Posted by morganator on December 5, 2009, at 17:41:27
In reply to Re: Umm. Let's Not Ignore the Science, posted by SLS on December 5, 2009, at 7:49:04
I understand your frustration.
So far half of the people that have responded on this thread have expressed how important exercise was now or at one point in the past for maintaining their mental health. That is a sample of half of the people on psycho-babble where most have suffered or are still sufferingfrom severe depression or anxiety. Remember also that this is not just a website focused on depression sufferers but anxiety sufferers as well. So imagine how many people out there that have mild to moderate depression and are not on psycho-babble, are possibly benefitting from some form of exercise.
>As foreign an experience as it may be for me, I can still accept that some people with depression benefit from exercise.
You say "some" people out there may benefit. How do you know it is "some"? I don't mean this as an insult-I am surprised that you, obviously having a quite a high I.Q. and analytical ability, do not see, with all of the scientific and anecdotal evidence, how many forms of exercise may be an integral part of helping millions of people with their depression and anxiety.
Also, I never said that exercise was a panacea. I have already emphasized that it may not help at all if other treatments, specifically medication, are not working. If you go back you will find that a few people who posted on this thread expressed that exercise was only helpful when a medication or other treatment was making a significant impact. Dr. Phelps and I am sure most doctors sees exercise as just one of many approaches.
And again I will emphasize the effects of exercise on neurogenesis. Chronic depression and anxiety does cause neurons to die off in the hippocamus, a part of our brain that is essential for learning, spatial memory, and long-term memory(I know you already know this). There is also evidence of exercise having a positive impact on serotonin and dopamine. And we all know about the effect exercise has on positive endorphins. Even if it is not having a major impact on our depression or anxiety, at least for that 30 mins to an hour of exercise we are doing something good for our brain. If we do end up still feeling depressed, hopefully we at least feel good during and shortly after exercising.
So, if you can exercise, why not? And if you do, you may not truly benefit from it if you don't try meditative stretching.
I intended on my last post being possibly my last in this thread. And if I did post again I would have probably not written such a long one. I guess you got me going. Sorry if I am annoying anyone with this. I just think it is a bit ridiculous to come off as being so opposed to the idea that exercise could benefit millions who suffer from anxiety and depression. And if exercise can help those that are finding 70 percent relief from their medications, why not make sure that people know it is a possible option???
I understand exercise has never helped you and may never help you. I also understand that it is important for the people that have not benefitted from exercise to not feel that they are the only ones.
With doctors, psychiatrists, and therapists all emphasizing the potential benefits of exercise and the scientific and anecdotal evidence, it is hard to deny the fact that exercise may benefit a large portion of the population of depression and anxiety sufferers.
You did start this thread with the study about the combination of medication and exercise didn't you?
You come on hear and talk about medication combinations that you believe in and have worked for you in the past. I believe in the combination of medication and exercise for those that can get themselves to do it. Zyprexa is always coming on here and pushing the benefits of Zyprexa because it has worked so well for him, despite that fact that many have had bad reactions to it and gain tons of weight on it(I do think that many have a need for Zyprexa and will benefit from it). I can't think of any possible harmful effects that proper moderate exercise and meditative stretching will have on someone. So, what is the harm in giving people reasons to try it and do it???
I know this is the medication page on psycho-babble so I will never mention exercise again. Besides, I have repeated myself a few times and could not say any more about the subject.
Peace,
Morgan
poster:morganator
thread:926857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091127/msgs/928223.html