Does exercise really do that much in helping depression?

[vonvonwantpeace]

People always told me that exercise would help my depression and but I tried several times and never saw any measurable difference??

 

[Throwawaysoul]

I'm sure it helps. I also wonder how many people are just masking depression with exercise. Like if you're working out 5 hours a day, you wont have much time to dwell on your thoughts. People will no clue about social anxiety make it sound so easy, "derp derp go to the gym".

 

[Lethe]

It releases endorphins, sure. But if you have depression due to external factors I don't see how it would help that.

 

[Cookiedough8956]

It helps to some degree- for me it helps clear my mind at the moment. But the thoughts eventually do come back :/

 

[Sweet emotion]

No, I have no idea why people say this. It's ridiculous. I can't count how many times people have told me this would help my physical disease. Dumb bastards.

 

[ALittleBurden]

As it was said, it should release endorphins and some people even get addicted to it, but depression messes up the brain pretty badly so it doesn't really help, unless you're medicating yourself.

 

[pain in my heart]

From what I've seen from other depressed individuals whom exercises religiously, not really.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

It can, but only if you can find exercise you enjoy like a sport. If it's a chore then it won't work. You also have to eat well not drink booze or smoke and keep at it. That's why it doesn't work for many cus it can be hard to make such an effort if you are depressed. And even then one false move and all your good work can be undone.

 

[Soulless_Angel]

Hmmmm lets head to the gym, whilst self conscious, bust my fucking ass off, listenting to shit on music, distract myself from CTB.... walk away exhausted dead on my feet, thinking why the hell am I putting myself through this, what actual difference has it made bar from making me exhausted and shti?

https://media1.tenor.com/images/f348841a2c9961f5dfd12ae64a45083d/tenor.gif?itemid=9184393

 

[Shakespear's Brother]

I started walking every day, about 6 months ago, not to treat depression but after being told it would help with my back and shoulder pain. I started out at 25 mins and built up to about 60 mins daily now.

My pain is relieved considerably, and my mood feels improved; it seems like maybe my improved mood is due to being in less pain? Probably a lot of things going on there.

Still want to ctb, though, but to be fair depression isn't necessarily my main reason to ctb.

 

[Flume]

Going to the gym helped with some injuries I have. But it did not help my mood at all, everytime I left the gym it felt like I had torn apart my soul. I just felt empy and dead inside... more than usual anyway. I think that it can only cure mild/moderate depression, if you're on the brink of death it will probably not work to well.

 

[I’vehadenough]

Depends on your level of depression

Going to the gym helped with some injuries I have. But it did not help my mood at all, everytime I left the gym it felt like I had torn apart my soul. I just felt empy and dead inside... I think that it can only cure mild/moderate depression, if you're on the brink of death it will probably not work to well.

Nothing will really work if you're on the brink of death

 

[NotForThisWorld]

It didn't help me. In fact, it just made me more tired. Added to the exhaustion since you're basically pushing your already fatigued body into doing things it has no energy to do.

 

[Flume]

Depends on your level of depression

Nothing will really work if you're on the brink of death

I think that anyone with suicidal thoughts, no matter how bad can be saved if the right things happen but that's just me. However if you have an incurable really bad illness that's another thing, makes stuff way harder.

 

[DoNotLet2]

It does help but for a short time and then you have to exercise again. But it won't cure. It can only ease a little bit.

 

[I’vehadenough]

I think that anyone with suicidal thoughts, no matter how bad can be saved if the right things happen but that's just me.

Of course, but for me it's caused by something physical that has no cure

 

[Adonis]

This is out of the blue and I'm new here but how do i post a thread i have looked everywhere

 

[Roberto]

When I go out of home, I start to depress me. I start to think ... and the ideas hurt me.
When I start Internet and watch the news, I get better.

 

[Deleted member 1465]

This is out of the blue and I'm new here but how do i post a thread i have looked everywhere

Go back to the main menu and there's an option at the top. You can give it a tag and a name. It will post in whatever section you are browsing.

 

[Fragile]

exercise is not a miracle cure, and of course it heavily deppends on your body and what's causing your depression. and even in cases where exercise is beneficial, there are other lifestyle changes that are needed for it to be effective.

however i believe that it can be extremely beneficial for some people and specially good in mild cases of depression, the human body is made to be phisically and mentally active after all, and having a healthy body is crucial in order to recover, you can't expect to be well mentally when your body is a rotting dumpster.

of course this does not apply to everybody, if you have depression because of external sources or you simply can't do it because of your body, then exercise may not do much for you. if i could exercise and be more active then i would do it, sadly my broken body does not allow me to try it as much as i would like to.

