Mental Health and Exercise

six1908

Hi all. I am wondering if any of you suffer from a diagnosed (or undiagnosed) mental illness (depression, anxiety, ocd, bipolar, etc) and how has exercise helped you? Has it alleviated suffering? I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and have put on about 60lbs since I've went on medication to be come "normal", it's disheartening but something I know I can overcome. I'm just wondering if any of you have any stories or thoughts on the matter. Thanks so much.

marissanik

Exercise and eating healthy most definitely increases my mental health. Especially when I run, I feel so good after. I had depression years ago but never exercised at the time so I can't say if it necessarily helped my depression or not.

mevvies

I suffer with anxiety, which if not sorted slips into depression, losing weight and exercising has definitely helped me, with anxiety I go for a run instead of reaching for the chocolate and its help. Good luck

bookworm_847

I suffer from depression, and losing weight & exercising has helped my symptoms by increasing my confidence a bit. I just finished Les Mills Combat, and that actually helped my depression a lot. I felt empowered! I'm not cured, but I'd say it has helped.

fitmommy2012

I suffer from BPD - Borderline Personality Disorder and exercise and eating healthy has really helped me. With BPD I suffer from severe depression at times and when I feel like I am falling into that dark pit, I try to drag myself out to run, sometimes running until I cannot run anymore, and that has helped alleviate a lot of the symptoms that the medication doesn't take away!

Fallingsakura

Hi there... I've also put on sixty pounds since medication for Depression and anxiety. It's really soul destroying as I no longer wish to socialise and affects my self esteem deeply. Exercise is helping but it's an uphill battle.

AsaThorsWoman

Yes.

In fact, I was downright shocked to see how my efforts to improve my physical health seemed to directly effect the mental health aspect.

I truly believe health is three pillars, physical, mental and spiritual, and you will only be as strong as your weakest pillar.

My weakest was physical, and vast improvements to that have rippled out into almost every aspect of my life.

ftloy

I've been diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience: Assuming I can muster up the energy to actually exercise, the flood of endorphins does in fact help to alleviate -- or at least take the edge off -- the symptoms of the BPD and MDD for a brief period of time; however, I have to accept it for what it is ... another tool in my arsenal as, despite what people on the interwebs want us to believe, eating healthy and exercising [alone] is not the cure. It helps, but those two things together will not magically make us mentally off-kilter folks "all better" or "normal".

meganhertz

Diagnosed with a panic disorder. The exercise helps reduce my stress levels immensely, although its definitely difficult to keep on track with eating well for bad stress days. Have made it two weeks so far, and have not had any panic attacks since I started exercising regularly.

BruinsLeafs718

I see it every day working at a Mental Health Care facility.. the clients we have that are out and about are generally happier and healthier. You can really see the difference in the people that are out walking around.. getting involved in the activities.. from the time they go out in the morning to the time they come back in after the passes.. completely different attitudes.. its amazing really

CindyMarcuzAdams

I have anxeity and depression and am medicated . I have been on mfp for 37 days and walk for 40 min a day. I have not noticed a big difference. I am hoping to come off meds soon and see if my lifestyle chance has and will make a difference. Time will tell...

adopp062715

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and I'm currently on meds to help with them. Exercise and eating healthy helps but it doesn't completely fix things. There are days when I feel great and then there are days where no amount of exercise will help. I'm working on it and taking it day by day. These last couple of days have been bad. The couple of weeks before that were better. Again, it depends on the day and what I'm able to do. I'm hoping in the future that I will be able to completely come off the meds completely and manage my symptoms with exercise and healthy eating.

michellemybelll

i would really like to a see a study done comparing the affects of regular exercise and steady eating vs. the affects of medication on individuals with mental disorders. i have a feeling the neurological affect of intense exercise and moderating one's eating actually does more to alleviate the symptoms of mental disorders, possibly even helping one overcome the disorder.

i don't think the combination of an intense sweat session and a relatively nutritionally dense and routine diet is given enough credit for combating mental illness.

michellemybelll

I've been diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience: Assuming I can muster up the energy to actually exercise, the flood of endorphins does in fact help to alleviate -- or at least take the edge off -- the symptoms of the BPD and MDD for a brief period of time; however, I have to accept it for what it is ... another tool in my arsenal as, despite what people on the interwebs want us to believe, eating healthy and exercising [alone] is not the cure. It helps, but those two things together will not magically make us mentally off-kilter folks "all better" or "normal".

you can't really sweep every person who's experienced mental illness into that generalization. it's so very individual, it's impossible to say one thing won't help one person. i think it's very possible for healthy eating and steady, intense exercise to alone aid someone in overcoming this hurdle.

ETA: routine is key as well. i think it's very important to create a steady routine, and stick to it, in order to really effectively use diet and exercise as one's primary means of overcoming something like this.

TheVirgoddess

Hi all. I am wondering if any of you suffer from a diagnosed (or undiagnosed) mental illness (depression, anxiety, ocd, bipolar, etc) and how has exercise helped you? Has it alleviated suffering? I suffer from Bipolar Disorder and have put on about 60lbs since I've went on medication to be come "normal", it's disheartening but something I know I can overcome. I'm just wondering if any of you have any stories or thoughts on the matter. Thanks so much.

Yes. In March I was diagnosed with severe depression and moderate to severe anxiety disorder (secondary to sleep deprivation, but that doesn't really matter). Exercise does absolutely help me - it makes me feel in control of myself and my health and the endorphin rush is great, too. That said, I'm also on daily medication. I've struggled with depression on and off for many years and have responded well to medication.

