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2003/06/12, 02:38 PM
Most of you know that I usually write about lifting and motivation. Well I thought I would write a little about depression and exercise. I come from a family that has depression in its blood. Out of 9 people I believe 6 of us have it. It does not matter how or why just that we do. I was on medication for it for 4 years. Then I woke up and realized that I was depressed about being on medication and being depressed! I had gained more weight (the root cause of my depression) and I decided to stop. I took my self off the medication(DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN!!! MY DOC APPROVED AND HELPED ME SO DO NOT STOP TAKING IF YOU ARE USING MEDICATION!!).. I discovered weightlifting shortly after and found that the actual act of lifting a weight relieved my depression! Now this may not work for you it may not work for anyone but me. But if you are depressed what do you have to loose? It works because as you lift it "hurts" the body. The body then release the endorphins. These are natural painkillers (runners high ) is one example. It made me feel so good. So I looked into it. It seems there is growing evidence that moderate to high levels of exercise in some people cure depression or stop it to the point of you living normally. That is what it does for me. What you need to also do is realize that you control your body, not the other way around. I believe that even if you are taking meds if you use weightlifting as a tool to help it it will make a huge difference. I still get depressed, but when I do I go grab a barbell and lift till I am so tired. At that point I feel so good and the dark mood is gone. Anyway i hope this helps someone. By the way if you feel depressed or feel like sucide please go get help email me I will listen. I am good at that LOL. I lost a good close friend cause he would not get help. Thanks and good luck!!!
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Squats are really a very good thing, but in my world, Deadlifts are King!!!!!!!!
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2003/06/12, 02:44 PM
What a great post Mutt. I don't think I'll go into detail about my personal experiences with this topic, but I'll say I agree and I hope your post helps someone out.
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2003/06/12, 02:55 PM
Awesome post. I was once divorced raising two small kids, depression was my middle name. At that time my kids kept me going, thank goodness. Now I have been married to my second husband for 26 years, and exercise helps me deal with him being in the military and gone so much. Let's hear it for working out!!!!
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Gramma
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2003/06/12, 03:10 PM
Mutt you hit it on the nose. I find that when I feel down I might have to force myself, but I go to the gym and feel much better. And yes it is a real physical thing as you have explained about the brain releasing chemicals after exercising. Look at this country. No where in the history of mankind has a people had so much in terms of freedom, money, and oppurtunity. And yet no one is happy. Diet and lifestyle play bigtime into this. We may look younger due to plastic surgery but inside we are aging and not living good quality lives due to lack of movement. I have said it before. When I was a kid we walked everywhere, doing laundry was a chore you had to put the clothes through the wringer, we had to sweep carpets, polish floors by hand (oh that was some work) etc. Now most of us sit all day press buttons, work on computers and then drive home and sit some more and eat positive crap and tons of it. Look at our young people, you got to force them to go outside to play. And we wonder where we get obese kids from. That was practically unheard of in my day. Gym classes are cut. Going after the big buck is everything. But NO ONE is happy. We are a stressed society. I know this turned out to be a rant but exercise can cure a lot of ills because a lot of things start off in the brain and mind. I am with you Mutt.
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2003/06/13, 10:35 AM
Depression isn't just about being unhappy - though that is often what it looks like from outside. Depression is far more debilitating than most people know.
I have been treating depression with exercise for three years. There is the chemical benefit, the overall health benefit, but I think the most important benefit - that you Mutt talk about - is taking a positive action in one's life.
There are days when my depression seems to worsen as I work out. I force myself through it and that accomplishment alone is a very good thing. I'm embarassed to tell of the numerous times I retreat to the steam room to cry. But I feel the strength of my body, I see myself in the mirror, I make note of my next training goal, and I go on.
And a comment from a stranger about my accomplishment (like those so often offered here) is a tremendous uplift. Share them liberally.
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2003/06/13, 10:39 AM
I hear ya! There are times when all I want to so is curl up and cry. I just do not let it happen. I go workout, watch a nice tasty action flick, listen to bbking, or just talk tomy wife. But in the end it is the weightlifting that does it that best. Hang in there, and you will get thru it!!!
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Squats are really a very good thing, but in my world, Deadlifts are King!!!!!!!!
