Exercise and Depression

I can tell you what helps me and that's talking about what bugs me. I highly recommend having either a therapist (not psychiatrist, just a counselor) or a best friend that you can talk to regularly about what's going on in your life. I also think keeping a journal, particularly during the rough times is helpful. The rest of the time, keep on moving. Keep motivating music around to get you going if you have a tough time getting up to move. Change up the routine now and again. If being outside cheers you up, then plan a day of hiking at a state park or something.

HTH

Depression effects everyone differently! I know that I sometimes get depressed, went through a bout of depression and have anxiety issues. What helps me keep it in check is exercising and doing things for me that make me happy.

I also went and saw a therapist for awhile that helped me figure out what my triggers are, and ways to cope with my anxiety when it creeps up.

I am not a DR or a licensed therapist- my suggestion to you, if Bi-polar runs in your family, is to sit down and talk with a therapist/ your Dr., or a psychiatrist (they can prescribe meds if you need them) and look at some options to help keep your depression manageable. Each person is different, and it would be better to get a handle on it now when its not bad then to wait and see if it will get worse before you do anything.

Good luck to you

Personally, I find that exercising outside helps the most. The Vitamin D from the sunshine does me wonders. Nothing like the fresh air too. No one for sure can tell you how long you will feel a certain way. Hang in there, and I agree that therapists can be essential to overcoming tough times.

Vitamin B12, Excersise and give accupuncture a try. You are doing the right thing right now and I am dealing with the same thing. I reluctantly had to start anti-depressents though because I couldn't function anymore.
Good luck!!

I take medication for Anxiety and I thought I was the only one feeling strange after starting the diet or should I say "life style change" I have been in terrible moods, you cry at the slightest thing, dont want to do anything and I think that's depressing me because I don't no why I feeling so low. I thought it could be my body adjusting to a new way of living and a healthier way at that? I also found in the first 2 weeks I was getting really bad headaches and I pin pointed that to-I was a heavily coke drinker and I cut that out, so I thought it couldve been a sugar withdrawal. I have no answers to why depression hits when dieting but your not alone. I hope someone has some answers :-) thanks for posting a great topic x

I don't take meds. I have gone up and down with depression most of my life. Exercise helps me a lot. Having people to talk to is also important. I am also a musician and use music as an outlet to deal with the demons.

I've had bouts of being "down in the dumps" and slightly more serious case of ti where I became an insomniac too.. sometimes you just have to go and do it and it really does help your mood lift a bit. All I can say is find someone supportive who'll kick your grumpy *kitten* down there if needs be (in a loving way!)

My mom and all 3 of my sisters are on depression and/or anxiety meds. I have mild depression, which I control through exercise. I find I need to do 30 minutes a day, and then I do more if there is a major stressor going on...but the 30 minutes is my maintenance dose. I also find that eating an ounce of nuts daily helps, but I don't know why. And journaling (I'm not really a talker). Best of luck to you!

Hey,
I have dealt with depression personally, but have not dealt with bipolar nor do I have all the answers, but I will give you something that has worked for me: therapy. That is really important because, in my understanding, heredity does play a role in psychiatric issues. As for exercising through the depression-well, I use exercise as my anti depressant-literally-I replaced them with it. I was conscientious about medicating and I am now medicating my body with naturally-derived endorphins. I do not recommend this for any one other than myself, but I do know exercise is very helpful for moods (so are anti depressants depending on individual realities).
If the issue is not feeling like working out, that is ok-your body can be telling you to take a break, but if it is a matter of feeling too depressed to get out of bed, please seek professional help-I say this with all the care and compassion in the world-you are not alone and a therapist will help you cope better than any online forum ever can.
Best of luck.

I've been dealing with the same thing. I am having a very hard time dealing with stress and anxiety, the anxiety being at it's worst in my life. I think from the stess I am dealing with. I wake up feeling fine every morning but by the time I get home from work, my motivation is gone, I've lost control of my stress level and all I end up doing is sitting down and binge eating.

