Depression and exercise!
latinlore21
Posts: 19
Hi, I mainly exercise to deal with my depression symptoms, buts its been extremely hard to get motivated lately! I've suffered from depression on and off for over 15 yrs, two yrs ago I started exercising to loose some weight and found it to also help me with my depression, I've been off depression meds for 1 1/2 yrs now, but I haven't been exercising lately due to having a new job which has ended up being more stressful than I bargain for, besides working FT, I also have two children and a husband who is not supportive 
What should I do to get back in to it, I really don't want to rely on meds to get me out of this slump!
Any suggestions?
What should I do to get back in to it, I really don't want to rely on meds to get me out of this slump!
Any suggestions?
0
Replies
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Take the kids to the park to play! Run around. Play tag (on the playground equipment is great). Do pull-ups and monkey bars. Have them throw water balloons at you. Soccer, basketball, whatever, just keep moving. It's a four-in-one: 1) exercise, 2) anti-depression medicine, 3) great memories with kids, and 4) extra anti-depression medicine because it's fun!0
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You find time for others....move yourself up to the top of the list. Those around you will benefit to...just a thought.0
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Damn the torpedoes...full speed ahead...:)0
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Take the kids to the park to play! Run around. Play tag (on the playground equipment is great). Do pull-ups and monkey bars. Have them throw water balloons at you. Soccer, basketball, whatever, just keep moving. It's a four-in-one: 1) exercise, 2) anti-depression medicine, 3) great memories with kids, and 4) extra anti-depression medicine because it's fun!
BTW: I have also been on anti-depression meds off and on for 15 years, and exercise and lifestyle are great, but if you can't get out of bed and do what you need to do, there is absolutely no shame in just looking at it as a chemical problem and deciding to stay on meds for the rest of your life. I struggled for a long time before deciding I really do need to stay on the medication to function how I want to function. I still have to do all the other stuff to take care of myself, but the extra "help" from the medication has improved my quality of life tremendously. I would never go back to trying to struggle through it on my own.0 -
Its hard when your life is so full and you say you dont have support from your husband. Would waking up a lil early work? Get the work out first thing. (I personally never do this- but ppl that do swear it gets easier!)
I do know this much- I feel SO much better when exercising regularly and you know you will too. If not early in the morning- as someone else said- twice around the park (or block) with the kids right before (or after? ) dinner - if nothing else. Run off their energy, quality time AND you can burn a lil - throw in 10 jumping jacks 3 or 4 times- have the kids join in. Play tag and run - play leap frog and jump- play ring around the rosy and be silly :flowerforyou: but just be active and enjoy your kids if nothing else.0 -
Try playing on a Nintendo WII or Kinect, fun exercise and the kids can join in with you..you can try something like bach rescue remedy or Kalms if you are feeling particulary low0
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Depression is an issue with chemistry, not character. So if the meds help, I vote use them!0
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While I've always had a melancholic temperament, I struggled with depression as I was wrapping up a career as a pastor. Was taking antidepressant meds, but stopped them.
Life turned around when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Day 1 with CPAP machine I started sleeping well for the first time in years, and that was the start of my journey out of the wretched blackness.
I'm still melancholic, I still battle waves of "the blues" and I exercise extra hard those days and it helps to turn things around for me.0 -
Find an active hobby that gets you moving but doesn't sound like a workout to you. I recommend taking up a flow art... hula hoop, fire spinning, poi, juggling, buugeng, contact, diabolo, rope dart, tech fans, staff... something like that. They are highly addictive, a great workout, plus you'll meet a lot of new friends which can help depression, and all flow arts by their very nature are meditative, so there's depression benefits there too.
