Depression and Exercise - 3 Tips to Using Exercise to Battle the Blues
Depression is a common affliction for various people at some point or another in their lives.
There may be a variety of causes, or a combination of factors - unresolved grief, past trauma, current life stressors, toxic relationships, and/or brain chemistry issues, for example.
Feelings of lingering sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns can result from depression.
In severe cases, a medical approach might be merited, but for milder cases, natural methods are often effective at managing depression symptoms.
Exercise is an excellent natural alternative to deal with the symptoms of the blues.
Here are 3 tips to using exercise against depression: 1.
Start out slowly and increase intensity gradually.
Don't go in to the gym and overdo it the first day - you will end up sore and it may keep you from exercising for a few days.
Check with your doctor as to an appropriate activity level, and start out gently.
The goal is consistency and regular exercise, so give yourself the chance to keep it up without straining yourself.
2.
Focus your exercise routine on cardiovascular exercise.
This is ideal for managing depression symptoms because it increases the release of endorphins.
These are the feel good compounds that help elevate your mood.
Your increased fitness level and better body image will also serve to give you a mental boost.
3.
Build up to a regular exercise regimen.
Ideally, work up to 45 minutes 5 times per week.
Don't let yourself quit if you aren't exercising that often, however, as some exercise is more beneficial than none.
As you continue, you will likely find it gets easier and more habitual.
There may be a variety of causes, or a combination of factors - unresolved grief, past trauma, current life stressors, toxic relationships, and/or brain chemistry issues, for example.
Feelings of lingering sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns can result from depression.
In severe cases, a medical approach might be merited, but for milder cases, natural methods are often effective at managing depression symptoms.
Exercise is an excellent natural alternative to deal with the symptoms of the blues.
Here are 3 tips to using exercise against depression: 1.
Start out slowly and increase intensity gradually.
Don't go in to the gym and overdo it the first day - you will end up sore and it may keep you from exercising for a few days.
Check with your doctor as to an appropriate activity level, and start out gently.
The goal is consistency and regular exercise, so give yourself the chance to keep it up without straining yourself.
2.
Focus your exercise routine on cardiovascular exercise.
This is ideal for managing depression symptoms because it increases the release of endorphins.
These are the feel good compounds that help elevate your mood.
Your increased fitness level and better body image will also serve to give you a mental boost.
3.
Build up to a regular exercise regimen.
Ideally, work up to 45 minutes 5 times per week.
Don't let yourself quit if you aren't exercising that often, however, as some exercise is more beneficial than none.
As you continue, you will likely find it gets easier and more habitual.