Running with Depression

What is depression?

Depression is a very common problem - affecting about one in six people at some point in their life. Depression can describe a range of moods and behaviours, from low spirits to a severe problem that interferes with everyday life. People who are depressed often lose their appetite and have difficulty sleeping, feel guilty or worthless, become anxious and tired, and find it difficult to concentrate. Some may also have thoughts about death or suicide.

Sometimes it can be difficult to decide whether you are responding normally to difficult times, or have become depressed. A rough guide in this situation is that if your symptoms significantly interfere with your life and last for two weeks or more, then you may be experiencing depression and should seek help.*

How can depression be treated?

There are several different treatments for depression. The most common treatments include prescribed antidepressant medication and certain forms of counselling, which can help people explore different ways of thinking about and coping with their problems.

Another treatment option is physical exercise. Several scientific studies have shown that a regular programme of exercise can help people to recover from depression - lifting their mood, reducing anxiety and improving self-esteem and concentration.

There's a wide range of reasons why running and exercise can help with depression:

• Exercise is believed to increase the release of the brain chemicals that affect our mood and make us feel happier.

• Exercise helps us to get active and meet new people. This stops us from feeling isolated

• Exercise can give us new goals and a sense of purpose. We have something positive tofocus on and aim for.

• Exercise can boost our self-esteem - it can improve the way we look and how we feel about ourselves.

Exercise is one of the most popular treatments for depression - one survey found that 85 per cent of people with mental health problems who had tried exercise found it helpful. Often people say that exercise feels like a very 'natural' way to respond to feeling down - it gives them a sense of achievement and control, which can help counter the feelings of hopelessness.  Furthermore exercise doesn't produce the unpleasant side effects often associated with antidepressants - in fact, it has positive 'side effects', including lower risk of heart disease, strokes, some cancers and obesity. Once the exercise habit is learned, it can become a part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

My doctor signed me off of work with depression in September and since then has prescribed a number of antidepressants, counselling and exercise. I also practice cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.  A broad-ranged and balanced plan with a range of different strategies can often be the best way of coping but I must admit that every day is still a struggle and nights are even worse. However I'm condident that I'll recover at some point.

*If you think that you may be suffering from depression then PLEASE contact your local GP asap.