Does exercise make you happy?
 

It does me. I've suffered quite badly from depression in the past. It started as PND 11 years ago and has come and go as a more general depression ever since. I was so bad at one point fairly recently that I developed anxiety disorder and agoraphobia.

I have tried medication a couple of times but it only ever made me worse. But when I have a work out it really does give me a natural high. I can go from feeling like I can't stop crying because the world is so rubbish to bouncing as I walk, seemingly on air! All due to a workout!

I also find exercise really significantly reduces my appitite too, gives me more energy and helps me to lose weight - so I am going with the philosophy that exercise really is the answer to all my prayers!

How does exercise affect you?:carrot:

It affects me in exactly the same way! Even if I'm grumpy and whiny when I get to the gym, I am ALWAYS happy and peaceful when I leave.

I was on anti-depressants for about 7 years before I stopped taking them in 2001 because I just felt like a zombie all the time. I've done well at times (and not so well at times) with controlling my moods and reactions to things, but I have never felt as good as I do when I'm exercising regularly and taking care of my body. Though I am very tired after exercise, it does give me more energy throughout the day, and my brain also feels more alert after exercise. I am also much better at watching what I eat when I'm exercising, because it is hard work and I'm not about to counteract that in a few minutes with unhealthy food.

I have finally come to the realization that I have a choice ...antidepressants or exercise. I am fortunate in that my depression CAN be controlled by exercise, I know not everyone gets that choice. But absolutely, I need to workout and workout HARD to keep the depression at bay.

I find walking while listening to Praise and Worship music really lifts my spirit. I still have to take pain medication afterwards because of my OA, but I feel better emotionally after walking. We walk 3 times a week 9/10 of a mile, which isn't bad for two handicapped people. We do it in about 28-30 minutes but the second part of the walk is all up hill cause we live up a hill. We went to our son's place last week and their the land is flat and we walked a whole mile.

My mom lost her health insurance, so my meds are around $200 each and I haven't been on them for about 4 months. Ever since I started working out, I've been feeling just as good, if not better, than I did when I was on my medication.

It is great to hear so many positive stories about exercise and mood enhancement! Exercise is fab! As you all know! Woo!

I think it depends on your level of depression. I have been off work for 1 1/2 years because of depression. For the first 6 months I didn't leave my house - some days my bedroom. With extensive Cognitive Behavior Therapy and meds I can now see my way to go for a walk or a bile ride on good days. It has been a long haul and although I truly belive that exercise makes you feel better it is not always possible.

I really understand the not being able to leave your bedroom thing as I was agoraphobic (it still comes out in me if I don't leave the house for a few days) but exercise really did help drag me out from dark depths that I did not think were possible. I think rather than exercise helping certain levels of depression, I think certain people's bodies respond to it more than others. It's like anything; not everything is going to work for everyone but with exercise I definitely think it is worth a try if you are depressed. I mean what has a depressed person got to lose?

It doesn't generally for me.

I started working out when I was 14, and I'm 19 now. In that time, my depression/mental health has peaked and dipped but overall definintely declined, despite taking at least 30 minutes exercise most days.

Hey...what do I know. I don't know how bad I'd be WITHOUT the exercise!

What sort of exercise do you do?

Exercise can help me when the depression is mild & I think it helps ward it off when I'm doing well but when the depression is bad the exercise is more likely to just leave me in a pathetic puddle of tears. I know the best plan for me is my meds & exercise. I really believe getting my weight down will significantly ease my depression.

I see more of a difference in myself when my depression is severe but it helps no matter what stage I am at. It really gives the world meaning!!

I think being slim will reduce my depression too but I don't think it is a direct link of slim = happy, more if I am slim I will have more energy to do stuff, I will be more confident so I'll make friends more easily and I will just not feel judged etc etc so all of that will lead to me being happier. I don't think being slim is the answer to all my prayers, but it will address many of them.:carrot:

Exercise makes me happy after I have done it, but not while I'm doing it.

I couldnt put it better myself, Lily!

Clairec -

Its varied. I used to swim a lot, and walk. Then I got into biking on my exercise bike, which had to be replaced because I used it so much..not kidding. Yoga...did an hour of that every day for months.

Right now I walk 30-60 minutes a day, and do some aerobics.