Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
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Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
1–10 of 407 posts
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#2This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it.
Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#3This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it. Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
It doesn't have to take deep discipline. I started my routine by just going for short walk after dinner everyday and it built up from there. It's intimidating to have to start at gym for 60 minutes 3x/week. Just do whatever little you like - a few pushups, a walk, a dance and stop when its not enjoyable. It tends to naturally build up.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#4This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it. Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
Much like the sibling comment I started walking around the local park before spending more time hiking. I live semi rurally though and wouldn't want to walk in an urban environment.
I normally feel much better after walking and cycling. Also I think doing something repetitive like walking allows you to think, tune out of other things.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#5This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it. Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
I also question the universality of it. No amount of exercise changed my depression or made life any less miserable. Anti-depressants finally helped me get past the trauma I was unable to properly process otherwise.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#6This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it. Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
Well... sure. I've had trouble with anxiety and it's actually an incredibly anxiety provoking thing for me to go to therapy. But I read enough information telling me that therapy is good for anxiety so I finally went. I think there's people out there who need to know that exercise is helpful for depression, even if the depression makes it difficult.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#7I take this to mean therapy for depression (particularly for men) is barely effective at all and exercise is not quite as barely effective at all.
If therapy for depression were a pill, I'm not sure it'd demonstrate enough efficacy to get approved.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#8It's almost as if humans were optimized to constantly move around all day by evolution. Huh. Who would have thought.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#9I take this to mean therapy for depression (particularly for men) is barely effective at all and exercise is not quite as barely effective at all. If therapy for depression were a pill, I'm not sure it'd demonstrate enough efficacy to get approved.
The problem is that the same is true for many medications and other treatments, but if you're in the "lucky" minority (a pretty large one) for whom there's some relief... it's worth the try. It's not like choosing bleeding and emetics instead of chemotherapy for cancer, it's just the best we have right now to treat a complex system that we barely have the earliest understanding of.
Re: Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
#10This is a finding that keeps coming up, and I've certainly found it true in my life, but there's a significant chicken-and-egg problem in that depression frequently precludes the motivation to exercise, and if you don't already have a deeply-disciplined routine to overcome the lack of motivation, people won't do it. Exhortation to develop those good habits in the good times, I suppose.
We have a certain amount of "willpower" that can overcome motivational barriers. This willpower is limited, though. It's very helpful to have clear guidance on where to allocate this very limited resources, especially in situations where people are otherwise struggling.
All of which is to say -- these exhortations can play a useful role. :)