Posted by Jen2 on January 24, 2005, at 23:16:07
In reply to Excercise Backfire., posted by Bob on January 24, 2005, at 12:13:41
When I was in the pit of despair this past fall, my partner (who was initially skeptical that there was anything wrong with me at all) insisted that the best cure for what ailed me was good strong exercise. Needing something to do to try to prevent myself from going insane, I started accompanying him to the gym and tried a couple of fitness classes -- knowing in my rational brain that the flood of endorphins that results from good sweaty exercise can be a powerful mood enhancer (as per Impermanence's post). Understandably, the depression, anxiety and paranoia were more than just "feeling sad/bad" and thus going to the gym a couple of times didn't resolve the problem. In fact, sometimes it made me feel worse. However, I stuck with it. Eventually it did make me feel stronger and helped me to feel like I could begin to cope -- the rationale was, if I can make it through this excruciatingly painful workout, I can maybe make it through another few hours of another day.
I also got medicated and started therapy shortly thereafter. The combination is so far working well for me. Going to the gym now feels really helpful and enhances my mood considerably. I went tonight and felt very powerful.
My point is this - despite the fact that it often feels like crap and makes you feel like crap the next day, exercise is very important. I don't believe that it's able to resolve whatever's going on in one's head all on its own (at least it didn't work that way for me - maybe it does for others), but I think that it's a really important part of getting better.
Stick it out, keep it up. It will help eventually.
Jen
poster:Jen2
thread:446790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050124/msgs/447155.html