Exercise as an antidepressant – Nederweert24

I wrote this blog in 2015, but it still seems more applicable today.

Practice

Everyone feels down or less cheerful sometimes. After all, it can’t always be a party. It becomes annoying when these feelings do not disappear over time, but continue to develop.

Unfortunately, depression is a common disease in the Netherlands. Based on a population survey, 649,500 people suffered from a mood disorder in 2011, including 550,300 with depressive disorder, between the ages of 18 and 65 years. (1). This depressive disorder can manifest itself in different ways, but in general you can say that a person with depression feels lethargic, is often tired and does not show much interest in things.

If you have these complaints, you can choose to consult your general practitioner, who will then send you to a psychiatrist, which is not a bad option. There is a good opportunity to discuss medication in case of serious complaints. Antidepressants are now prescribed to one million (!) Dutch people (2). It is generally known that it does not solve the problem, but rather suppresses it. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, because during that period you can work independently, with the help of a psychologist, to make things better again.

Opinions vary on the use of antidepressants. It is not surprising that you experience complaints such as gaining weight or becoming completely emotionless. However, others swear by it, and it has really helped them in their battle against depression.

But there is another medication that has been proven to help treat depression. You don’t have to take pills or go to an expensive psychiatrist or psychiatrist. This treatment is simply movement! Exercise benefits depression, according to a new review that analyzed 39 studies (3). Overall, this review shows that exercise has the same effect on depression as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy. In other words, exercising can help clear away the dark clouds that have built up around you, just as talking to a therapist or taking medication can. In fact, when treating mild to moderate depression, an exercise program works best (4).

By following a sports and exercise program, endorphins are released in your body, ensuring that you feel fit and active throughout the day. Endorphins are a morphine-like substance that has the ability to relieve pain as well as feelings of well-being and happiness. The last points definitely help in treating your depression.

Final conclusion: Don’t treat your depressive complaint too leniently. Talk to your doctor about this. In this post, I do not rule out the benefit of psychotherapy or medication at all. It has also been shown that medications can help treat severe forms of depression (5)However, as a personal fitness trainer, I have highlighted the positive aspects of exercise above. If you want to start exercising, work with a professional who can create a personalized plan for you, where you can work on your physical development responsibly and in a safe way and can get rid of any depression forever.

Rouge Kuijpers

S&C coach and nutritionist

(Top) Athletic Trainer, Nutritionist, and CrossFit Level 1 Coach. Review the websites of Impact Sports Performance Hall And Activate personal training and guidance.