Posted on 02/26/2023 11:05:24 AM PST by ConservativeMind
Researchers are calling for exercise to be a mainstay approach for managing depression as a new study shows that physical activity is 1.5 times more effective than counseling or the leading medications.
The review is the most comprehensive to date, encompassing 97 reviews, 1,039 trials and 128,119 participants. It shows that physical activity is extremely beneficial for improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress.
Specifically, the review showed that exercise interventions that were 12 weeks or shorter were most the effective at reducing mental health symptoms, highlighting the speed at which physical activity can make a change.
The largest benefits were seen among people with depression, pregnant and postpartum women, healthy individuals, and people diagnosed with HIV or kidney disease.
Dr. Ben Singh, says physical activity must be prioritized to better manage the growing cases of mental health conditions.
"Physical activity is known to help improve mental health. Yet despite the evidence, it has not been widely adopted as a first-choice treatment," Dr. Singh says. "Our review shows that physical activity interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in all clinical populations, with some groups showing even greater signs of improvement.
"Higher intensity exercise had greater improvements for depression and anxiety, while longer durations had smaller effects when compared to short and mid-duration bursts.
"We also found that all types of physical activity and exercise were beneficial, including aerobic exercise such as walking, resistance training, Pilates, and yoga.
"Importantly, the research shows that it doesn't take much for exercise to make a positive change to your mental health."
"We hope this review will underscore the need for physical activity, including structured exercise interventions, as a mainstay approach for managing depression and anxiety."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I can only speak for myself, but I am convinced that running was what enabled me to survive suicidal depression many years ago.
Glad you were able to and recovered. Not all can.
And physical health too. Our IDIOT governor, Jay Inslee, closed the gyms for a year and as a result, I spent two days in the hospital a few weeks ago with Congestive Heart Failure. I saw five cardiologists there and all agreed that lack of exercise caused this @%#$%#! condition.
Does wanting to kill the idiot governor count as mental health?
Thanks. Yes, it would be great if there were one simple and sure-fire cure, effective for everyone, but there isn’t.
I have 3 acres to mow, rake, and tend. Year ‘round exercise - and saves on gym membership!
While sympathetic to severe depression - a catatonic person isn’t going to just rise up and start swinging kettle bells- I don’t dismiss the general wisdom here. There are STEPS to severe depression and to fight it off before it gets to that state get out in the sunshine, sweat, get your heart rate up and exercise your body. Routinely; daily if necessary. It can FEND OFF the worst and should not be dismissed. It should be reflected in how we raise kids and expectations at
College etc
But you NEED mental illness to survive in the current world. At least that’s what the voices in my head say.
A certain percentage of more severe cases are intrinsic and unrelated to exercise, lifestyle or upbringing. And others involve such a dearth of energy, and often “leaden limbs” syndrome, such that getting out of a chair is an ordeal, that hearty exercise is not at all realistic. I fully agree that everyone who can exercise should, but not everyone can, and the implication that depression would disappear if everyone did is false.
So are you saying that an ethic or habit of regular consistent exercise would not help the majority of people to fend off or mitigate severe depression?
“In terms of symptom severity, many mild or moderate cases are amenable to exercise, yes. But not an option for more severe cases almost by definition.”
You are so right. Exercise isn’t going to cure major depression. It might reduce the agitation and some other symptoms but it is not going to fix the problem. I am 65 y.o. and I have had 5 episodes of major depression. I have never been suicidal because I knew that something was wrong with me and not my life. I don’t know how to explain this other than that during an episode I remember doing things and thinking “I would really be enjoying myself right now if i didn’t have this depression”. Anti-depressants actually treat the disease. I know because I am a slow responder and require the maximum dose so it is not a placebo effect. Anyone out there having overwhelming depression, anxiety, early morning awaking and loss of appetite etc. get help. Anti-depressants are not fun drugs in the beginning. They will make you actually feel worse at first. I believe that is a sign that they will eventually work because the one drug that did not help me had virtually no side effects. Anti-depressants have been around more than 60 years. They would not have been around this long if they were not effective.
Being healthy makes people want to exercise. Therefore, people who are healthy exercise.
Great comment and I’m glad you’re doing well!
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