What is Digg?106 Comments
- Dumbledorito, on 11/30/2007, -5/+42"Ask your doctor if getting off your ass is right for you."
- Bill Maher - inactive, on 11/30/2007, -1/+27Masturbation works for me. Only for a short period though. Then I get more depressed.
- hvsahin, on 11/30/2007, -2/+26It's common knowledge among neurologists that exercising releases Endorphins (natural opioids) and Anandamide (natural cannabinoid). The longer you work out, the more you release. This contributes to what many people refer to as a "workout" or "runner's" high. Of course it's a "miracle cure" for anxiety/depression disorders, you boost your self-esteem and flood your body with drug analogues! And it's perfectly legal too. :)
- WiseWeasel, on 11/30/2007, -1/+19Or is sitting on your ass all day depressing? You decide!
- mojaam, on 11/30/2007, -4/+18That makes sense, I find sleeping and exercising to be great anti depressants. Both temporarily distract you from thinking depressing thoughts.
- bwiney, on 11/30/2007, -0/+13It is hard not to be in a good mood after a good workout
- lburgguy, on 11/30/2007, -2/+13Anybody out there that needs exercise come rake my leaves, I'll be depressed while sitting back watching you.
- enri, on 11/30/2007, -2/+12How long before the pharmaceutical industry lobbies the government to outlaw exercise?
- joshmoney, on 11/30/2007, -0/+10If anyone here has anxiety problems you should seriously consider how effective this can be. About 6 months ago my doctor told me I had a serious anxiety disorder (I was having horrible panic attacks almost daily along with some really unpleasant symptoms). She prescribed me Lexapro for 6 months! After about a month I decided to change my prescription from Lexapro to weightlifting and bikeriding and a month later almost all of the symptoms were gone and I rarely have panic attacks. Just my 2
- jawadde, on 11/30/2007, -2/+12after my divorce (3 years ago) i went frantic on the bicycle, doing 7500miles a year. It really helped me through the hard times because it alowed me to free my mind from eeverything except cycling & thinking about myself. Additionally, my self esteem got a tremendeous boost because I lost 15 kg and got an "athletic figure" (for what it is worth..)
however : i lost my sleep !
seriously : doing extensive cardio just gets your body in such a high pace that sleep is out of the question. I still need at least 4 hours of cool-down just before I can even close my eyes. Not that I find that a nuisisance, since I use these exatra wake-hours to get the work done that was postponed due to cycling - jessdub99, on 11/30/2007, -0/+8From my personal experience I feel a lot happier and energized when I'm in an exercise routine. If I sit around on my ass and do nothing, hello depression. I think laziness is the ulitmate hapiness inhibitor.
- borchard76, on 11/30/2007, -0/+8This is quite well known in psychology circles. I will state unequivocally that for the VAST majority of people, simply getting regular exercise is the most effective way to combat depression. Between that and having a social life of some sort, you are very much guaranteed to avoid depression.
That said, there are some people that absolutely NEED medication in order to be able to care enough to start exercising. In other words, some people simply can't get themselves motivated/excited enough to actually exercise. In these cases, medication is seen as a way to get someone active enough to begin an exercise regime, after which they can slowly come off the anti-depressants.
Someone mentioned that they started on drugs then switched to exercise--this is good. That's what's suppposed to happen.
I do think that for a very small percentage of folks who suffer from depression, there is a real neurochemical problem that will persist even with good exercise, diet and social habits. In these cases, permanent medication shoudl be seen as a real benefit of modern medicine. There is just no way around this as yet. Eventually we may be able to do more, but that may be a ways off.
If your doctor is talking about permanent medication without trying exercise, then you need to run, not walk, to a different doctor. Otherwise you are going to end up paying a lot of money for unnecessary treatment.
I say this as a psychology grad student, and this is not to be construed as clinical advice, and I am not responsible if you use my advice as a reason to start exercising regularly. I am also not responsible if you take other healthy steps such as eating right or becoming socially involved in healthy relationships. I also say this as a person who is about 40lbs overweight, and REALLY wants to lose weight, but can't find time to exercise properly. - betobeto, on 11/30/2007, -0/+6About one year ago, I started going to the gym several times a week, after facing a severe nervous breakdown by my father's death and being swamped with deadlines and long hours at work. I just had to do something before becoming completely insane. I've been doing it ever since and have no plans to make it stop. And let me tell you, I probably was the most allergic guy to exercise ever.
I've not only lost about 20 pounds with no diet involved (although I'm much more choosy about what I eat now), but the relieving effect it has had on my mental health is worth more than a thousand times the time and money I've invested on it so far. I'm much less prone to depression and anxiety that I ever was. Getting your ass off the chair and sweat it out and hard will bring you more benefits than any pills you can take. The key is to find a workout that you enjoy the most and stick with it - in my case, indoor cycling. - inactive, on 11/30/2007, -0/+6I like to hang out with runners just to get a contact high from their "runners high".
