4 ms·

Using a treatment like this without therapy would be as negligent (even more, actually) as treating a depression patient with drugs only. In order to treat cau

by _def 5y ago

Using a treatment like this without therapy would be as negligent (even more, actually) as treating a depression patient with drugs only. In order to treat causes of depression successfully in the long term, it can be incredibly helpful to dampen the symptoms short term.

john_moscow 5y ago
Oh, there are plenty of ways to dampen the symptoms short term without paying a dime to the healthcare system. One good strenuous hike works wonders. Not talking about forcing yourself to go join a public speaking club or something similar. This involves willpower, but willpower can be trained, just like muscles. We should encourage that and praise that, and help people find their ways of achieving that, rather then cultivating learned helplessness on a national scale.
- bserge 5y ago
  No, it doesn't. I've cycled for 50km on weekends, I've "hiked" 17km (walked between cities lol) a few times to try it. Yeah, it feels good at the end. And then it's back to the normal depressed state.
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
    Agreed. I am also an avid bike rider and 50mi is my standard Saturday morning ride (the more hills the better!). It does feel great, both while doing it and for the better part of the day afterwards. There's a clarity in it that I lack in my day-to-day existence. But it never lasts. I've had a tough time lately, mentally, and went on a bike tour with my dog to a state park 40 miles away for 2 days. Over 100lbs of load. Hiked a good 10 miles while there. Rode back. It felt great and life had clarity for all of 24 hours after. There's a lot of good reasons to exercise, but alleviating depression isn't one of them in my experience.
- krageon 5y ago
  > works wonders No. This is not reasonable to say, because exercise does not "work wonders". It works a little and it makes you feel a little better, that is it.

4 ms·

Using a treatment like this without therapy would be as negligent (even more, actually) as treating a depression patient with drugs only. In order to treat cau

by _def 5y ago

john_moscow 5y ago
Oh, there are plenty of ways to dampen the symptoms short term without paying a dime to the healthcare system. One good strenuous hike works wonders. Not talking about forcing yourself to go join a public speaking club or something similar. This involves willpower, but willpower can be trained, just like muscles. We should encourage that and praise that, and help people find their ways of achieving that, rather then cultivating learned helplessness on a national scale.
- bserge 5y ago
  No, it doesn't. I've cycled for 50km on weekends, I've "hiked" 17km (walked between cities lol) a few times to try it. Yeah, it feels good at the end. And then it's back to the normal depressed state.
  - AnIdiotOnTheNet 5y ago
    Agreed. I am also an avid bike rider and 50mi is my standard Saturday morning ride (the more hills the better!). It does feel great, both while doing it and for the better part of the day afterwards. There's a clarity in it that I lack in my day-to-day existence. But it never lasts. I've had a tough time lately, mentally, and went on a bike tour with my dog to a state park 40 miles away for 2 days. Over 100lbs of load. Hiked a good 10 miles while there. Rode back. It felt great and life had clarity for all of 24 hours after. There's a lot of good reasons to exercise, but alleviating depression isn't one of them in my experience.
- krageon 5y ago
  > works wonders No. This is not reasonable to say, because exercise does not "work wonders". It works a little and it makes you feel a little better, that is it.