Depression and running

an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin can stimulate (vs make
you lazy) you, which can both relieve the depression and
energize you to do things like exercise. be aware that other
antidepressants such as Paxil (SSRIs) can make less inclined
to exercise.

talk to your doc about both concerns and do some research on
the Web so you are an informed patient. the website www.dr-
bob.org/babble/ can be useful.

Subject: Depression and running From: <A
HREF=""][email hidden]
">[email hidden] </A> (Healthy Stealthy 😉 Date:
Mon, Jun 14, 2004 6:29 PM Message-id:
<[email hidden]>

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

\\ - - // ( @ @ ) +--------oOOo-(_)--oOOo----
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( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_

Hmmm I understand the dilemma , I am a Vietnam vet with
PTSD, much like depression. Believe me when I tell you
that forcing yourself to get out the door and just start
every day is the best anti-depressant drug any physician
could prescribe. After a few months it will be a habit ,
after a few years it will be an addiction. Then your
really in trouble.

Len

Lock, load, press barrel to temple, fire!

[email hidden] (Healthy Stealthy 😉 wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

Subject: Re: Depression and running
From: [email hidden] (Runners 4 Kerry)
Date: Mon, Jun 14, 2004 10:29 PM
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

Lock, load, press barrel to temple, fire!

[email hidden] (Healthy Stealthy 😉 wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

\\ - - // ( @ @ ) +--------oOOo-(_)--oOOo----
+ +------------------------Oooo----+ oooO
( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_

<< Subject: Re: Depression and running
From: [email hidden] (Runners 4 Kerry)
Date: Mon, Jun 14, 2004 10:29 PM
Message-id: <[email hidden]>

Lock, load, press barrel to temple, fire! >>

you give Kerry -- a very good guy -- a bad rep. he would not
want you on his side.

\\ - - // ( @ @ ) +--------oOOo-(_)--oOOo----
+ +------------------------Oooo----+ oooO
( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_

Quoted message said:

After a few months it will be a habit , after a few years
it will be an addiction. Then your really in trouble.

Your body produces its own pain killer known as endorphines.
They're chemically identical to morphine and it is similarly
possible to become addicted to them. It's not really a
problem until you get injured or are otherwise unable to get
your "fix". The "withdrawl" is what CAUSED my severe
depression and running was what got me out of it.

A general rule for becoming addicted used to be 6-6-6 = 6
miles a day, 6 days a week, for 6 months.

Depression is not easy to overcome for many people. Those
who have not had it or witnessed someone close deal with it
may not understand.

Please be certain that you get evaluated and treated by a
competent professional. Going at it alone is only going to
make it a steeper uphill
climb.

Exercise, including running, is certainly one of the best
ways to combat depression. For motivation, getting someone
else to tag along may be your best bet. Whether they are
aware of what you are facing or not is up to you, but if
they can be supportive in your recovery, they may understand
better why it is difficult for you to get out that door.

Good luck!

In article <[email hidden]>, Healthy

Stealthy ; said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

Some good suggestions about getting through your depression.

Check out: mindfulness.commt1.aspOpen ↗ Some thoughts,
ideas, benefits, experiences I put together for a writer a
number of years ago. The article was for a walking magazine
so you can put in either running or walking.

The last paragraph sums it up:

"In closing some of the best running and walking therapists
who I have met, don't even know they are running and walking
therapists. We simply call them: my running group, my
walking partner, my running buddy, the Saturday morning
bunch. These therapists have walked and/or run sometimes
hundreds or thousands of miles with you...and you trust your
souls to each other. And in that trust you and they have
healed each other and other fellow travelers many times
over...and more often than not, never even knew it."

Therapist comes from the Greek verb: To attend or to listen
to. Listening to someone with attention, truly listening is
a gift that allows the other person to be heard and
appreciated for who they are.

A great statement that has been of help to me: "Even with no
answer, you are perfect."