- minorthreat, on 11/30/2007, -0/+6you know we as humans are not built to sit around all day and be fat and lazy. We are hunters. We are built to be very physical. With society today I would say noone even takes this into consideration. When you don't use your body how it was intended to be used, of course its not going to feel "right"
- plnegative1, on 11/30/2007, -1/+6I feel that exercise keeps me from going under.....
- Phatt138, on 11/30/2007, -0/+5Aye, and in the current literature, it's been shown that exercise is -at least- as effective as SSRIs in treating both anxiety and depression, in both long-term and short-term ways. It's absolutely the 'miracle cure' that the psychological community is well aware of - too bad Big Pharma has better marketing...
- sekala, on 11/30/2007, -0/+5Well sleeping too much is often a sign of depression, but on the flip side, not sleeping enough can lead to depression so there is a point to that. Though if you're finding refuge from life in sleeping/napping and trying not to think, then that should tell you what side of the spectrum you're on.
- Narrator, on 11/30/2007, -3/+8Having the motivation to exercise is an effect of not being depressed not a cause.
- crazeeschmuck08, on 11/30/2007, -1/+6One of the symptoms of depression is lack of interest in normally pleasurable activities, so even if you know exercise can make you feel better, you have no interest or motivation to do it
- Radiohead84, on 11/30/2007, -0/+5Its so easy once you are at the gym, or out playing some sport, but after coming home from work and sitting down on the couch, it takes a good bit amount of motivation to get up when you feel tired and just want to lay about. Having a friend to exercise with is key IMHO
- ashmael, on 11/30/2007, -0/+5In large doses. In small doses, it has the opposite affect.
Besides, when does someone posting their personal opinion based off of their experience warrant being called a retard? - pivot, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4Sleeping? I guess it helps while you're asleep, but that just tends to leave you in bed all day and doesn't really help you the rest of the time. That and the awake time is more depressing because you realize all you want to do is stay in bed - a rather depressing thought.
- JrGhoull, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4my high school psych teacher told us about this. turned out to be pretty effective. just last night i was so angry that i...i didnt know what i was going to do. So i went out for a run, and came back feeling better. not 100% better, but good enough so that i was no longer on the verge of yelling at the first person to say something to me. truth be told no matter how depressed/angry i ever get, i will never take any meds for it...they just dont sound like the work. especially not the depression drugs...the idea of a depression drug that makes u want to kill urself baffles me.
i'd like to conclude by giving a little bit of advice. i have found that different exercises will have different effects on you mentally because they will tire you out in different ways. i suggest a combination of running and weight lifting, doing one on one day and the other the next. - Radiohead84, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4I am going to have to agree, I am finally in a regular exercise routine, after trying for years and I feel great after working out. I tend to get depressed during the winter(Seasonal something disorder maybe?) but I think if I keep this up I will be in good shape.
Just wish gym memberships were cheaper..still looking into that. - Chirp08, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4probably as hard as it is to get yourself to workout when you are depressed..
- kmccormi, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5I was clinically depressed for ~2 years. I was prescribed 3 different antidepressants and drove home from college every weekend to meet with a psychiatrist every Saturday and Sunday. I slept all the time and was numb as hell. I obviously led a very sedentary life at that time and I do think that lack of exercise both contributed to the problem and prevented me from bettering myself. Though I felt tired constantly, it wasn't a "real" tiredness and as a result it would take hours to fall asleep at night, yet be entirely difficult to get myself out of bed and to class in the morning.
HOWEVER -- I think it is almost a catch 22. Exercise may be one of the things that could really help a depressed person, yet the depression inherently causes a lack of energy and zaps any motivation to get up and exercise at all. The smallest motions feel like a huge burden. Telling a depressed person to just get off their ass and exercise is almost akin to telling a depressed person to just snap out of it and be happy. Both are almost beyond control. So unless you stick a depressed person in boot camp where s/he has a person threatening them unless they hop to it, I think you have to be sympathetic of the fact that it would be very difficult for a depressed person to make himself exercise. Plus, any sign of motivation is already a sign that the depression is dissipating - I know that once I felt a glimmer of motivation to work out again, I was on my way out of depression for reasons OTHER than having exercised. - inactive, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5this ***** was waiting for this story to get popular
- demiurgency, on 11/30/2007, -0/+4Tempted to bury this article for dramatically overstating the obvious. However, since it's shockingly not obvious to some people, I'll Digg it.
Personally I believe every psychiatrist who prescribes medication for depression, without first insisting their patient engage in a regular exercise routine for several weeks first, should have his license revoked.
