Posted by Snowie on November 4, 2000, at 11:54:49
In reply to Running and Depression, posted by Barbariana on November 2, 2000, at 21:40:44
Hi B,
I don't know about running per se, but one Babbler is an avid cyclist. His name is Paul, but I haven't seen him around lately. My personal opinion is that exercise in general offers a temporary relief from depression and other disorders. For instance, I have extreme bouts of anxiety, but when I line dance (which is very aerobic), I notice that my anxiety lessens. Perhaps it has something to do with the chemicals that the brain releases when one exercises that promotes a feeling of well-being. Anyway, that wasn't necessarily a scientific answer, but that's been my experience.
Snowie
> Hello,
> I have a question involving running. More of a pet peeve,
> really. It seems every time one truns around, there
> is a new study claiming to prove that running helps
> depression.
>
> At first I was able to dismiss them with, "Oh the
> study was done w/ mildly depressed folks -- doesn't
> apply to me." The latest one I saw, however, was done on
> severely depressed people. Now this hits closer to
> home for a long time long distance runner who's,
> w/ one
> exception, long time sometimes severe depression
> is unaffected by running for better (40 mi/wk
> these days, did 70 for years, 80 briefly)
> or worse (had several stretches w/ no running for 6-12
> mo). This has been a 20+ yr phenomenon -- running
> makes absolutely no difference to my depression that
> I can see. The one exception was the 1st year I ran.
> As my fitness improved, I had a sense of mastery &
> control and was really happy about starting up this
> sport with a team.
> THIS is what I suspect is going on in those
> studies because one hears lots of competitive runners
> talk about the golden days of starting up and seeing
> almost constant improvement. One can even see it in
> running clubs when new people go through a steady period
> of improvement. Those studies, aside from not being
> double blind, aren't following people for more than
> a year.
>
> Aside from being a pet peeve, I do think it is
> important if suffering people are being given the
> idea that running itself helps when it perhaps is
> something about the process that is having an effect.
> As much as I value running, it's not the most enticing
> prospect when one is depressed. So better not to
> make miserable people feel worse,
> as if they arent doing everything to help themselves if
> they aren't up for it. If it's the mastery or commraderie
> having an effect than that would be important to know.
> People could come up with their own version of an
> activity that includes those features.
>
> So I'd love to hear whatever anyone has to say
> on this topic, and why. I can take it if this turns
> out to be an annoying example of life being unfair,
> so let me hear your experiences, views,reactions please.
> Sincerely,
> B
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> Sincerely,
> B
poster:Snowie
thread:2035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001031/msgs/2077.html