 

[SkyBlue]

This:

exercise is not a miracle cure, and of course it heavily deppends on your body and what's causing your depression. and even in cases where exercise is beneficial, there are other lifestyle changes that are needed for it to be effective.

however i believe that it can be extremely beneficial for some people and specially good in mild cases of depression, the human body is made to be phisically and mentally active after all, and having a healthy body is crucial in order to recover, you can't expect to be well mentally when your body is a rotting dumpster.

I do think it can have some positive effect, and I definitely try to use it for help. At the least I think it has a stabilizing effect, it helps clearing your mind, calming down, thinking and problem solving. The brain seems to work better in an 'activated' organism. I often wonder if it might somehow be related to increased blood flow. But activity itself is a psychological benefit. Then you can have this short term euphoria. Maybe it also improves mood/brain chemistry/processing on a larger time scale. Like the effects of maintaining a decent sleep pattern. I feel like this is related to progress in personal problems. But then again, when things are looking really dim, who cares about sleep anymore. Then there's more effects: You get a feeling of positive accomplishment, you feel more capable, you feel better in your body and so on. Maybe it can change your perspective if you feel different. But it's no miracle cure, and there's antidepressants for a reason. Additional fact: It can even be dangerous for some people with psychosis, and worsen things.

 

[Final Escape]

It helps me but I do it because I enjoy it so naturally if u like doing something it will be helpful. I don't think it is a cure for depression but it certainly helps brain function, sleep, body image, reduces anxiety, helps reduce the desire to use substances.

 

[LuzurPhagget]

I just feel horribly exhausted and tired. What very little energy I have, I'm using it to push a heavy object back and forth and then I'm sore and feel like shit days after. No "endorphin rush" for me, as many others claim.

My motor coordination is pretty off and I feel so clumsy and off balance so much of the time. It's pretty dangerous/ too challenging for my dumbass.

I can't WAIT till I'm outta this fucking flesh trap!

 

[SuicidalSymphonies]

I am a gym goer and going to the gym actually just continues to depress me. Although, it's not this way for everyone. I'm just very far gone.

Going to the gym and working out CAN but will not always improve your mental clarity.

 

[dmsdnd18]

My boyfriend and i were both depressed but im the type that stays in bed and he tried to keep himself busy. He regularly went to the gym, ran, and rode his mountain bike and he still shot himself. I quit the gym after he died but started working out at home.. its weird bc it makes me so sad bc i think of being at the gym with him but it does make me feel.. accomplished (?) once i do it. I think i do it for him. Every day i still wish to ctb though

 

[Lefty]

In my experience it can help, maybe not so much with mental health, though it will help with physical health. If you feel a little better physically, you might feel a little better mentally, but this is subjective.

 

[Detour]

It does help me a bit with feeling good about myself after. It is way better than me sitting at home with my thoughts and depression and anxiety eating me up. It's not a cure buts it's a good distraction in a way.

 

[vulturecyclop]

No.

 

[Jon86]

I find exercise/diet helps more than any of the 8 meds i've taken. When i'm out of shape, I feel much worse and my self esteem is horrible, that being said when i'm in shape i'm still suicidally depressed (meds if they work at all do so temporarily, normally with side effects).

I use to waste energy on workout programs the gym etc., nowadays I just do bw exercises at home before I shower, basically just pushups, pullups and squats, it's less taxing/stressful this way. Whether, I have an extra 10lbs of muscle on my body or not doesn't really improve my life, so I put the weights down.

 

[sullengirl]

It is supposed to help the expression of neurotrophic factors, particularly BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factors) which acts in the hippocampus. Decreased expression of BDNF is linked to depression, stress, Alzheimer's, and the crowd favorite – suicidal ideation! Yay! Over time low BDNF will atrophy the hippocampus, exercise and treatment are supposed to reverse or stop the shrinkage.

This plus endorphins, blood flow, blah blah blah... Basically the brain is supposed to love voluntary exercise....

I only really know this 'cuz of a high school teacher or uni professor, I could be explaining this badly. Exercise doesn't do shit for me, despite the science. To be fair, prolonged exposure to stress + already having a tiny hippocampus is gonna make the neurological benefits of exercise useless/unnoticeable.