Our sedentary lifestyles may not be the only cause behind our pandemic of depression, but it most certainly is the leading and most obvious cause. - Jdub7, on 11/30/2007, -1/+5http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHXXTCc-IVg
- Ninnux, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3It is for me. I was "scared straight" so to speak. A co-worker of mine quit an anti-depressant cold turkey and started having nightmares about his mother, who was dead in his dreams, coming back to haunt him. He didn't sleep for several days, and my wife and I had to have him over and watch him while he tried to sleep. Scary ***** stuff, man.
- syroncoda, on 11/30/2007, -8/+11weed works fine for me. better than synthetic.
- etx313, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3Yeah, I felt a ***** ton better when I started mountain biking last spring. Now I'm just waiting to snowboard...
- johnpaul191, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3eh, once you get in the habit of exercising it's not the same. if you never exercise, then try to while feeling *****..... hmm i don't know how that will work out.
i'm in the habit of getting a good amount of exercise (i wasn't always) and days when i am my most stressed i crave a good run or something. even if i am worn out and tired, i know i will feel better, and then sleep better, after some good exercise. you just have to find something you like to do. - BeforeSputnik, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3Your winter blues are called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and it is most prominent in young males (though everyone is susceptible). My advice is to continue exercising (that's a biggie), eat fish (or take supplements), and get as much sun as possible. It is hard to get sun during the week if you have a day job, but try your hardest over the weekend to do outdoor activities. Even if it's cold, the sun will boost your spirits.
- codered1322, on 11/30/2007, -0/+3My boss just asked me what I was laughing so hard about. I replied nothing.
- bubbadoo989, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Yes, but hot-monkey sex w/lesbians is sure put that spring back into your step!
- fugazied, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Exercise works wonders, but usually only for 'mildly depressed' people. People who loathe themselves at times or don't see the point in life kinda people. The hardcore manic depressive people probably need some help and exercise won't cut it for them.
Also is exercise a temporary treatment? Popular sport stars and actors who are depressed but still get plenty of exercise, eventually depression caught up with them? - slamtv7, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2I would have to agree. After being a fairly depressed kid myself, and even though I had the full rights because of all the ***** I've been through, after borrowing my friends Men's Fitness Magazine and getting my mind into thinking about fitness it really helped. I started exercising, mentally I feel a lot better because my confidence has improved and it just feels like I'm past all my previous problems.
- bubbadoo989, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2I can see where exercise may start to contribute to being in a 'rut', thus diminishing it's benefits. When this happens to me, I try to re-jigger and substitute some activities (instead of lifting, swimming, hoops, etc.) and maybe vary the time of the day I work out. With weights, I find the best results with a change in the routines used helps not only spur more growth after hitting a plateau, but also may renew your vigor and enthusiasm. Like so many things in life, a little variety can be wonderful. Oh, and don't worry about taking a day or two a week off. Unless you're competing, the break may do you well.
Fortunately for me, my hours and commute are so long, any time I get to work out is cathartic, making it one of my favorite activities. - MrSlumberjack, on 12/01/2007, -0/+2Howabout you just don't comment on digg.
- markintosh, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2I have pretty much the same story. After going through a tough breakup, my doctor prescribed me the same thing, but since i don't believe in "happy pills" I lifted some weights and started running regularly. Best thing I ever did for myself.
- kingofthisnight, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2I can say it worked for me. I tried Anti-depressants for a few months and it just made me feel apathetic. I realized i'd rather feel depressed than just not feel anything so I quit taking the medication. I went out bought a bike and started riding daily. My problems with insomnia went away, I feel great mentally, and I have a lot more energy.
- Mattja, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2Are you for real? Jesus Christ, THIS IS THE INTERNETZ! DIGG THIS RELIGIOUS APOLOGIST DOWN! WE ARE ALL ATHEISTS HERE!
- Chirp08, on 11/30/2007, -1/+3"exercise", "weed", "alcohol", etc. we all have our own words for it ;) Depends on who you are and what you are depressed about..
- codered1322, on 11/30/2007, -0/+2You are a real POS.
- ransomplace, on 02/08/2008, -0/+1When I was much younger, I felt depressed. A walk around the block fixed me right up. Exercise is so important for older people who tend to get depressed more. Experts say a half hour a day exercise can help relieve depression as well as extend the lifespan. Even 10 minutes a day can help.
- gdha, on 10/16/2009, -0/+1I couldn't agree more. I was out if shape in college, and several years and lbs later I decided to get back in shape. My life changed at that point, and I've never been happier. I can definitely tell a difference when I stop exercising. My mood and attitude changes.
- stonebear, on 12/09/2007, -0/+1Happier - Ben Tal Shahar
http://tinyurl.com/ypjoqm (Amazon)
http://www.mininova.org/tor/893775 -
Show 51 - 100 of 109 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is