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Exercise works for depression. So why isn't it treated like real medicine?

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Re: Exercise works for depression. So why isn't it treated like real medicine?

#6

Because exercise is free and 'real medicine' for depression is a $25b industry

The idea that doctors are not talking about exercise as if it's some big conspiracy to make more money from the top is ridiculous. Any doctor will say that exercise is the best thing you can do for yourself but most people also know that it's super inconvenient and most people don't follow that advice.

If anything, the people making it out to be some big conspiracy against mainstream medicine are doing it more for the money because they're often peddling some alternative medicine or supplements.

Re: Exercise works for depression. So why isn't it treated like real medicine?

#7
post #6

Because exercise is free and 'real medicine' for depression is a $25b industry

The idea that doctors are not talking about exercise as if it's some big conspiracy to make more money from the top is ridiculous. Any doctor will say that exercise is the best thing you can do for yourself but most people also know that it's super inconvenient and most people don't follow that advice. If anything, the people making it out to be some big conspiracy against mainstream medicine are doing it more for th…

Also it’s really hard to start exercising if you’re already depressed.

Re: Exercise works for depression. So why isn't it treated like real medicine?

#10
I have depression, clinically treated with SSRIs. My exercise regimen now is 8-10 hours a week of swimming, cycling, and running. I find that the exercise helps lift my mood a lot, but also if I lose my ability to exercise it is far less catastropic to my mental health than if I stop taking the SSRIs.

My exercise volume varies throughout the year because of physical health concerns (sickness, injury, combination of the two), and I notice it and will become mopey, but it's far from the crippling anxiety and depression that sets in if I miss my SSRIs for a few days.

But this is just anecdata, treat accordingly.

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