Sad To Happy: How Exercise Helped Me With My Depression
Over 10 years ago, I was overweight, depressed, and sleep-deprived (insomnia sucks).
Throughout middle school and high school, I was regularly bullied because of this and the fact that I had zero self-confidence.
This led me to isolate myself from others, which led me down a path where I contemplated suicide.
It was not until I vented my frustration to my mother about how I looked and felt that she told me “let’s do something about it”.
We started working out together.
At first, I absolutely hated it.
…Then I started to notice something…
I ate better.
I slept better.
I felt better.
I thought better.
Physical activity not only improved my physical health but my mental health as well.
Fitness personally saved my life.
Sad to Happy
Based on my story, you might notice a few things.
For starters, people with depressive symptoms typically isolate themselves from people. People with depressive symptoms also tend to be more physically inactive.
But in adding exercise to your regiment, you may notice some improvements.
According to a recent study done in 2021, exercise not only reduced depressive symptoms but also improves the brain’s ability to react and change.
Adding to that, in clinical studies, participation in aerobic exercise can potentially be a great way to improve wellbeing.
This means that we believe it’s important to consider or add a holistic approach to handling mental health.
In fact, peer review surveys have shown that depressed people have reported exercise is typically their preferred treatment option.
It is important to consider that not everyone has similar challenges with depression, however.
You should always speak to a doctor or mental health specialist for your individual best options.
Exercise To “Anti-Depress”
Exercise can aid in improving wellbeing through the following:
- Improves sleep. Exercise can improve the time it takes for you to fall asleep AND also improves sleep quality.
- Increases energy. Consistent exercise can improve energy and reduce fatigue.
- Reduces stress. Working out can help you distract yourself from daily stressors.
- Improved self-esteem. You will not only look better but feel better.
How You Can Start
If you haven’t started working out yet, Science Direct recommends exercising moderately for 30 minutes every day. You can split these up into 15-minute increments per day if you’re on a time constraint.
You can consider doing a total of 3.5 hours of exercise weekly, which can equate to 3–5 days per week.
What kind of exercise should you do? Break a sweat and do what you like. I personally like weight lifting and martial arts. While these are completely different, I find both enjoyable.
To conclude, we want you to remember that not everyone has similar depressive symptoms. This is just another reminder to discuss all options with doctors or mental health specialists to discover what works best for you.
While exercise is my therapy, it is different for everyone. It is my hope, however, that you implement what is recommended if you do not already.
As depression is correlated to a sedentary lifestyle and isolation, we recommend getting your ass up and putting in that work.
If you have any questions, comments, or recommendations for exercise methods, feel free to email us at support@reforgedperformance.com, or direct message us on Instagram.
Until next time, Reforged Legion!
