Mental Health & Running (Read 155 times)

I believe distance running benefits mild cases of "low moods".  If you're clinically depressed, i don't think it's going to solve your problem.

Exercise can help depression and anxiety, but it may take medication or talk therapy as well to get you healthy/happy.  Talk to your physician and get recommendations.  If you're a Vet, talk to someone at the VA who understands and can help.  You don't have to do it alone.

I've read a number of articles that link running (or some prolonged endurance exercise) with improved mood due to changes in brain chemicals and function, and anecdotally, I think a lot of runners would back that up.  As Ginny mentions, though, true depression likely can't be cured by running alone.  You say you've been running regularly - did you feel worse before your started, or has your depressed mood always coincided with your running?  I'm wondering if it might be helping a bit, just to keep you kinda even keeled, and if you possibly would feel worse if you stop running?

My own personal experience with trauma and subclinical depression has shown that running certainly helped me find my way back twice, but is not a replacement for an obsessive behavior or purely a coping mechanism.  I was pretty intensely anorexic for a brief period of time in high school, and I found my desire to pursue developing my natural talent in distance running helped me cut the crap and see things differently.  Though a lot of people say anorexics are never really cured, I would say I am as I definitely remember what it was like, but can't fathom every behaving like that again.  Life is too much fun to obsess about controlling my food and weight   Second downer period was when I was in a really abusive "relationship" (he wasn't even a boyfriend, but a college classmate that completely manipulated me) that essentially amounted to repeated rape.  Yup, years and many miles later, that's what I realized it was and I realized it wasn't my fault.  So I can kinda relate to the possible PTSD.  I was left feeling dirty, embarrassed, disgusted by my own sexuality, ashamed, damaged, unable to talk about it, disconnected from who I really was...  Part of the solution was learning to love myself again by appreciating what my body COULD do...through running, and sorting through thoughts and emotions while by myself.  10 years later (abuse went from spring 2004 to spring 2006), I am still experiencing moments of paralysis and random emotional breakdowns, but running helps me feel normal, connect with others, reminds me that so many other people are also dealing with their own struggles... I just love the rhythm of the movement and being outside (though I will hit the treadmill to accomplish a workout, if needed).  Plus, there's the simple endorphin boost, followed by the happiness that is a post run bagel and coffee

I'm happy to go into more detail and don't mind talking about my experiences.  I hope you find some balance and happiness!  Keep reaching out to people for help!

Physical activity of any sort helps me with my depression, the higher the intensity the better. Running doesn't give me quite the intensity I need, at least without injuring myself, so I do strength training as well to get that. Hiking has also helped a lot; there's research that shows being out in nature helps quite a bit. Before I started exercising, I self-medicated by smoking a lot of pot. Exercise has definitely got me over that.

Meditation also helps a lot. I use an app called Calm once or twice a day and that works wonders for my mental state. Keep trying different things and don't be shy of going to a professional to see what they can do. I've never been able to stick with one, but I've gotten good pointers.

Most importantly, don't hold it in. It's real and trying to paper over it won't do a thing.

I have a bit of an obsessive personality, I won't say OCD because it's not that bad.  But there is also a lot of depression in my family, and I have a hard time staying positive sometimes.  Again, I won't say I have depression because it's not that bad.  I do have struggles with an eating disorder, and with my obsessive tendencies sometimes I get a bit out of control when it comes to weight loss.  I came to a deal with myself, because I really, really enjoy running (it turns off all the voices) that I eat so I can run.  I can't run if I don't eat.  Like, physically cannot do it lol.

Running is more important to me than my eating disorder.  I've learned to worry less about what my belly looks like, and to take pleasure in how far my legs can carry me.  Now I just have to be careful not to run so much that I hurt myself, which was what took me out of the last half of 2014.  And like was mentioned before, that time of forced rest was a trial, and it went a long way to reminding me that I NEED to be able to run.

Don't be embarrassed.  You aren't alone in this.  Really.

I have had issues with depression since college.  Some periods are much worse than others, but it is always there in the background.  Running and hiking help a lot, but they don't always keep me sane.  I can feel great while I run, but three hours later be feeling suicidal.  But I have those hours when I do feel good to fall back on.  I know that my life can be good, that I can be happy, that I can feel total peace and serenity.  It helps during the bad times.  I feel such a difference on the days I don't run or hike, it keeps me motivated to get out there.  The worst was getting injured, and being unable to run for several months.  But again, I had the memories of the good times, and enough knowledge of past bad times to know that it would get better if I was patient.  I also started looking for other ways to get the good feelings besides running ,eating or drinking.