I think investing in your health is a really positive and tangible reward, and for a control freak like me, is a huge bonus.

I'm feeling better now than I have in years. Best of luck to you!

One_Last_Time

If i'm feeling stressed, tired, anxious or depressed and i go to work out i feel WORSE! I have broken down and cried many times at the gym. I guess it could be that i view exercise as a punishment. I like being active, I HATE exercise.

ftloy

I've been diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience: Assuming I can muster up the energy to actually exercise, the flood of endorphins does in fact help to alleviate -- or at least take the edge off -- the symptoms of the BPD and MDD for a brief period of time; however, I have to accept it for what it is ... another tool in my arsenal as, despite what people on the interwebs want us to believe, eating healthy and exercising [alone] is not the cure. It helps, but those two things together will not magically make us mentally off-kilter folks "all better" or "normal".

you can't really sweep every person who's experienced mental illness into that generalization. it's so very individual, it's impossible to say one thing won't help one person. i think it's very possible for healthy eating and steady, intense exercise to alone aid someone in overcoming this hurdle.

ETA: routine is key as well. i think it's very important to create a steady routine, and stick to it, in order to really effectively use diet and exercise as one's primary means of overcoming something like this.

Erm ... I'm pretty sure I wasn't making any gross sweeping generalizations. In fact, I'm fairly confident that I made the following disclaimer to cover my *kitten*: "here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience"; additionally, I thought I used "I" and "my" consistently throughout my post with regard to how diet (nutrition) and exercise helps to boost [my] state of mental health. When I said what I did near the end of my post, I was referring to the people out there who actually do make sweeping generalizations about mental illness -- I've seen the statements and conversations myself from these people -- and those who suffer from it.

P.S. What mental illness/es do you suffer from, if you don't mind me asking?

TheVirgoddess

If i'm feeling stressed, tired, anxious or depressed and i go to work out i feel WORSE! I have broken down and cried many times at the gym. I guess it could be that i view exercise as a punishment. I like being active, I HATE exercise.

Aww, that sucks! I don't like typical exercises, I do things like salsa dance and I've even prancercized a time or two. I hope you find something you enjoy!

LaiceePNW

I have depression and anxiety and I have found that when I eat fast food I feel all sluggish and after flaking off on exercising for a couple of days I feel way down. After going for an attempted jog I always feel better

michellemybelll

I've been diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) and here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience: Assuming I can muster up the energy to actually exercise, the flood of endorphins does in fact help to alleviate -- or at least take the edge off -- the symptoms of the BPD and MDD for a brief period of time; however, I have to accept it for what it is ... another tool in my arsenal as, despite what people on the interwebs want us to believe, eating healthy and exercising [alone] is not the cure. It helps, but those two things together will not magically make us mentally off-kilter folks "all better" or "normal".

you can't really sweep every person who's experienced mental illness into that generalization. it's so very individual, it's impossible to say one thing won't help one person. i think it's very possible for healthy eating and steady, intense exercise to alone aid someone in overcoming this hurdle.

ETA: routine is key as well. i think it's very important to create a steady routine, and stick to it, in order to really effectively use diet and exercise as one's primary means of overcoming something like this.

Erm ... I'm pretty sure I wasn't making any gross sweeping generalizations. In fact, I'm fairly confident that I made the following disclaimer to cover my *kitten*: "here's my opinion, which is based solely upon my own personal experience"; additionally, I thought I used "I" and "my" consistently throughout my post with regard to how diet (nutrition) and exercise helps to boost [my] state of mental health. When I said what I did near the end of my post, I was referring to the people out there who actually do make sweeping generalizations about mental illness -- I've seen the statements and conversations myself from these people -- and those who suffer from it.

P.S. What mental illness/es do you suffer from, if you don't mind me asking?

i do mind you asking. i didn't self disclose previously, and i'm certainly not now to you. and your last couple sentences do make a sweeping generalization. that's what i fixated on, and what i wanted to bring attention to your inaccuracy.

neandermagnon

PTSD (and related issues from that including depression)

doing heavy lifting has helped immensely. okay, it's number 2 after getting therapy with someone who is qualified and experienced with treating PTSD. but yes it helped a lot. Getting enough sunlight is another one because I seem to have some kind of seasonal affective disorder as well, as in if I don't get enough vitamin D (including from the sun because it's hard to get enough in the diet) then I become depressed.

so back to heavy lifting - part of it is that it helps to remove stress hormones from the system. We evolved in a time when the best response to danger was some kind of strenuous physical activity (fighting or running away) and so our body's stress response system expects us to be engaged in strenuous physical activity shortly after becoming stressed out. So exercise helps get rid of these stress hormones and also replaces them with "happy hormones" like endorphins. It's not just that though... PTSD left me feeling extremely weak, scared and vulnerable.... and being able to squat my body weight and deadlift more than my body weight kind of completely obliterated that belief. It made me feel strong and powerful, and you can't continue to believe that you're weak and vulnerable when you're deadlifting that much, seriously.

As has been discussed, exercise alone won't cure mental illness but it really can help with fighting it, and it's individual, i.e. it'll help some people more than others. but in my case it definitely did help a lot. but I would never recommend it as a substitute for seeking professional help... just as something to do in addition to seeking professional help.