If flow arts doesn't ring your bell, there's plenty of other similar ideas: dancing, hiking, lasertag, frisbee golf etc... anything that is fun to you but doesn't register in your head as 'exercise' will do.0 -
Haha! thank you for those suggestions! I will start working on all of them! My kids need more of my attention, so its a win win situation! The only problem right now is that I live in Wisconsin, so getting to play outside after work is not always possible, its colder then heck right now, and its dark when i get home but i will play with them when its nicer and try to play more inside
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Take the kids to the park to play! Run around. Play tag (on the playground equipment is great). Do pull-ups and monkey bars. Have them throw water balloons at you. Soccer, basketball, whatever, just keep moving. It's a four-in-one: 1) exercise, 2) anti-depression medicine, 3) great memories with kids, and 4) extra anti-depression medicine because it's fun!
Love all the 4 points thank you! 0 -
You find time for others....move yourself up to the top of the list. Those around you will benefit to...just a thought.
Yes, I need to do more of that I like going to the gym, takes me away from everything, but getting there is the problem, I always find excuses! 0 -
Haha! thank you for those suggestions! I will start working on all of them! My kids need more of my attention, so its a win win situation! The only problem right now is that I live in Wisconsin, so getting to play outside after work is not always possible, its colder then heck right now, and its dark when i get home but i will play with them when its nicer and try to play more inside
Bundle up and get some outdoor lights! Keep moving to keep warm.0 -
Take the kids to the park to play! Run around. Play tag (on the playground equipment is great). Do pull-ups and monkey bars. Have them throw water balloons at you. Soccer, basketball, whatever, just keep moving. It's a four-in-one: 1) exercise, 2) anti-depression medicine, 3) great memories with kids, and 4) extra anti-depression medicine because it's fun!
BTW: I have also been on anti-depression meds off and on for 15 years, and exercise and lifestyle are great, but if you can't get out of bed and do what you need to do, there is absolutely no shame in just looking at it as a chemical problem and deciding to stay on meds for the rest of your life. I struggled for a long time before deciding I really do need to stay on the medication to function how I want to function. I still have to do all the other stuff to take care of myself, but the extra "help" from the medication has improved my quality of life tremendously. I would never go back to trying to struggle through it on my own.
Awesome thought! No one needs to know that i'm on meds but me and my Dr. so I shouldn't be ashame, I may need to schedule a appointment with my Dr. soon! I know that its only going to get worse in the winter. Thank you for all your great suggestions and encourament, its nice to see that I'm not the only one that is struggling with depression.
And by the way, I only wish that I was 15, and yes that is my picture 0 -
Please look into anti depression medication. My father has struggled with depression for my whole life. I don't think he fully realizes the impact it had on my brother and I growing up. As kids, we honestly felt like we had done something wrong, or that he just wasn't interested in playing with us or going to our activities. He was rarely excited about anything and even though he was a loving father, he spent an inordinate amount of time in his room in bed. We will never get that time back. Now that I am an adult, I recognize the pattern of him taking anti depressants and getting better; then he thinks he's better and doesn't need them anymore and spiraled into depression again. It would often be years of depression before he finally got back on the meds and the pattern repeated itself. Finally at nearly 70 years old he's back on the meds (this time for good I hope).
He has also tried every lifestyle thing you could think of to "naturally" alleviate his symptoms including exercise, herbs, vitamins, diet, etc. Those things may have helped slightly, but his depression is chemical and chronic. Anyway, this may not apply to you at all, but just wanted to share my experience since you have children. Like I said, my dad didn't think at the time that his depression would affect my brother and I like it did.0 -
Its hard when your life is so full and you say you dont have support from your husband. Would waking up a lil early work? Get the work out first thing. (I personally never do this- but ppl that do swear it gets easier!)
I do know this much- I feel SO much better when exercising regularly and you know you will too. If not early in the morning- as someone else said- twice around the park (or block) with the kids right before (or after? ) dinner - if nothing else. Run off their energy, quality time AND you can burn a lil - throw in 10 jumping jacks 3 or 4 times- have the kids join in. Play tag and run - play leap frog and jump- play ring around the rosy and be silly :flowerforyou: but just be active and enjoy your kids if nothing else.