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2003/06/13, 11:14 AM
Mutt, I'm really glad you posted this. I'm going to say a little here about my own situation just in case it might help someone else, and also because it's made me feel better to read the other posts in this thread. So many of us suffer from depression and the available meds are problematic for a lot of people. I've had problems w/ depression all my life and recently after my symptoms got more severe and complex (they have always cycled like that) I had two doctors dx me w/ bipolar disorder. But last spring when I started working out and exercising regularly my depression, expecially my PMS (which was unbearable) got better than it had been in ages. Unfortunately that didn't last because like I said, I had a long episode over the winter and spring of mania and severe depression. W/out going into it, I hit a major low for me, had tried several different doc and therapists w/ no luck and the clinic I attend had a three/four week waiting list to get in to see a psychiatrist - so after doing a lot of research on my own I started taking fish oils. There is a lot of interest right now in Omega 3's as a mood stabilizer and antidepressant so I bought some and started taking about 3 grams a day of EFA's, which is about 12 grams fish oil. And of course I'm still exercising. Well to make a long story short (too late for that? LOL) when it got time for me to get in to see a psychiatrist and my therapist asked me if I wanted to go ahead and do that my mood swings, depression, irritability, and mania had gotten so much better I didn't feel like I even needed the appt anymore. I still have some OCD/anxiety symptoms which give me trouble but the depression, irritability, and mania are I would say at least 80% relieved. The rest I'm hoping I can work out w/ my therapist because compared to how I felt two months ago - it is amazing. And w/out the side effects of ad's and ms's that are such a problem for so many people. Like Mutt said, I'd never recommend anyone go off their meds w/out consulting their doctor. But Omega 3's are worth looking into if meds aren't working, the side effects are problematic, or you're looking for something to supplement your meds. The research is really promising and they - something anyway - have worked great for me.
Anyway, sorry to ramble; I can relate to so much that's been said here. Very good to know I'm not the only one. Hopefully you all don't think I'm a nut case now. :)
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2003/06/13, 11:24 AM
It is great that you found something that helps. So many out there so not. I would advise any one out there that if you feel depressed go get some help. Do not try to "deal"with it. I am not saying just og get drugs cause they do not always work. Anyways thanks toa ll that have posted so far!...it helps me as well.
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Squats are really a very good thing, but in my world, Deadlifts are King!!!!!!!!
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2003/06/13, 01:00 PM
I, too am among the ranks. I joined the gym before I started the meds, but my doc says the fact that I keep going is a great indicator of ongoing recovery. The meds I take work great for me though, no side affects and I feel better than I ever have. I spent my whole life being moody and angry and quick-tempered. I was 43 when I had a melt down in my docs office. It seemed normal to me, but he said 'you're very depressed' and gave me a referral for a therapy session. That was a changing day in my life, I just wish I'd gotten that diagnosis when I was younger. I could've had a much happier and less stressful life. Now I tell everyone not to be afraid to reach out or ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. It can change your life.
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~Victoria~
...Some things have to be believed to be seen!
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2003/06/25, 05:22 AM
Hey Mutt, I liked your post. Being someone with depression I found it interesting. Just out of curiosity where are you located?
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2003/06/25, 08:34 AM
rochester,ny
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Squats are really a very good thing, but in my world, Deadlifts are King!!!!!!!!
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2003/06/25, 09:31 AM
I used to always be depressed too!!! i used to be mad at everyone and when my parents and siblings asked me why i was depressed, i had nothing to say. But, once i started weightlifting all that depression wasx gone!!!
Great post Mutt!@
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2003/06/25, 10:11 AM
Great post. A close member of my family battled depression for years, but with a consistent running and lifting program, she's been happy and without medication for over 5 years now. It's amazing what exercise can do.
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OSU Law Rugby....specializing in personal injury and pain & suffering.
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2003/06/25, 10:29 AM
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Quoting from 7707mutt:
rochester,ny
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Damn! I'm in Long Island and am in desperate need of either a trainer or work out buddy. We could have worked out and discussed dosages and medications... : )
Continued good luck!
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2003/06/25, 10:33 AM
LOL yeah that is rather far to go for a workout....
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Squats are really a very good thing, but in my world, Deadlifts are King!!!!!!!!
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