Question:  What is one of the most effective (and cheapest) treatments for depression in the world?

Answer:  I can boil it all down to one word: exercise

Now I know what you’re saying. “Yah, yah, yah… I’ve heard that again and again and again.” Or “I just don’t have enough time in the day to exercise”. Or perhaps your telling yourself “My depression keeps me from exercising”.  The excuses are almost automatic.  We’ll address those later.

Let me be blunt here: YOU MUST EXERCISE.

I’m not a sports physiologist so I cannot explain it in scientific terms. I just know what exercise does and how it makes you feel afterwards. These depression-busting and mood lifting benefits are also backed up by extensive scientific research.  Exercise and depression are almost like two opposing forces that collide and all of the physical benefits released by the exercise overcomes every time.

Regular exercise, and I’m talking about blood- pumping, get that sweat-going aerobic exercise, reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression and may also help keep these symptoms from coming back. If that’s not motivation enough for you to get started I don’t know what is.

Ideally, you should do aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes three times week. It sounds alot harder than it really is. You don’t have to start at 20 minutes per day. You just have to START. If you need to start at 5 minutes per day and work your way up. Not only will you be amazed at how much better you’re feeling after about a week but how addictive exercising is.

Aside from the reduced depression you’ll lose weight, you’ll increase stamina, you’ll boost your confidence level, and you just plain feel better!

Now let’s address the most common excuses you probably use now to avoid exercise:

• If you don’t have time – make time
• If you can’t do it at home join a gym or run, walk, or bike outside
• If you can’t do it alone hire a personal trainer or ask a friend or family member to help you
• If you feel you’re not in good enough shape to start exercising start getting yourself into shape
• If you are too lazy to exercise shut off the TV for a half and hour and get it done!
• If you don’t know how to exercise effectively buy a book on it or read up for free on the internet
• If you are physically disabled consult with your doctor about what you CAN do

Don’t underestimate the power of exercise to keep the troubling thoughts and depression symptoms at bay and fill you with enthusiasm and energy.

photo by: lu_lu

licensed under: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

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