Posted by Mid- Life Crisis on November 15, 2003, at 15:30:52
In reply to Re: Exercise Boosts Drug Treatment for Depression, posted by jrbecker on November 13, 2003, at 22:17:49
It is well known that there are many health benefits to regular exercise, and who is to say that an increase in brain chemicals completely explains why most people feel better (depressed or not) after becoming acclimated to a regular exercise program. I have ADHD and always felt much better after I exercised (unless it had been a while since I'd exercised, then it just made me tired.) However, now that I'm on Strattera, I find I can't get energized from exercise, or while exercising, like I always could before. Perhaps the increased norephinephrine in the brain caused by the Strattera interferes with this??)
Anyhow, it stands to reason that if you feel good physically (as after a workout) you will have less tendency to be depressed, whether taking an antidepressant or not. On the other hand, not exercising always causes me to feel "blah", and it is much easier to become depressed in that state than when feeling energized. In addition, fatigue from exercising also tends to make sleep easier/better quality. Adequate sleep also helps fight depression.
Researchers looking only at brain chemicals miss the big picture, the all-important "mind-body" connection.
poster:Mid- Life Crisis
thread:278752
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031111/msgs/280052.html