Posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 15:04:29
In reply to Re: sure helps some people, but not others, posted by SLS on July 3, 2004, at 10:42:50
This is one of those things where mileage is likely to vary a lot, I think. For me, I know, I used exercise a sort of combination self-medication/self-punishment for a long time. An hour and a half a day, minimum, on treadmill and stair machine at the gym; with a complete weight routine three times per week, as well. It was self-medicating in some senses -- sweating felt good, and the pushing on the weight machines (on the days my workout buddy/spotter wasn't there) felt like pushing away against the troubles bearing down on me. (And the weight machines -- unlike my workout buddy -- never asked me how much I was eating...) While I was on the stair machine, I'd be hating every second and watching that timer tick down the seconds and minutes longing only for it to get to zero so I could stop. Once I was done, though, I could say, "See, you did something for yourself today. You did something to make yourself stronger, and healthier." (The treadmill was another story. For reasons I won't go into here, I walked on it rather than jogging, and I'd go into a sort of a trance and just keep moving my legs. Not nearly so awful, although I still wanted it to end.)
Did it help my depression? No. For me, that took meds.
So, keeping in mind that we all have our own individual quirks attached to our mood disorders and to our native personalities, exercise is good for us all in some quantity, but mileage is likely to vary a lot in terms of helping our moods. (And I'm still a little frightened by the thought of starting a regular exercise program, because my experience is that it either makes me miserable because I can't force myself to get through the whole dang thing or it starts me off down the path to excessive exercise and restricted eating. I figure if that's what happens to me, I can't be the only one who experiences it. After all, I may be unique, but I'm not the only one, you know?)
Sorry to get long on the subject, I meant to say, "Yeah, I agree totally: exercise helps some people -- especially those with mild depression linked to situational stressors -- but everyone's reaction to it will be different. And Scott's a very smart fellow we can all learn a lot from."
Amazing, ain't it? Two short sentences instead of my usual lengthy ravings... {sigh} Flunked the editing part...
poster:Racer
thread:362750
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040627/msgs/362829.html