| Written by Doug Gibson, on 07-07-2008 17:07 |
Sensible Fitness: Working Out Through Depression
When you're down in the dumps, it can be hard to get your face out of the ice cream let alone into a gym. But our fitness guru explains how you can beat the blues with exercise.
Question:
I suffer from depression and when I am in a "down" time I can't muster up the mental or physical energy to work out. Do you have any motivational advice? —Carol
Answer:
I empathize with you because I have shared similar feelings myself. Depression can be both mentally and physically exhausting, but I guarantee that if you can force yourself to make it to the gym and work out, your outlook will improve greatly. If we can find a way to get you to the gym, we have solved the problem, but getting yourself to make that trip is the hardest part.
Depression affects a great portion of our population, but women are more likely to be diagnosed because of various factors that are still being studied. Genetics can certainly be a factor. So, if your family has a history of depression, you may be predisposed to it. Other factors that may be influential are the ever-changing hormone levels during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, postpartum periods and menopause. Stress can also be a huge factor that contributes to depression, and women are often more predisposed as they take on additional responsibilities as care-takers for children, aging parents or other loved ones. Add into the mix the stress of relationships, abuse or trauma and the likelihood of depression increases.
There are many ways to potentially help combat depression, but one of the most common themes that is reflected in the research and encouraged by medical experts is exercise. Exercise not only helps you physiologically with changes to your body, but it also helps you psychologically with changes to your outlook. A study from Duke University has shown that while people who took anti-depressants did have an improvement in depression, 16 weeks later there was no difference in depression-scale scores with those who exercised alone. This is something to consider given the number of side effects that antidepressants can cause. Of course, I am only citing a study, and you should consult your doctor before making any changes in medication.
So, back to my original statement, how do we get you in the gym if you are depressed and just don't want to go? I think you will need someone to hold you accountable, but this person also needs to be someone supportive, someone who will be positive and instill positive habits into your lifestyle, and someone who can give you instant validation that you are doing something to improve your own physical and mental well-being, at the time you need it most. You need a personal trainer to be part of your support team. Even the most successful, self-driven individuals have a trainer, so someone who is depressed and tends to isolate herself needs one even more. I am not trying to sell you on my profession, if you know a better way to increase your commitment to exercise, please share it, but I have seen the success stories repeatedly and know it works. "I feel so much better. I am glad I came," is what I hear every single time.
|
