I’ve read a few articles claiming that regular physical activity can help with symptoms of mild depression, sometimes as much as antidepressants. Is there solid evidence to support this? Has it been backed by any major health organizations or studies?
Is it true that exercise can be as effective as medication for mild depression?
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medication just masks the symptoms and doesn’t fix anything. it’s a temporary solution that makes it worse when they don’t have the medication on hand.
a good diet and exercise increases endorphins and regulates body hormones and is a long term fix as long as you maintain a solid schedule of exercising and healthy diet.
For some people, yes. But I’ve had bad luck trying to exercise. It makes me about 10 times MORE depressed. I guess it loosens up all that pent-up depression or something.
ssris are a scam
exercise is for real
100%
For mild depression you’re literally not supposed to use medication NHS
So no, exercise isn’t as effective, it’s the much better route.
I’m a depressed person, for me difficult exercise for at least 30-40 min. helps me feel better for a few hours afterwards. But I needed antidepressants to permanently (if you can call it that) stop the depression. It may be easier to get out of a depressive long-term state (not washing, cleaning, sleep too much, don’t work, not socializing) by among other things taking meds, exercising, taking socializing classes, eating healthy, and having regular routines and doing your home choires. That is, don’t just rely on the meds to help you.
There’s mixed evidence as to whether medication does more for depression than taking a placebo. Exercise has a pretty consistently demonstrated positive effect.
I would say so to an extent.
Nothing is going to magically fix your depression, medication doesn’t take my depression away. It just helps regulate the mood swings. I have tried so many different medications for my depression & nothing has helped the way lifestyle changes have. I would also argue that diet is just as if not more important than exercise. Who you hang around, feeling like you have purpose, routine, good hygiene, not drinking, eating real ingredients, moving your body, etc has helped me more than ANYTHING