In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Director, San Diego
Marathon Clinic, est. 1975 Maintainer - rec.running FAQ faqs.orgrunningOpen ↗
faq/ Mindful Running: mindfulness.commr.aspOpen ↗

Try going out first thing in the morning. It was walking my
dog at sunup every morning that cleared up my depression
enough to get me off my meds! It has something to do with
how the gradually increasing sunlight affects the body
chemistry. If you also suffer from SAD, you'll probably know
what I'm talking about.

Another trick might be to agree to run with a friend, then
you'll have to show up at the agreed on time because you
made a commitment.

Good luck!

Jenn

<< Listening to someone with attention, truly listening is a
gift that allows the other person to be heard and
appreciated for who they are.

A great statement that has been of help to me: "Even with no
answer, you are perfect."

In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang >>

an excellent response, thank you!

\\ - - // ( @ @ ) +--------oOOo-(_)--oOOo----
+ +------------------------Oooo----+ oooO
( ) ( ) ) / \ ( (_

Is it wise for someone who's already depressed to start
reading Gontang's stuff?

That is an excellent topic. The hardest part is getting
yourself to force yourself to run. After a while, running
itself (along with other aerobic activities) have been shown
to be at least equal to lifting depression as any
medication, without negative side effects. And it works
faster than medication.

hdlighthouse.orgexercise2.htmOpen ↗

"Aerobic exercise can work faster than drugs to lift
depression, finds research in the British Journal of Sports
Medicine."

Healthy Stealthy ; said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

Here's another point of consideration: Think about what it
is you are doing. You are obviously beginning a running
routine to improve your mental & physical condition, so
let's try to get a picture of this that is positive,
exciting, & encouraging! First of all, how much are you
planning to run at one time, how fast, and at what time of
the day? To begin with, make it as easy as possible. Some
suggestions: Start with 1 mile, run at night or indoors on a
treadmill, and jog REALLY, REALLY, SLOW!! What's more
important for you at this point it to develop consistency &
feel good about what you have done when you finished. You
don't want it to be so hard that when you finish you dread
the next day when you have to do it again. You want it to be
so easy and feel so good that you look forward to it! Now,
there is a bit of discipline that has to be applied where
you make yourself go everyday, but your routine should be
easy enough that at some point during the workout you feel a
bit of joy in what you are doing - to provide motivation to
go on! So, set in your mind what your #1 reason is for doing
this. Improved sense of well-being (it happens every
time!!!), weight loss, whatever... Keep that focus before
you and do EASY, EASY, workouts, but be disciplined enough
to do it every day. As people have said, it will become an
addiction in just a few months!!!

It will work!!! Give it time. The key is that you should
experience good things in it even from the first couple of
runs. If you are not then you need to adjust what you are
doing because you won't maintain it. Slow down, run less,
run at a different time of the day, etc...

[email hidden] (Healthy Stealthy 😉 wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

Too depressed to run but not too depressed to moan about it
on usenet?

Hmmm...

Depression doesn't "prevent" you from running. I've had the
exact same problem you're having and the solution for me was
to force myself to run. Before long, I reached the point
where force was no longer needed. Running became the best
part of my day and an extremely important weapon in my fight
against depression (along with meds and good nutrition).

Just get out there and run. I know it's hard but you
can do it.

[email hidden] (Healthy Stealthy 😉 wrote in
message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I am trying to run to get back into shape mentally and
physically. Unfortunately, I am suffering from depression.
And this is preventing me from running. Is there anything
one can do in order to get over the depression so one can
get back into shape? It's a catch 22, if you ask me. One
must exercise to get over one's depression, but it is the
depression that prevents one from doing the exercise to
begin with.

You need to find ways to motivate yourself to run.
Whether it is having someone run with u or set some
specific goals when u run. Start timing yourself and try
to beat your previous time. Treat yourself to something
special if u run well.

Dave

P. S. Email me if u need any other advice or have any
questions.