Exercise makes me feel so much better and I was fortunate to have a friend come by last night and get me off my crying butt for a walk. Do you have someone you can make exercise plans with to hold you accountable? If you can get to it, you will feel so much better. Best of luck!

Lots of Prayer...and exercise...never stop moving, change something up in your life, do something different, change your mind set, think more positively, read positive things...I know the things that make me depressed are just small things compared to others. I everyday wake up and Thanks God for just waking me up and ask him to bring peace and joy into my life. I recently went onto youtube and listened to Tony Robbins and that changed my a bit also...Good luck :happy:

I take fish oil and vit. D and that is proven to work better than prozac per my pych. dr. And i am also on 2 meds for depression and bi-polar. Both my counselor and pych doc push working out and soaking up the sun. I work out and, for example. last night i was struggling (spring is always bad for me) and i went for a walk and it seemed to help and that was at 8:30 at night. Depression sucks but you need to work through it and i find that prayer helps too. Good luck and feel free to add me if you ever need to talk. Been dealing with this since i was 11 years old and i am 31. So i have some experience:happy:

Hey, I'm not bi-polar and have never suffered in that way, but I have recently recovered from a bout of severe depression that ended in my being jobless, amongst other things. I think the first most important thing is to realise you're not alone. There are people who can help you, therapists, doctors, friends, even people here!

I've seen some people suggesting medications. I've had bouts of depression before, and this time I refused to take meds. It was by far my worst bout but this time I feel like I've ACTUALLY recovered. Don't feel like meds is the only way (although they do work for some people, I always felt like I "lost" myself). I spent time talking to people closest to me, examining the things that I felt were contributing towards my illness and this alone bought a sense of healing.

So, in response to your question: talk it out. What makes you feel low? Is there anything that haunts you? The exercise you're not wanting to do will actually make you feel better, promoting a release of endorphins and serotonin (somehting low in depressed people).

Coping strategies: visualisation worked for me. Imagine yourself actually out there and doing it. Positive self-talk also was a biggie for me, you CAN do it.

Feel free to add me if you need to chat/need any more support I hope you're feeling better soon.

I may get on a bit of a soap box so my apologies in advance...

I will start by saying I am so very fortunate to have not experienced depression in my life so far. That being said- I do believe that exercise as a tool for stress management is what keeps me sane.

I used to work with individuals with severe and pervasive mental illnesses and I think that basic self care can go a long ways in improving mental health and mood. It makes obvious sense to me that the health of the body and mind interact and effect each other. One of my college profs wrote this The Depression Cure, he does trials and runs groups at the mental health center I worked at: http://thedepressioncurebook.com/.

I think this book is sooo well written as it is very accessible and useable. I read it to help my clients and use the strategies in my life just to be as healthy as I can. The idea that our bodies for all of history were designed to be lean, active, healthy, and all natural makes sense. The change in how societies used to function as a group creating community and personal engagement and worth in oneself. There is significant research that supports this. Also- areas with healthy fresh diets and those high in fish have lower instances of mental illness overall...Anyway I could go on forever. That is my 2 cents but I am a believer that exercise will help. Also, I do know from my work experience that when you are depressed the things that seem the hardest- exercise, socializing, healthy diet...are the most important. I hope that helps and you feel better!

Serious depression, see a doctor.

I sometimes find myself in a dark place. But I have a plan. So I stick to the plan. When I am in that place, I never question if I will go to work, or if I will take out the trash, so I don't ask if I will work out. It may not be the best workout I have done, but it will be done just like going to work. IT IS PART OF MY LIFE.

Having that plan, workouts I am going to do is the key for me. I don't have to spend any energy on figuring out what I will do, I just do it..... did I sound like a Nike commercial again?

THIS ^

My day/week is scheduled and I just do it, it's not a question, it's not an option. It's just what I do whether I feel like it or not.