4 ms·

Exercise boosts mental well-being as well though so food doesn’t have to be the only comfort that depressed people seek.

shadowgovt 6y ago
It does for some people, not for others. I took up exercise during the pandemic shut in and I gotta say: I've heard enough people report that it vastly improved their mood that I believe them. But me? Nope. It's a chore every single time. Never gets easier; I just get better at dealing with the physical stress of it. Same pain and same exhaustion every time; none of that reported "runner's high" or "feeling of euphoria" other people seem to experience, and no particular change in mood week-to-week. The pain curve is flatter the more I do it (so I can go for longer periods of time before will gives out and I give a hearty "fuuuuuck THIS" to further running that day), but I still feel like crap every time I finish. I keep telling myself "It's not about feeling good; it's about being better." The pain won't stop me, but it means it doesn't come for free.
- ehvatum 6y ago
  That was also my experience until I mixed in THC and heroic amounts of mountain biking and racquetball. For me, the conditioning had to be broken. I knew that other people enjoy working out. It didn’t make sense that I couldn’t. I came to feel that my body was lying to me, and it pissed me off. Maybe it’s hard to boot up the endorphin process, or something. I don’t have a good explanation, but pure rage and good weed powered me through the barrier.
Mtinie 6y ago
Absolutely. Exercise is also an activity you need to voluntarily commit to doing. The effects of mild/moderate/severe depression can make keeping up this commitment a challenge. I know it's in my best interests to exercise and I know it makes me feel better when I do it, but when I'm feeling low it's also one of the last things I want to do.
- npsimons 6y ago
  I use the five minutes trick: "just five minutes on the treadmill", "just five minutes bench pressing, you can do it laying down!" Usually I end up going for longer than five minutes and enjoying every one.
Tade0 6y ago
Not a real option for someone who's in pain.

shadowgovt 6y ago

It does for some people, not for others. I took up exercise during the pandemic shut in and I gotta say: I've heard enough people report that it vastly improved their mood that I believe them. But me? Nope. It's a chore every single time. Never gets easier; I just get better at dealing with the physical stress of it. Same pain and same exhaustion every time; none of that reported "runner's high" or "feeling of euphoria" other people seem to experience, and no particular change in mood week-to-week. The pain curve is flatter the more I do it (so I can go for longer periods of time before will gives out and I give a hearty "fuuuuuck THIS" to further running that day), but I still feel like crap every time I finish. I keep telling myself "It's not about feeling good; it's about being better." The pain won't stop me, but it means it doesn't come for free.

ehvatum 6y ago
That was also my experience until I mixed in THC and heroic amounts of mountain biking and racquetball. For me, the conditioning had to be broken. I knew that other people enjoy working out. It didn’t make sense that I couldn’t. I came to feel that my body was lying to me, and it pissed me off. Maybe it’s hard to boot up the endorphin process, or something. I don’t have a good explanation, but pure rage and good weed powered me through the barrier.

Mtinie 6y ago

Absolutely. Exercise is also an activity you need to voluntarily commit to doing. The effects of mild/moderate/severe depression can make keeping up this commitment a challenge. I know it's in my best interests to exercise and I know it makes me feel better when I do it, but when I'm feeling low it's also one of the last things I want to do.

npsimons 6y ago
I use the five minutes trick: "just five minutes on the treadmill", "just five minutes bench pressing, you can do it laying down!" Usually I end up going for longer than five minutes and enjoying every one.

Tade0 6y ago

Not a real option for someone who's in pain.