Running can work as good as anti depressants!

[MBG]

Running is just as effective as antidepressants at improving mental health - and offers additional physical benefits, a study reveals.

Patients who took up jogging were as likely to report reduced depression and anxiety after 16 weeks as those who took pills.

However, they also benefitted from gains in fitness, with improved weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart function.

Meanwhile, those given the drugs saw a deterioration in these metabolic markers, researchers from Vrije University, Amsterdam, found.

More at:

Study finds running works as well as antidepressants for mental health

Dutch experts found patients who took up jogging were as likely to report reduced depression and anxiety after 16 weeks as those who took standard antidepressant medication.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[snowcloud9]

I would agree this is anecdotally true. Being forced to exercise got me out of a depressive episode for no apparent reason. But right now I'm struggling to exercise because my depression makes my work pile up since I'm so unmotivated.

 

[real human being]

Running is just as effective as antidepressants at improving mental health - and offers additional physical benefits, a study reveals.

Patients who took up jogging were as likely to report reduced depression and anxiety after 16 weeks as those who took pills.

However, they also benefitted from gains in fitness, with improved weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart function.

Meanwhile, those given the drugs saw a deterioration in these metabolic markers, researchers from Vrije University, Amsterdam, found.

More at:

Study finds running works as well as antidepressants for mental health

Dutch experts found patients who took up jogging were as likely to report reduced depression and anxiety after 16 weeks as those who took standard antidepressant medication.

www.dailymail.co.uk

This is also true about meditation!

Meditation as effective as medication for anxiety, study finds

Practicing mindfulness meditation was shown to be as helpful for anxiety as taking a daily pill, new research shows.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[NoHorizon]

It's my main coping mechanism, and for me definitely has had a bigger impact than antidepressants.

 

[R_N]

Exercise never hurt me like psychiatry ruined my life. So yeah I guess lol.

Even if I was a punching bag for a year it would "benefit" me more than meds did.

You people should be careful with chemicals and what you put in your body, and don't believe in things human made up so easily. Especially when it comes to your own health. Don't give others your body, it is everything you are.

I will always suggest natural over unatural. And how many people I saw die and suffer getting any kind of medical treatment make me doubt this world even more. It is either placebo or side effects or both from what I observed in most cases.

Call me "paranoid" or unlucky I don't care. But if something happens to you as well don't say I didn't warn you.

Humans are not gods and your body is all you have while you live. Feel free to let others have their way with it if you want but be ready to accept the consequences.

 

[real human being]

Exercise never hurt me like psychiatry ruined my life. So yeah I guess lol.

Even if I was a punching bag for a year it would "benefit" me more than meds did.

You people should be careful with chemicals and what you put in your body, and don't believe in things human made up so easily. Especially when it comes to your own health. Don't give others your body, it is everything you are.

I will always suggest natural over unatural. And how many people I saw die and suffer getting any kind of medical treatment make me doubt this world even more. It is either placebo or side effects or both from what I observed in most cases.

Call me "paranoid" or unlucky I don't care. But if something happens to you as well don't say I didn't warn you.

Humans are not gods and your body is all you have while you live. Feel free to let others have their way with it if you want but be ready to accept the consequences.

Yeah I think people really underestimate how dangerous and potentially harmful certain medications can be, especially ones that mess with the brain.

 

[carac]

Running has helped me a lot to release stress, I like to run hard so it can be tough to push yourself and get motivated but yea I definitely feel the difference mentally after I've had a run

 

[MBG]

I would agree this is anecdotally true. Being forced to exercise got me out of a depressive episode for no apparent reason. But right now I'm struggling to exercise because my depression makes my work pile up since I'm so unmotivated.

Is it depression causing your "work to pile up," or possibly undiagnosed ADD/ADHD?

Running has helped me a lot to release stress, I like to run hard so it can be tough to push yourself and get motivated but yea I definitely feel the difference mentally after I've had a run

For me, it's only once I'm sweating when doing aerobics that a major reduction in stress occurs. Easier pace helps too but not nearly as much as at least 15 minutes when I'm dripping sweat. I notice I have fewer wrinkles on my face, sleep better, easier bowel movements and just seem happier.

 

[TooConscious]

It can, till you overdo it and get depressed because you're knees aching.
Unless you can afford medical care. Try to listen to your body. We're all built different but don't pound the concrete too much and get on the grass. Even if it means scraping the odd bit of dog shit off your shoe.

 

[snowcloud9]

Is it depression causing your "work to pile up," or possibly undiagnosed ADD/ADHD?

For me, it's only once I'm sweating when doing aerobics that a major reduction in stress occurs. Easier pace helps too but not nearly as much as at least 15 minutes when I'm dripping sweat. I notice I have fewer wrinkles on my face, sleep better, easier bowel movements and just seem happier.

Good question, ty for asking. I'm getting tested for ADHD soon, but honestly I don't have hope because ADHD meds can't be used to treat ADHD if I also have anxiety (and I get severe anxiety from even the slightest stimulants). My work piles up because I get suicidal thoughts and dwell on them instead of working.

It can, till you overdo it and get depressed because you're knees aching.
Unless you can afford medical care. Try to listen to your body. We're all built different but don't pound the concrete too much and get on the grass. Even if it means scraping the odd bit of dog shit off your shoe.

Try swimming, it's used for a lot of physical therapies and looks like lots of elderly people like it. You also don't get hot and sweaty as much.

 

[carac]

Try swimming, it's used for a lot of physical therapies and looks like lots of elderly people like it. You also don't get hot and sweaty as much.

I love swimming but it's so expensive now to go to the swimming pool. When I was really ill I wished I lived near a lake or the sea so I could try a little swimming for healing. I saw a story of a lady with an auto immune disease who moved to the coast and swam in the sea everyday and it helped so much. Anyway I have running and cycling now so that's good.

 

[mimig1805]

I use to be into running and it did help, i developed an ED tho and it ruined my relationship with exercising, I'm recovering and i miss running but at some point it became a purging action of trying to get rid of calories:( I'm scared to get back into running, I'd love to strength train tho, everyday I want to go on a run but I'm scares of having that u healthy relationship with it again yk?

 

[PeterRabbit]

Fwiw - I'm an avid cyclist. Like 80-100 miles a week. It helps, but even then there's times mid ride where I start crying uncontrollably. I know afterwards I'm usually so exhausted that I just don't have the oomph to be mad or upset about anything. I call it my "medicine" to my friends and family.

If I don't go after a few days I get in a bad way. There's a lot of days I definitely don't want to go at all. It's a lot of work and its why I don't really recommend it for people. I feel like the news that exercise is good for mental health has been out there forever. Its just that getting yourself up and forcing yourself to do it is the really hard part.

If you can do it though that's awesome and its very powerful.

 

[Ksmиda]

Cycling is also very good, because you can go to places further away and see new things while also doing exercise.