Exercise: The Value of Exercise in Treating Depression
Anxiety and depression are the two leading types of reported mental health illness in the United States. They are two sides of the same insidious coin, and affect around 40 million people each year, or 18% of the population. (ADAA) The advent of anti-depressant drugs has created a multi-billion dollar industry that argues medication is the most effective treatment for patients. And while antidepressants are an important option to have available, they should not be considered the best or most effective solution in treating all cases of mild to moderate depression while there are other equally effective alternatives available. Physical activity and exercise can provide a more complete and long-lasting solution for battling these depressive disorders without the dependency and side effects that come with anti-depressant drugs.
The rise of depression, and growing dependency on anti-depressive drugs, should be addressed …show more content…
Exercise promotes routine, stability, and a proactive mindset for the patient. This gives the person the ability to effectively manage an otherwise hard to control disorder; which is in itself very empowering. This sense of self-reliance is valuable to a person when managing their depression. The knowledge that their ability to tackle and conquer this disorder is intrinsic to themselves, and not given by a drug, can further motivate them in their recovery. Research shows that people who exercise daily are far less likely to develop a depressive disorder, and those who already suffer from anxiety and depression relapse far less than those who use strictly anti-depressants. (Stanton 3) This combination of biochemical effectiveness, along with positive, proactive, lifestyle change helps a patient tackle both the symptomatology and cause of their
Anxiety and depression are the two leading types of reported mental health illness in the United States. They are two sides of the same insidious coin, and affect around 40 million people each year, or 18% of the population. (ADAA) The advent of anti-depressant drugs has created a multi-billion dollar industry that argues medication is the most effective treatment for patients. And while antidepressants are an important option to have available, they should not be considered the best or most effective solution in treating all cases of mild to moderate depression while there are other equally effective alternatives available. Physical activity and exercise can provide a more complete and long-lasting solution for battling these depressive disorders without the dependency and side effects that come with anti-depressant drugs.
The rise of depression, and growing dependency on anti-depressive drugs, should be addressed …show more content…
Exercise promotes routine, stability, and a proactive mindset for the patient. This gives the person the ability to effectively manage an otherwise hard to control disorder; which is in itself very empowering. This sense of self-reliance is valuable to a person when managing their depression. The knowledge that their ability to tackle and conquer this disorder is intrinsic to themselves, and not given by a drug, can further motivate them in their recovery. Research shows that people who exercise daily are far less likely to develop a depressive disorder, and those who already suffer from anxiety and depression relapse far less than those who use strictly anti-depressants. (Stanton 3) This combination of biochemical effectiveness, along with positive, proactive, lifestyle change helps a patient tackle both the symptomatology and cause of their