just a quick question

[steve208]

Has anyone had any experience of beating depression just through a tough exercise program. Some one once told me of someone who was depressed and just went to the gym everyday and it helped.

[violetblue]

Yes it works, any exercise, but dancing is the best as you don't think of anything else due to the concentration involved. Shame I don't do any exercise whatsoever.

[andy-hughes]

I can depend on a number of factors, including the type of depression involved. Clinical depression is caused by a lack of seratonin production, whjich can be balanced by medication. Reactive depression is the result of an individual trauma, and may be helped by exercise as this acts as a distraction, and produces a feeling of wee-being through enorphin production.

So, I would say that exercise can help, but it is certainly not a substitute for correctly diagnosed and treated depression. It harks back to the 'pull yourself together' approach which always greeted (and often still does!) sufferers of this dreadful condition.

If the query is for yourself, see your GP and ask about moderate exercise, and follow the advice given. Depression is not 'feeling depressed' - it is a medical condition, and requires appropriate treatment tailored to the individual sufferer.

Hope this helps.

[steve208]

thanks.

ok well at the moment i am not on any medication. Have been feeling low in some way since my middle child hood years just had always been told to pull my self together by my parents. University was the worst time but also the best if that makes sense. As although i had my cry for help i did get help and this was very good and i made progress.

Since then i have slipped backwards and am now getting counselling but also i am trying to swim a lot as i like this. When i have been for a swim i feel so much more confident. Id like to go to dance classes but would feel so self concious.

[sassenach]

I would definitely recommend trying it. When I was younger I was quite prone to depression but since I took up running about 8 years ago I have felt quite different. The general malaise has gone and I feel much more positive about myself. If nothing else you will get a short term buzz out of it, tone up and maybe make some friends. So you have nothing to lose!

[alijangra]

From personal experience, yes it does. I was on prozac, and I began regular exercise as a way to keep busy whilst trying to come off the medication. Been off it a few months now and feel better than ever, and fitter than ever! Dont set goals too high though, as that just adds too much pressure. Just aim to improve your health and do it gradually. Good luck!! PS dont know if you are in a relationship but I think exercise improves your sex life, and that can only make you happier ;)

[lizwiz]

why not try self defence/martial arts or kick boxing. confidence boost and learning something new all in one go :)

[willa]

As others have stated, a lot depends on whether or not its strictly clinical depression.

I've suffered from both clinical and psychological depression for years now. I don't even know which came first. But last year, with the help of a nutritionist and gym coach, I launched a consistent program of frequent exercise and proper nutrition. I lost 94 pounds, very slowly and sensibly, and gained a lot of energy and feelings of well being. Unfortunately, I didn't attend to my brain/feelings as much as to my body - didn't get on meds or seek therapy - and eventually got totally overwhelmed by the "new me." One year later, I've stopped all the exercise, gained back 90 pounds, and am quite the mess.

So, yes, exercise distracted me from the more obvious signs of depression and brought me to a better place . . . for a while . . . But you've got to clean the inside of the house as well as the grounds.

Hopefully, for you, the endorphin rush of exercise alone will be enough to help!

[bloaterbum]

Having listened to a R4 programme and loads of other discusions on this it was suggessted that walking was the best form of exercise to help lift the blues and it was also said that tablets were mot the answer but counselling was a great help long term

[steve208]

Thank you very much for all your answers.

I have a general good diet but do need to try and eat more fruit, and cut down on some treats that i may have too much of. I do need to eat plenty though as i am prob only just ok with weight. When at uni lost a fair bit as would starve my self sometimes then eat lots at other times. I have a very high metabolism anyway so putting on weight can be hard!

Anyway with exercise i am just determined to be healthy and get fit at the moment as well as have the emotional benifits of it. I just dont want to get to thirty and wish i had seen what my body can do at its peek.

I agree that walking is great and boy i have done a lot of it in the past, i still do it now if i have the time. It is great for sorting out things in my head on a walk or just running them through.
I am addressing the "inner" issues through counselling and this is helping.