boils down to what everyone else said, working out releases endorphins. Not to mention I think I just feel better about myself because when I work out I tend to eat better than I do when I don't work out. And when you are good to your body I think you just feel better all around. Thanks for your concern though. :flowerforyou:

starlaca

I've noticed that when I don't exercise on a daily basis that I get depressed.

Lucky you - you've discovered at least one way to help stave off depression. :flowerforyou:

I enjoy working out, but can't say that a lack of exercise induces any real problems for me.

Too bad I can't bottle it and become a millionaire! :laugh:

JoRocka

ME ME ME ME ME ME

1-2 days and I'm totally fine- after 3 days I'm moody- grumpy- lethargic and extremely negative- any thing more than 3-5 days and I"m straight up depressed.

My mood is intrinsically tied to working HARD.

This is why even when I'm super tired- if it's my day to go to the gym- I go. I set a time- I find a good video to make me feel like a fat *kitten* (Watching DLB always does this for me) and then I go- no matter how crappy my workout- at least I went- once I stop going it's insanely difficult for me to go.

So it's just a rule. I must go. Regardless. Staves off the gremlins!

Pamstimelines

There are bad emotions?

I just meant that it was bad to feel that way. It probably makes my workout less effective?!

pcastagner

ME ME ME ME ME ME

1-2 days and I'm totally fine- after 3 days I'm moody- grumpy- lethargic and extremely negative- any thing more than 3-5 days and I"m straight up depressed.

My mood is intrinsically tied to working HARD.

This is why even when I'm super tired- if it's my day to go to the gym- I go. I set a time- I find a good video to make me feel like a fat *kitten* (Watching DLB always does this for me) and then I go- no matter how crappy my workout- at least I went- once I stop going it's insanely difficult for me to go.

So it's just a rule. I must go. Regardless. Staves off the gremlins!

Same here! Without my regular workouts I can wind up manic or depressed, even on meds. With a lot of hard work though, I am as stable as can be, and super productive. And no meds except a touch of the ole four twenty.

I go as far as taking a TRX with me to an audition if it disrupts my training schedule. After I sing, I run to a park or whatever and I get one in if I can't hit a gym.

FrnkLft

I don't mean to go deep here, but you brought it up of course. This is pretty common and alright, at least that someone should feel better when they workout, but it's important to look at why you feel depressed when you're not working out too, yea?

It could just be a stressful job, which isn't a bad thing, (for instance my gf is in med school, and working out helps her manage stress/feel better, and get some activity in), or maybe there's more to it.

So yeah managing stress with activity is a great way to work through it, but make sure you're dealing with your issues as well.

I see what you're saying but I don't think that my depressed feelings when I'm not working out is a "major" issue. It's not like I feel like slitting my wrists or anything, or isolating myself from the world when I don't exercise. I think it just boils down to what everyone else said, working out releases endorphins. Not to mention I think I just feel better about myself because when I work out I tend to eat better than I do when I don't work out. And when you are good to your body I think you just feel better all around. Thanks for your concern though. :flowerforyou:

Yea absolutely. It's definitely not all about the endorphins. It's just my nature, I'm happiest when I'm moving.

tfleischer

Exercise is nature's Prozac.

Better than prozac because it helps the boner to work better! Which leads to more happiness.
That may be too much info, but it is the truth.

kcvance

I'm in the middle of Seasonal Affective Disorder season here, and I need the endorphins from working out to get me through my day. I normally work out 6 days a week, and on my "rest" days I will at least go for a walk outside if the weather is nice (it usually is here in Phoenix).

Chainbreaker

Just wondering if there are others out there who treat depression with exercise.

Absolutely yes. Sweat is the hot, new, anti-depressant. : ) I concur that while one doesnt need to exercise every single day for the normal array of health benefits, I definitley need to incorporate some movement (preferably outside) daily. Even workout program appropriate 'rest days' sometimes affect my mood. I have to really listen to my body and give it the amount of endorphins it requires. Playing with my dog is great for that!

Chainbreaker

I'm in the middle of Seasonal Affective Disorder season here....I will at least go for a walk outside if the weather is nice (it usually is here in Phoenix).

I was recently commenting to a friend that I cant imagine living in the Pacific Northwest for this reason. If we get three cloudy days in a row I can feel the drain. I'm so thankful for sunny places like Phoenix!