Depression (major depression)

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• January 16, 2012 10:06 a.m.

  I can't blame people for not thinking that exercise would help them without having experienced the amazing effects it has on the mind. I am only 30 and used to be sporty at school but havent done any exercise since then and struggled with weight and in turn it turned to abit of depression of late. My friend and I joined the gym, sick of being overweight and letting this affect my relationship as well. I had to do something to stop the destructive spiral. I have been going to the gym for a hour 3 times a week and I cant even explain how much better I feel, I might even use the word 'amazing' sometimes. The gym takes my mind away from negative thoughts that try and sneak in and when im training I can think purely about myself and what I want from my life. I think my mistake was that I was expecting everyone else to make me happy but being able to make yourself happy is the key and then there is no disappointment as it's only you who can do it for yourself. It feels like an effort but believe me it's the best feeling in the world. So anyone suffering with anxiety, depression or S.A.D etc...get out there and do it...you wont regret it :)

  - Claire

• September 27, 2011 2:50 p.m.

  My blog is http://mindyourspirit.com/ by the way. I was on my way to becoming a psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center in Boston when I had a breakdown and was diagnosed with manic-depression and PTSD. It was a blessinng in disguise, because now I can write about my own personal experiences with mental illness to help others through spirituality.

  - Parwathy

• September 26, 2011 12:28 p.m.

  I just read an article in the NY Times about exercise and depression and was inspired to write a blog about it today. I suffer from depression and my therapist has found an enormous difference in me since I started working out. Now I can't go without it. It's a natural antidepressant with absolutely no side effects! I would love to link our blogs to spread the word. Please let me know if you're interested:)

  - Parwathy

• August 17, 2011 2:19 a.m.

  RE Aug 17 post - more information: I am a male, 67 years of age. I don't drink alcoholic beverages and I have never smoked tobacco. My blood pressures are normal and I don't have a diabetes problem and am not overweight. John

  - John

• August 17, 2011 1:59 a.m.

  I walk 3-4 kms in half an hour per day, each evening, 7 days a week. Medication is 60mg Cymbalta early morning, 200 Seroquel early evening and 30 mg Avanza late evening. I have been doing this for the last 3 months without any obvious theraputic effect as regards treatment for the MDD I have been suffering these last 8 months?. What am I doing wrong?

  - John

• June 1, 2011 7:51 p.m.

  You know I've studied up a little bit on this and am now seeing and hearing more and more of this. The releases of chemicals like endorphins and adrenaline really do calm the nerves and improve overall mood. Thanks for posting

  - Dan

• March 17, 2011 4:34 p.m.

  Exercise can be a great help in fighting depression, whatever the causes. Exercising can be just a way of forgetting the cause of your depression or, in some cases, a way of overcoming the cause.

  - Evan

• February 14, 2011 2:35 p.m.

  After being diagnosed with depression and OCD 13 years ago. I am happy to say, I ran in my first marathon. The 2010 Detroit Free Press Marathon. I cried after I finished. So, I am living proof that you can conquer depression with exercise. You can read more about this on my blog. www.exerciseispower.com/wordpress/

  - Paul

• January 3, 2011 9:40 a.m.

  That is a great point. Exercise makes you feel good, which can brighten your day and spirits.

  -

• November 28, 2010 7:46 p.m.

  Exercise has saved me from a lifetime of chronic sadness and anxiety. Mine gets worse in the fall and it could be associated with S.A.D. If I work out every day, or at least 5-6 times per week, I get the best results. If I cannot exercsie, the darkness begins to creep in. I try to go a minimum of at least 30 minutes per day of high-intensity (elliptical, bike, jogging), or 60 minutes per day of low intensity (i.e., walking). Sometimes I do a combination, like 20 minutes high intensiity and 20 minutes walking. Sometimes I have days when I just exercise until I feel like quitting, which can be a long time. Thank God for exercise!

  - Gregorio

• October 28, 2010 7:14 a.m.

