Exercise and depression

Ohnoes

Yes. The holidays throwing off my exercise routine sent me way down. On rest days I try to get a long walk outdoors, usually yoga as well. Skipping days can set off a bad cycle for me.

bbg_daryl

Actually, I'm the exact opposite. I get depressed and overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness during and after exercising because it reminds me how fat I am.

littleburgy

I use exercise to help me with depression, too. My bouts come and go. I don't exercise daily (usually 5-6 days per week) but I do get really down and pissy if I haven't trained in a few days. I still take meds but I find they don't work as well if expected to work on their own.

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bowbeforethoraxis

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!

I live in the PNW, and really it just depends where you live. On the western side (Seattle, Portland) it's really rainy, but once you pass the Cascades it's mostly deserty. Where I live in Washington, we get about 5 inches of rain in a year.

Also, I just want to say that exercise is great when you're dealing with mild depression, but if you're experiencing major depression if you aren't getting a hard workout in every single day, it might be best to talk to a doctor about it.

I guess I'm not clear on how you define the exercising daily. I walk my dog and do at least some (sometimes only 15-20 minutes) yoga daily, but I don't really count that as exercising daily. For me, I don't count that as exercise, more just a part of life, but if that's what you mean it sounds fine and healthy. If you're saying you need to lift for an hour then run 5 miles every single day with no rest days, that isn't healthy and alternative methods of dealing with depression (therapy, medicine, and so on) would be worth looking into.

laineybz

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.

I'm much like this. I wasn't able to do exercise a few days prior to Christmas due to lack time. Work and social gatherings etc. Was hoping to do some Christmas Day/Boxing Day but i then got tonsillitis and lack the energy to do much. I've managed 20 mins wii fit yesterday and today and though not alot, I feel better for it.

ETA; a close family member of mine suffers with depression and anxiety. She defo finds exercise helps lift her.

rella_1003

I suffer from anxiety disorder and extreme low moods. At first when I joined MFP I was really hesitant to exercise because when you exercise your heart rate increases and that's really triggering for me. The situation I'm in now makes my mental health more important to me than my physical health but a lot of MFP users stressed how important exercise is and after advice from my therapist I started exercising and already feel the mental benefits even though its only been a couple of days! Combined with the weight loss (I've lost 2 inches around my waist) my mood had definitely picked up. It's nice to feel in control over my body and even if I don't have excellent mental health at least I'm improving my physical health. I'm a bit worried about whether or not I'll be motivated enough to exercise when my anxiety is really bad but I'll deal with that hurdle when I get to it.

weightliftingdiva

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!

This! I'm home from college now for the winter break, and too much food + lack of exercise + not being busy with school work is making me crazy! I start dwelling on things I shouldn't be dwelling on and my mood decreases significantly.

I find that I have a low mood, exercise and sleep cycle that I need to keep in balance. If I don't exercise, I don't sleep as well at night. If I don't sleep as well at night for several days straight, my mood decreases significantly. When my mood decreases and I'm tired, I'm way less likely to exercise, and the cycle continues. Sleep + exercise = healthy and happy for me!!

starlaca

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!

Me too! I'm in California and all this week it will be in the upper 70s. Who could ask for anything more? :bigsmile: