Exercise while depressed?

Discussion in 'Health and Fitness' started by Hapuka, May 25, 2007.

  1. Hapuka

    Hapuka Te Aho

    I suffer from depression. It comes and goes but It does get in the way of training. I just don't seem motivated enough anymore. I remember when I would attend every Taekwon-do session but now I can't seem to be bothered anymore.

    What can I do? :confused:
     
  2. Gary

    Gary Vs The Irresistible Farce Supporter

    It may sound a little odd, but if there's no external reasons for your depression it could be that missing training is causing it. Personally I know whenever I take a rest week the lack of regular endorphin rushes makes me feel down for a while.
     
  3. RazorKaine

    RazorKaine Valued Member

    Actually, excercising is good for fighting depression. Often, the biggest obstacle is getting out and doin' it... once overcomed that obstacle, excercizing will be a relief for depression.
     
  4. slipthejab

    slipthejab Hark, a vagrant! Supporter

    Hapuka,
    Everyone suffers from depression at one time or another. Some worse than others... but you need to move past putting that at the forefront of every description of yourself and move on with life. ;)

    (and yes... I'm aware that some people suffer from 'clinical depression')

    Just showing up is half the battle. Exercise can only do good things for you mood and your state of mind. So just kick yourself in the rear and go. Don't take no for an answer... don't look or make up exscuses... just get up and go.

    There's any number of motivating little tid bits you can use to get yourself going... there are even entire libraries full of them... but a good one that I use when I'm in a funk is this:

    What am I gonna do today that makes a difference in 10 years?

    If being healthy is part of who you want to be in 10 years then right there is reason number one to get up and go. Is having some long term sense of accomplishment in your chosen MA something you value? There's reason number two.

    There are a billion reasons to get up and go... but you have to be the one to put it in gear and get on with it. No one can do that for you.:)
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2007
  5. Lord Spooky

    Lord Spooky Banned Banned


    Have you seen your Doc? What level of severity have you been diagnosed with, if you don't mind me asking?

    Do you already have some form of action plan in place to help you tackle it?
     
  6. Lord Spooky

    Lord Spooky Banned Banned

    I'd have to disagree a bit with that Slip. Everyone feels down at one time or another. However even though in today’s society depression is becoming more prevalent not everyone has suffered from it.
     
    Last edited: May 25, 2007
  7. slipthejab

    slipthejab Hark, a vagrant! Supporter

    Hmm... I figure at one point or another everyone suffers some form of 'depression'. Whether or not it's clinically diagnosed depression or some ultra severe form of depression I couldn't say... but I'd say depression is relatively common - the whole point being... to keep moving... and not make depression the central focus of your life and the descriptor that you use to preface yourself and every post with.
     
  8. Gary

    Gary Vs The Irresistible Farce Supporter

    I guess it depends on if you're talking medical depression or just feeling a bit down and unmotivated. You'd be hard pressed to find someone that's never been a little blue.
     
  9. Lord Spooky

    Lord Spooky Banned Banned

    You've said some good stuff in the past Slip but I think the above tops the lot, nice post!

    Hapuka read and absorb the above it'll be the key to getting you going again ;)
     
  10. Lord Spooky

    Lord Spooky Banned Banned

    That's it! Like I said everyone will have felt down now and then but that isn't the same as depression, it's nowhere near it. True depression is a totally different animal and IMO it’s a label that is thrown around far too often nowadays.
     
  11. koolaid

    koolaid Valued Member

    feeling down and blue is still considered depression tho, just at a low level of severeness.

    I do agree it is thrown around alot. To the point where people just assume people are acting up depression to get attention (which some people do but not everyone)
     
  12. koolaid

    koolaid Valued Member

    opps forgot to reply to the actual topic.

    I often feel ( i wouldnt say depressed but definately) unmotivated when it comes to training.

    To be honest the best way i get over it is i just dont think about it and i just go there.
    I find these classes really good to a point because you show up not expecting much out of them but you always (hopefully) walk away with more than what you expected.

    I say just go to training, it might surprize you :)
     
  13. Shadow_of_Evil

    Shadow_of_Evil wants to go climbing...

    When I'm feeling down (don't recall ever really being depressed however) I know nothing cheers me up like going for a nice long run. Gives me time to think and just be...while keeping fit ;)
     
  14. strider

    strider Valued Member

    weird usually when someone feels down,exercise is prescribed to his daily activity,cuz when you excerise endorfines body natural drug is secreted,so u feel much better.
    after breaking up with my gf after 4 years,the only thing that made me feel really gr8 was training.
     
  15. Cosmo Kramer

    Cosmo Kramer Valued Member

    sometimes i feel tried sore or depressed and dont really want to go to class, but i usually force myself to go anyways, and i often feel better when class is over
     
  16. Shadow_of_Evil

    Shadow_of_Evil wants to go climbing...

    Depression is nothing that a few episodes of Takeshi's Castle wont sort out.
     
  17. koolaid

    koolaid Valued Member

    Agreed, Training after a break up is awesome for taking your mind of things and keeping you leveled................just dont train to the point where you get shin splins
     
  18. Pitfighter

    Pitfighter Valued Member

    Hapuka

    I think I know how you feel. I've been adjusting to overtime at work and being short on cash and etc. etc. On top of that I've just been real down. My workout routines aren't as consistent as they used to be. On days it really sux I either can't start or finish my workout, or my workout isn't as good.

    I think really it is just the way life goes. Sometimes your down, and I don't just mean you feel bad but you feel really BAD like your goina die or can't getup. But really you just gotta pull through. Depression is a chronic problem and there is no cure but I think that sticking with your workouts is one way of treating it.

    That being said I think at least one method of sticking to your workout is to at least try to start it for 5 min. More often than not you'll reach inside and finish it off. If you still have trouble then come up with easier routines that you have a better chance of doing on days that your off. Just stick with it.

    I've also added some meditation at the end of every workout. It might not enhance the workout necessarily but it enhances my day to day life, although I'll admit it is another thing that requires focus. If you are fatigued after your workout just stick to your workout until your ready for more.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2007

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