Why I Always Recommend Exercise for People with Depression

The one treatment that I helped me heal.

Some years ago, I hit my lowest. I was constantly in a bad mood, hopeless, frustrated with myself, and feeling like crap every time I looked at myself in a wheelchair.

I felt like I was trapped under a huge gray and black cloud. Like I’m in a dark, isolated room that suffocates me at every opportunity.

Nothing mattered to me, not even my six-week-old baby lying next to me. I felt like the most terrible person for bringing in a human being to suffer miserably on earth.

I resented myself for not having the power to turn my situation around. I hated that I had no control to prevent the accident.

But what I realized during my depression was that I was refusing to accept the new changes in my life and the stereotype surrounding them.

I didn’t want to accept my life had reached the furthest I was destined to be. I didn’t want to accept I would never walk again, as the doctors said.

I didn’t want to accept that I would never do the things I used to do and have to depend on other people for the rest of my life.

I realized what I was really struggling with was “acceptance.”

I should have accepted that my life has changed and carried on depending on people and forgetting my dreams or accepted that things have changed and looked for a way to create the life I wanted.

Instead of rejecting the changes and responsibilities that came with being a disabled mom, I should have accepted it and looked for a way to turn the new life in my favor.

Which was what I finally did. When I accepted that the accident was beyond my control and there was nothing I could do to reverse the incident, I started doing the one thing I could do, changing how I perceived my condition.

It took years of mentally rewiring my brain of the negative stereotype around disability and single motherhood.

I started with mental exercises by reading self-help books.

Reading was the only form of exercise I could do without needing help. The more I read, the more confident I was in myself and the less negative I was about my situation.

As I grew more positive with my self-image, I progressed to breathing exercises and other low activity workouts involving my hands.

Most common causes of depression

Depression is a mood or emotional state characterized by feelings of low self-worth or guilt and a decreased ability to enjoy life.

Our moods depend not only on what is happening to us but also on how we view events in our lives and the meanings we assign to them.

Many factors can influence your mood, from the changing weather to your internal systems, e.g., hormones.

Hormones are substances produced by the endocrine glands that affect many bodily functions, including growth and development, mood, sexual function, and metabolism.

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland can play a role in depression. Regulating your hormones can greatly improve and balance your emotional health as well as treat most mental illnesses.

Why exercises improve hormones more than antidepressants

The most effective treatments for major depression target specific hormonal systems. Most antidepressants target the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which have been linked to depression when they are in short supply.

However, only a few people respond well to antidepressants. Alternative treatments like acupuncture are known to reduce hormone-induced mood swings.

Exercise can also improve mental health. From a biological point of view, exercise can increase certain chemicals in the brain that can help create new brain cells and new connections between brain cells.

Your brain will release serotonin, as well as oxytocin, another brain chemical that improves mood when you walk, jump, run, or breathe.

Various studies show that depression is often associated with fatigue, social withdrawal, and insomnia. While antidepressants can treat these symptoms, the side effects include dizziness, nausea, and even weight gain.

On the other hand, exercises are used to improve sleep disorders, cognitive function, and weight control.

You may not realize the need to exercise when you’re in high suicide mode, but your brain is one of the most important parts of you.

And it needs to be nourished to activate the chemicals that make you feel better.

If you ever feel lost, frustrated, hopeless, or anxious about your situation, get in the habit of reading 30 minutes every day.

Do routine exercises to help release endorphins in your brain that will improve your self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Disclaimer: This article and links included are for general information purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional consultation. Always seek professional approval if you have any health-related problems.

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