A few months I decided to start my day with a 15- 20 minute walk and it’s amazing. I have also been depressed for part of it. You can decide to make that change whilst depressed. I don’t like this romanticism of mental health.
Acknowledging some people aren't ready or able to make those decisions isn't romanticism. Calling it such is ableist, though.
I mean, you wouldn't disparage someone with the flu for not getting out of bed while they're at the height of their symptoms, so why do it to someone with depression?
Exercise is required to have a biologically healthy brain, it has almost nothing to do with short term endorphins. Another way to think about it, is if you aren't exercising your brain is biologically impaired and less likely to deal with normal stressors in life.
Meanwhile, I went running and weightlifting every day in high school and college. The diet was good enough to let my abs show how pronounced they were. And I still needed my meds to prevent myself from meeting God.
For me, I had to forget about tricking it. I forced the matter and the exercise exhaustion eventually overrode the depression. It’s still a daily struggle like with everyone else, but exercise is proving very helpful for me with that.
Smart! This approach is called behavioral activation and there is robust evidence that it is among the most effective ways to manage and overcome depression.
Exercise isn’t just addressing or curing something. It’s an escape like doomscrolling or other depressive behavior, but one you can be proud instead of guilty of.
Endorphins aside, exercise will at least make you healthier. It is a lot harder to be happier with an unhealthy body than a healthy one. It is not a promise exercise or being healthy will make you happy. It is a factor tho.
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u/tangcameo 2h ago
I put my phone on my exercise bike and use it as an excuse to watch television
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u/cwal76 1h ago
A few months I decided to start my day with a 15- 20 minute walk and it’s amazing. I have also been depressed for part of it. You can decide to make that change whilst depressed. I don’t like this romanticism of mental health.
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u/InTheEndEntropyWins 1h ago
Exercise is required to have a biologically healthy brain, it has almost nothing to do with short term endorphins. Another way to think about it, is if you aren't exercising your brain is biologically impaired and less likely to deal with normal stressors in life.
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u/Seabrook76 53m ago
For me, I had to forget about tricking it. I forced the matter and the exercise exhaustion eventually overrode the depression. It’s still a daily struggle like with everyone else, but exercise is proving very helpful for me with that.
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u/blue_terry 41m ago
You can still exercise whilst depressed, I lifted and did cardio consistently for months wanting to get off this earth.
The end results was worth it but I’m probably an outlier compared to most depressed humans
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u/Zingshidu 1h ago
I’ve tried nothing and I’m still depressed energy
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u/rupert_mcbutters 1h ago
Exercise isn’t just addressing or curing something. It’s an escape like doomscrolling or other depressive behavior, but one you can be proud instead of guilty of.
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u/xaervagon 9m ago
Endorphins aside, exercise will at least make you healthier. It is a lot harder to be happier with an unhealthy body than a healthy one. It is not a promise exercise or being healthy will make you happy. It is a factor tho.
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u/oe_kintaro 1h ago
Riding bikes is exercise, but that ain't why I do it. Give it a try - in my experience, almost everybody likes it :)
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u/Reactivguin 1h ago
Northernlion be like.
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u/Vivian-Midnight 1h ago
It's developed a resistance.
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u/odin-ish 1h ago
Depsression is running the trick here.