  This has worked for me and members of my family for years. My grandmother, who just passed away at 92 last summer, confided in me years ago that she always exercised her way out of feeling sad. At the time, as an athlete suffering from major depression, it did not seem like such sage advice. I got help for the major depression (it took years of counseling and antidepressants), but I still suffer from less intense (not suicidal) sadness. I use all of the tricks doctors recommend to keep myself out of the depths of depression: I make myself do things I know I enjoy when I'm not feeling blue, I practice excluding negative thoughts from my mind, I make sure to keep my surroundings bright and cheery, I try to confide in my support network when I'm struggling, and, most importantly, I try to exercise regularly. Exercise seems to be the key to getting my brain chemistry back where it needs to be. It doesn't matter how much, just that I get outside and push my body beyond sitting on the couch in a fetal position ignoring the world. It is especially hard to get started when the darkness is tugging me in, but I know intellectually that it is the best way for me to push the darkness back, so I do my best to pretend everything is OK and I get some exercise. Eventually, I begin to feel like everything is OK again. Good luck to those suffering out there. My experience is that it really can get better.

  - Kelly

• October 15, 2010 9:09 p.m.

  Does this really work? And if it does, what types of excersise is reccomended? Can anyone give me any ideas for excersise?

  - Hola

• May 4, 2010 2:33 p.m.

  I just did a research paper on the effects of exercise on depression. I have posted the first couple of paragraphs. Depression is a disease that once got little attention, but now with antidepressant drugs becoming so popular and available it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore. In recent years the proportion of individuals who used antidepressant medications increased from 37.3 % to 74.5 % while the number of people who received psychotherapy declined from 71.1 % to 60.2 %. And while this is the case, only 23% of people with depression seek treatment and only about 10% receive adequate treatment. What about exercise and proper nutrition as a treatment? Exercise might seem like the last thing that someone with depression wants to do but it’s effects have not only been shown to treat depression but other emotional diseases such as anxiety and bipolar disorder. While both antidepressants and exercise are proven treatments for depression, antidepressants have many adverse side effects and can be expensive while exercise has beneficial side effects and is inexpensive. It's natural to feel down sometimes, but if that low mood lingers day after day, it could signal depression. Major depression is an episode of sadness or apathy that lasts at least two consecutive weeks and is severe enough to interrupt daily activities. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a negative personality. It is a major public health problem and a treatable medical condition.

  - Jamie

• March 21, 2010 1:49 p.m.

  I have started an exercise therapy program (http://www.exercisetherapycenter.com ) for people with major depression because I have seen how helpful it has been with clients. Unfortunately, depression really reduces motivation so sometimes it helps to get additional help from a trainer. My program is only available in San Francisco but basically a therapist will show up at your house and take you for a run while using positive imagery, mindfulness exercises, and other techniques to boost the benefits of the exercise... I don't know why more therapists and psychiatrists don't promote exercise given all the research showing that it is just as effective as antidepressant medications...

  - Alex

• March 6, 2010 10:45 a.m.

  I'm 56. If you are reading this, you are looking for answers and probably motivation. I personally don't get motivated other than asking myself "am I willing to 'invest' 5 minutes to feel better?" {yes! No big deal, right?} Then I promise myself: spend 5 minutes 'just being active'. If it hurts, I can quit. Just a small but concrete promise this won't hurt long. I'm SAFE w/ this. Eventually 'just being active' became walking or moderate exercise which eventually led to more vigorous motions. When I felt ok at 5 minutes, I promised I could just quit @ 10 minutes if I just plain ol' didn't feel like doing it anymore. Chances are, after 10 minutes I'd warmed up and realized it actually felt good! Forget negative thoughts now. Feel good (FOCUS) how I accomplished 2 solid goals in the last 10 minutes and anything from now on is icing on the cake. I DAILY ask "am I worth 'investing' the next 5 minutes? Rarely the next 5 minutes are THAT valuable. This is my 5 minute/10 minute rule. Don't get discouraged with all the posts sounding like running or other rigorous sadistic tortures are required to feel better. All U need to consider is as long as U are pushing your comfort limits with some kind of motion, U are making progress. U may be crippled up like a rusty nut on a bolt - break free of the constriction. Oil your body w/ good diet and wiggle your 'bolt' w/ gradual motions. STRETCH! Resistance consumes energy; rust on a bolt or your body - same.

  - Rodney

• February 1, 2010 1:14 p.m.

  Very cool blog! I started my own hiking blog at http://www.ultimatehikingguide.blogspot.com Check it out! I think you'll dig it!