I've tried getting up earlie and going to the gym, it doesn't work...I'm just not a morning person! I do get up at 6 am for work, but i can't get up any earlier.
I'm absolutely going to try to spend more time with my kids, that will surely make me feel better. And I'll try to make it to the gym after work at least 3 days per week. I know the feeling after a good workout! Its an awesome feeling!
Thank you for your suggestions!0 -
Try playing on a Nintendo WII or Kinect, fun exercise and the kids can join in with you..you can try something like bach rescue remedy or Kalms if you are feeling particulary low
I used to play alot more Wii, I should start doing that again! I like Just Dance 3, that always makes me feel better and gets me some exercise! Thank you!0 -
Depression is an issue with chemistry, not character. So if the meds help, I vote use them!
Very true! I need to get back to them i think 0 -
While I've always had a melancholic temperament, I struggled with depression as I was wrapping up a career as a pastor. Was taking antidepressant meds, but stopped them.
Life turned around when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Day 1 with CPAP machine I started sleeping well for the first time in years, and that was the start of my journey out of the wretched blackness.
I'm still melancholic, I still battle waves of "the blues" and I exercise extra hard those days and it helps to turn things around for me.
Its awesome that you found the real problem! I actually feel like I sleep too much
I've been trying to hit the gym when i feel bad, but then convince myself that I should just go home, then I feel guilty at home that I didn't go to the gym and its a never ending cycle!0 -
Find an active hobby that gets you moving but doesn't sound like a workout to you. I recommend taking up a flow art... hula hoop, fire spinning, poi, juggling, buugeng, contact, diabolo, rope dart, tech fans, staff... something like that. They are highly addictive, a great workout, plus you'll meet a lot of new friends which can help depression, and all flow arts by their very nature are meditative, so there's depression benefits there too.
If flow arts doesn't ring your bell, there's plenty of other similar ideas: dancing, hiking, lasertag, frisbee golf etc... anything that is fun to you but doesn't register in your head as 'exercise' will do.
Great idea! the thought of exercise just seems like going to "work" again! I do enjoy doing some of the classes at the gym, like kick boxing, but they are not always offered when i'm available. I need to find something that I can do after work and that will keep me moving! I will look into some of the things that you suggested, it doesn't hurt to try them so see what I like best!0 -
Please look into anti depression medication. My father has struggled with depression for my whole life. I don't think he fully realizes the impact it had on my brother and I growing up. As kids, we honestly felt like we had done something wrong, or that he just wasn't interested in playing with us or going to our activities. He was rarely excited about anything and even though he was a loving father, he spent an inordinate amount of time in his room in bed. We will never get that time back. Now that I am an adult, I recognize the pattern of him taking anti depressants and getting better; then he thinks he's better and doesn't need them anymore and spiraled into depression again. It would often be years of depression before he finally got back on the meds and the pattern repeated itself. Finally at nearly 70 years old he's back on the meds (this time for good I hope).
He has also tried every lifestyle thing you could think of to "naturally" alleviate his symptoms including exercise, herbs, vitamins, diet, etc. Those things may have helped slightly, but his depression is chemical and chronic. Anyway, this may not apply to you at all, but just wanted to share my experience since you have children. Like I said, my dad didn't think at the time that his depression would affect my brother and I like it did.
Thank you so much! you brought tears to my eyes! I know exactly what you mean, I do feel like i'm hurting my family! my kids notice it more and more and i've notice my 9 yr old son is slowly pushing me away I don't want them to feel the way you felt about your father, I'm pretty much the only person that they have! I see the same pattern that you are talking about, I feel better after a year or two on meds then i come off, then i feel bad again and start the meds again. I thought that exercising was really helping me, but having a new job brought me right into depression again.
I will take everyone's advice and see my Dr. again. If not for me, for my children!
