Discussion What impact does exercise have on your mental health?

[_Gollum_]

Exercise is often suggested for the alleviation of depression, and there is scientific evidence that it can be an effective intervention, especially combined with other changes. But I have personally found that it doesn't tend to have an impact on my overall quality-of-life.

Even more than that, I sometimes get "post-workout blues," where I feel even worse after exercise. I suspect that it's because I'm one of those people who get "running highs," so it's more akin to a drug effect for me than something fulfilling and healthy: I rise high, and then I crash fast.

In my "gym rat" days, I also used to excessively compare myself to others and, inevitably, feel beyond terrible about myself, to the point where after a session I would cry (or hold back tears if I wasn't alone) in the changing rooms. So it also did a number on my self-esteem and confidence for many years (despite the fact that I was relatively strong for my age and sex), which is contrary to most people's intuitions about what exercise is "supposed" to do. I had to stop for three years in order to safeguard my mental health and am only now starting to get into it again, but am only going at night (like midnight) so as to avoid people to compare myself to, and I am going in a "directionless" way. No goals whatsoever. Just looking at it as a mildly enjoyable way to pass the time. This has helped a lot with those negative feelings, but the "post-workout blues" remain a problem.

What have your guys's experiences been like with exercise and depression?

 

[Macedonian1987]

Until my multi joint chronical pain appeared, exercise did had positive impact on my depression. Not a huge one, but it still it offered me some relief. Now because of my chronic pain, almost any exercise is out of the question because you cannot exercise with bad joints. You only damage them more and more if you continue exercising. For me the saying "no pain no gain" is not valid any more.

If any of you have good joints, give exercise a try. It may indeed help you.

 

[Cosmophobic]

I do the bare minimum tbh. I'll force myself to do 30 min of cardio during the day in addition to walking the doggo. If I don't I'll be anxious and agitated all night. Home treadmill situation. I could not do the whole gym rat thing.

It's a protective factor and it's maintenance of the ol' meatsack but I understand why it can be hard to force yourself. The advantage can me meagre for the effort put in especially at first.

 

[TwistedNightmares]

Unfortunately I never liked exercise. It never has helped me and always made me feel worse in some way, so I tend to avoid it.

 

[Greyhawk]

I have read a lot about it's benefits so I'll always exercise when I have the energy and try to force myself to at least go for a walk if I don't really feel like it. If my depression is at it's worst however, when I can't get enjoyment out of anything, it doesn't really help. It's also a lot harder to do when depressed.

 

[NutOrat]

It never helped me, and I think the way I'm forced to do it actively hurts my mental state.

Firstly, I'm coerced to go to the gym by my brother, I can't refuse since he pays the expensive membership, and in general will say very hurtful things if I don't, things that I constantly think about myself, and hearing them reinforced by another person makes me want to die so much more.

Secondly, when I have bad allergies and/or stress, if I put high pressure on a body part (especially hands and wrists), it will get inflamed and hurt really bad for at least a day.

Thirdly, I don't even want to have a muscular physique, I just want to be skinny, but I can't tell anybody that because that's weird for a man, so I have to pretend like I give a fuck. Also exercising makes me want to consume more calories, so I'm always in surplus, so I'll stay fat anyway.

And lastly, constantly being out of breath is one of the worst feelings you can have, I fucking hate it. Sometimes it gets to the point of dizziness and vision blurring and blacking out. Also the post-training exhaustion makes me not want to do anything, it is never invigorating like others say. I HATE IT.

 

[autumn68]

exercise helps me a lot in the moment but once it's over i usually just end up back where i was. it can help me postpone an episode if i need to but it feels like pushing the problem down the road for me

 

[WhatCouldHaveBeen32]

none noteble

 

[ABadPerson]

I would say it has given me just some more self-worth; but overall I haven't noticed any significant changes mentally from it.

 

[Irisse]

I feel even worse after exercising. But on the other hand, I'd probably be less depressed if I were fit.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I find it does help- both physically and mentally but, I really detest it. So, I find it so difficult to make myself do. I'm going to need to do something soon though because being so unfit makes everything so much harder.

I relate to what you mean about being disappointed with progress though. I used to aim for certain times and then be so disappointed when I didn't attain them. I'd also push myself too hard on occassions which meant it took longer to recover- which is problematic when juggling it with work.

 

[venerated-vader]

It helps me a lot. I'm a competitive asshole, so I set myself little challenges and goals to reach when I go that are based on the shit i did last time I went. Sometimes I can run for 30 minutes. Sometiems I can barely walk for 10. But at the end of the day I still went, and that satisfaction is what i cling to afterwards. I promised myself I'd do something, and I did it.

The results help, too. I couldn't run at all for years and now i can. Ive never had muscles of any kind, but now i do.

Also i love being in pain afterwards. But you can make of that what you will lol

 

[Manaaja]

Learn to exercise in a way that feels good. There's bad and good exercise. If you need to sleep and you instead go run five miles, of course the exercise is gonna make you feel like shit. If you however have spent all day sitting in front of a computer, even two minutes of jogging can feel great.

It helps me a lot. I'm a competitive asshole, so I set myself little challenges and goals to reach when I go that are based on the shit i did last time I went. Sometimes I can run for 30 minutes. Sometiems I can barely walk for 10. But at the end of the day I still went, and that satisfaction is what i cling to afterwards. I promised myself I'd do something, and I did it.

The results help, too. I couldn't run at all for years and now i can. Ive never had muscles of any kind, but now i do.

Also i love being in pain afterwards. But you can make of that what you will lol

You're competitive? I thought I was the only one here.

Competitiveness is one of the most helpful mindsets one can have. It makes one strong and keeps them motivated. It stops one from being a submissive doormat.

 

[derpyderpins]

I need to do some and stay in decent shape. As you know I had a health issue recently where I wasn't able to exercise normally, and I do feel a little better working out in the morning getting my strength back the past couple of weeks.

But there are diminishing returns for me. It's not like more exercise = feel better infinitely. More like having some exercise is one of many requirements for improving my mental health.

On the looks angle, I definitely felt inferior when I was younger and actually lifted at a gym instead of working out at home because I thought I was too skinny even though I was in good shape. I filled out in my mid-late 20s though and that hasn't been a concern for me since.

 

[venerated-vader]

You're competitive? I thought I was the only one here.

Competitiveness is one of the most helpful mindsets one can have. It makes one strong and keeps them motivated. It stops one from being a submissive doormat.

lol

yeah it's a useful mindset as long as you don't use it to justify giving up before you start. which has been my problem for many moons