  - Scott

• December 7, 2009 5:15 p.m.

  Exercise works wonders with depression and insomnia. You need to spend at least 1 hour on a treadmill or combination with bicycle, eliptical and/or running. It helps me sleep like a baby and you get more energy. Not to mention healthier all around! You have to push yourself to go to the gym at least 3-4x a week. After a few weeks, wait until you feel the automatic need to go to the gym. This happened to me and now I feel so much better. Of course it always helps to make new friends (even if it's just to say "hello).

  - chowder

• November 9, 2009 6:19 p.m.

  I think exercise is a huge factor in my recovering from depression. I have fought depression for 5 years and when I was diagnosed, I started running. I felt like the running worked better than any medication. You can read my complete story at www.runningnatalie.com.

  - Natalie

• October 28, 2009 4:23 p.m.

  Negative thoughts lead to negative health. I have found that regular exercise is the ONE MOST EFFECTIVE medicine to maintain health and a positive outlook. Start slowly but keep it up and you will soon find that you will begin to feel better and look forward to it. I am 80.5 and exercise every day for at least one hour. My exercise is a mixture of muscle building and aerobics ie. raise heart beat from normal 65/68 to 105/110 for 8 to 10 minutes on a treadmill or bicycle and then change to weightlifting for another 12/15 minutes. Don't forget to stretch before and after. I guarantee that if you keep it up your outlook on life will change and you will forward to every day as a new and uplifting experience. Go to it-......

  - Alan

• October 2, 2009 10:08 a.m.

  I'm linking your info to my blog. Thanks for the blog. It is great.

  - Elizabeth

• September 27, 2009 1:09 a.m.

  Just happened to read these comments.I am a big believer in exercise for depression and anxiety.Reg.Motivation-realise what exercise does.Normally our heart rate is about 70 to 80 per minute and we have approx.5 to 6 liters of blood circulating.When we exercise we are purposely increasing the rate of blood flow by increasing the heart rate.Know also that our lungs are working harder to oxygenise the blood- the end result is that we are circulating oxygen-rich blood through all the organs including the brain.So think of exercise as pumping more oxygen into our cells,all cells.This is the secret of the 'exercise high'.But it is truly healing.Start slow, do not surprise the muscles!Give them adequate warning, and keep at it. Put a star on the days you exercise on the calender- plan on doing something for at least every other day.The benefits of exercise are too many to count.It protects us against obesity,diabetes,high blood pressure and heart disease.Chances of dementia will be lowered.Hope these facts are motivating enough.If you still can not get started,consider trial of medications to get one out of the rut.Good mental health to all!

  - Baba

• September 16, 2009 11:26 a.m.

  Why exercise helps beats me. -- you lose a child, exercise helps? -- you are alone, it is christmas, exercise helps? -- you are old, friend and family gone, exercise helps? -- You see La Boheme, the music won't leave your mind, exercise helps? -- You miss everything, exercise helps?

  - Raghu

• September 13, 2009 12:01 p.m.

  I am so glad to see someone "prescribing" exercise as a treatment for depression. I have found that a simple 30 minute walk every day keeps the black dog at bay. All you need are shoes! No health club membership or fancy equipment is necessary. When the weather outside is too terrible, I walk at a mall or put one of Leslie Sansone's at home walking programs in my DVD player. This is a simple, non-addictive prescription with no side effects except happiness.

  - Linda

• September 9, 2009 4:05 a.m.

  Certainly exercise helps cure depression and insomnia

  - CHRIS

• September 6, 2009 1:26 p.m.

  I found exercise to be the key factor for me to deal with depression yet I fully understand the difficulty in getting started and maintaining exercise as a part of one's daily routine....for ever.... A couple of tidbits that I have found useful: 1. morning exercise may be easier to stick with; 2. afternoon and evening exercise may result in fewer injuries; 3. a cup of regular coffee about 45 minutes before a workout helps motivation, performance and muscle repair; if you can get through the first week or so of exercise, you'll start to feel the mental benefits. Stick with it another week and all of a sudden you see your body responding in ways you thought you never would. And once you focus on the physiology and recognize change in yourself, all of a sudden you're not thinking about being depressed all the time. A month later, a few pounds lighter, awake an hour earlier, and you realize it wasn't that hard.

  - dave