Thank you so much!!0 -
I've been diagnosed with severe depression, social anxiety, schizoid personality disorder and all that good stuff. Just two years back I was massively overweight and I couldn't bring myself to care about exercising or eating well at all. I had pretty much reached the end of my ropes far as treatments go as well, all I had left was...ECT or sectioned off somewhere.
What changed my situation? I got a dog. It's strange that an animal made me reconnect with society, when my own family or anyone else couldn't...but that's what happened. I go out for walks for couple hours a day and I've lost 35 lbs doing it. My quality/enjoyment of life has greatly improved, and I'm seeing something resembling hope in the future.
All that said, the effectiveness of different treatments vary by the individual basis. There's nothing wrong with being on some kind of medication, I know a great deal of people who've gained a lot of help from that. There's various forms of therapy and support groups available too these days, you just need to try stuff out to see what works for you.0 -
I've been diagnosed with severe depression, social anxiety, schizoid personality disorder and all that good stuff. Just two years back I was massively overweight and I couldn't bring myself to care about exercising or eating well at all. I had pretty much reached the end of my ropes far as treatments go as well, all I had left was...ECT or sectioned off somewhere.
What changed my situation? I got a dog. It's strange that an animal made me reconnect with society, when my own family or anyone else couldn't...but that's what happened. I go out for walks for couple hours a day and I've lost 35 lbs doing it. My quality/enjoyment of life has greatly improved, and I'm seeing something resembling hope in the future.
All that said, the effectiveness of different treatments vary by the individual basis. There's nothing wrong with being on some kind of medication, I know a great deal of people who've gained a lot of help from that. There's various forms of therapy and support groups available too these days, you just need to try stuff out to see what works for you.
Wow, thank you for sharing your experience! That's great that having a dog helped you overcome your problems! I have thought about getting a dog, I had one one I was little and she was pretty much part of the family. Dogs can truly become your best friend, they make you feel needed, you can talk to them about anything, and best of all they won't judge you or get mad at you! The only concerns that I have is that I work full time and may not be able to spend as much time with it as I should, I don't want to be selfish and just get a dog and then have it sitting at home alone all day, I want to make sure that is the right time when I do decide to adopt a dog.
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I'm going to look into counseling again, I had a few sessions a couple of years ago and found that it really helped me 0 -
You've had a ton of great replies but I couldn't help it because I know how hard it can be, I too battle with depression..and social anxiety disorder
--boo. The gym has become my home away from home & it is now a part of my daily life, can't imagine how I ever did without!
That being said, it is also a huge part of my daughters life. She sees me being so active and dedicated that it's part of her life as well. Recently she has become interested in yoga & loves doing it with me...she also ran her first 5k race in October (chose the color run, kids love that one!) , her goal is to complete a 10k! Training for that was super fun, kids love sprints and fun competitive things. She even likes to do push ups/situps ---wants to beat the boys in gym class like mommy
lol 0 -
You've had a ton of great replies but I couldn't help it because I know how hard it can be, I too battle with depression..and social anxiety disorder --boo. The gym has become my home away from home & it is now a part of my daily life, can't imagine how I ever did without!
That being said, it is also a huge part of my daughters life. She sees me being so active and dedicated that it's part of her life as well. Recently she has become interested in yoga & loves doing it with me...she also ran her first 5k race in October (chose the color run, kids love that one!) , her goal is to complete a 10k! Training for that was super fun, kids love sprints and fun competitive things. She even likes to do push ups/situps ---wants to beat the boys in gym class like mommy lol
How awesome! It makes it easier to have someone to exercise with, and what could be better than with your own kids! I'll have to find out if my son is old enough to go with me to the gym...he loves sports! And maybe I can work out a couple of days a week at home and have my daughter join me. Thank you for the encouragement! I need all the suggestions I can get! You are absolutely right..it's so hard getting out of the hole 0
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