Has worked better than antidepressants for me in the past. Difficult part is the excruciating process of forcing yourself into a consistent exercise routine when you're very depressed.
That's where I am. It takes every bit of energy I have just to go to work right now.
Sometimes a medication can be what you need to give you that little push to get into a healthier routine though.
Exactly, someone with low mood symptoms isn't likely going to be proactive enough to start running.
If you can get yourself to exercise on a regular basis, you're not that depressed.
It’s almost like depression doesn’t affect everyone the same
Depression effects different people in different ways and this No True Scotsman BS ends up with people who exercise regularly not seeking help. I knew a man who exercised every single day and hanged himself at 37.
Not everyone's depression takes the form of "can't get out of bed."
I had awful depression years ago, and to be honest, even if someone's lying about being depressed to cheat someone out of money, I'd rather that than them being depressed. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
This is an awful mindset that prevents people from seeking help they need. The only prerequisite to having depression is having depression. If you can keep up a daily routine, that's good, but it doesn't mean you don't have depression.
The idea that you can just exercise yourself out of depression can make people suicidal. They think if other depressed people can do it and I can't, then I'm hopeless. The reality is that depression can be minor or severe and those are such wildly different experiences they might as well be different disorders.
I've noticed sun exposure really helps my mood, so I'm not surprised the most effective exercise was walking/jogging.
cosigning this. I quit effexor a few years ago and started doing cardio in the morning and strength training in the afternoon. I've never felt more stable.
But its so hard to get started on the habit.
Not for me though, I'm definitely getting started...tomorrow.
It's almost like using goods and services to replace every facet of life doesn't actually help as much as people like to imagine it does.
Social Experiment. Become Me. What I see, you see.