How exercise beats the blues

Exercise may be just as effective at treating depression as antidepressant medicines, according to a report from the Mental Health Foundation.

The report also claims that being physically active may help prevent you from developing depression in the first place. Depression is a long-lasting low mood that interferes with your day-to-day life. People with depression may experience some or all of the following problems:

• Decreased energy
• Tiredness
• Poor concentration
• Difficulty sleeping (problems getting to sleep, waking up unrefreshed from a long sleep, or waking up very early)
• Loss of sex drive
• Disturbed eating patterns -- either loss of appetite or overeating (comfort eating)

Exercise appears to help people feel better by:

• Improving their moods
• Reducing their anxiety
• Improving concentration
• Enhancing their view of themselves
• Reducing stress
• Improving sleep

No one knows exactly why exercise helps to relieve depression but it is likely due to a number of different reasons:

• Physical activity increases the amount of hormones (endorphins) in our bodies. These help you feel happy.
• Regular exercise can improve the way you look and boost your self-esteem.
• Exercise gives you something positive to focus on, providing new goals and a sense of purpose.
• Involvement in a social sport helps you to be more active and meet new people.

Q: How much exercise can help treat depression?

A: Physical activity lasting between 20 and 60 minutes can help improve your psychological well-being. But even shorter bouts of moderate intensity walking (10 to 15 minutes) can significantly improve your mood. People with depression should follow a structured and supervised exercise program of up to three sessions per week (lasting 45 minutes to one hour), for between 10 and 12 weeks.

Q: Which types of exercise are best for treating depression? 

A: Aerobic activities such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming and dancing tend to be the most effective for treating depression. Resistance exercises, such as weightlifting, may be useful for helping you to build up a better self-image.

And team sports can help you to start up new friendships. If you haven't been physically active for a while, then you may need professional supervision. 

I know from personal experience that if I'm feeling a little blue or stressed a good hard workout really, really helps. 

One of my clients was taking Prozac daily. She'd been taking this medication for years before I met her. As the months passed working out with me -- doing cardio exercise correctly with a heart rate monitor, a vigorous weight-training routine and a good healthful diet -- and with her doctor's blessing and supervision -- we weaned her off the Prozac. Now she's a happy energized person who lives a full life.

Comments

[Corey]

So happy to see this information out...our lifestyles arew catching up to us, one problem at a time...depression is a big problem these days and I truly believe that diet and exercise should be most people'smain focus whe searching for a solution