What is the most common type of disease that affects the present day people? Is it common cold? Is it HIV/AIDS? Is it jaundice or diarrhea or any other disease that occurs due to germs and poor sanitation? Surprisingly, the answer to all these questions is no. The answer is depression (MNT). Every two out of three people all over the globe suffer from depression at some points in their lives. Even so, every person faces depression at least once in their life time. Sometimes, this depression is cured without any external help; in others the depressed must consult a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Millions of patients take different medications, from antacids to sleeping pills, each day for their afflictions stemming from simple cases of depression. In some extreme cases individuals shoot their own peers out of frustration, directly or indirectly due to psychotic reasons rooted in depression. Such cases have faced long bouts of depressive disorder, which have led to other more sever forms of psychological disorders. Reasons can be many and cures even more varied, but of the many remedies of depression, as psychotherapists quote, staying fit and exercising is the easiest and surprisingly very effective way out of depression.
The question arises as to what the word depression means and what are as its causes and effects. In a life time, an average human being has to face many hardships, setbacks, disappointments and struggles. These incidents leave a mark on the intellect of the person and their memories slowly accumulate and develop into issues that are collectively classified under the term depression. Depression, also known as major depression, clinical depression or major depressive disorder is a medical illness that causes a constant feeling of sadness and lack of interest. Depression affects how the person feels, behaves and thinks. Depression can lead to emotional and physical problems. Typically, people with depression find it hard to go about their day-to-day activities, and may also feel that life is not worth living (MNT). It is very different from what people generally call as a “depressed mood”. Moods change with situations but depression does not, because depression is a medical condition where as a mood is a reaction to the surrounding environments.
Depression is a result of loneliness, stressful life experiences, lack of social support, financial strain, traumatic life events, alcohol or drug abuse, early childhood trauma or abuse, unemployment or underemployment, marital or relationship problems, family history of depression, health problems or chronic pains, or even genetic factors in some cases. Depression begins with a feeling of sadness, low concentration, low self-esteem, hopelessness and loss of energy which most of the time results in reckless behavior.
There are general symptoms shown by depressive disorder patients that the individual themself or their family members can know and explain to a psychologist. For an individual suffering from depression, general symptoms are loss of interest in daily activities, change in appetite and body mass, changes in sleeping habits, short temper, lethargy, impending feeling of guilt or worthlessness, problems in concentration, and reckless behavior like substance abuse or gambling, reckless driving or dangerous sports etc. are clear indication that depressive disorder has started taking effect on the intellect of the person. Some people may even develop murderous or suicidal tendencies.
Depression is not exactly a completely individualistic affair. It can be contracted from the company of depressed people; much like a person learns a new trait from a new source. There can be any number of causes for depression. Higher the number of causes, more difficult is its cure and more are the chances of relapse i.e. falling into depression again (MNT). Medical sciences and psychiatry have done rigorous efforts and continue to do so to understand depressive disorders and find different cures for depression. Such research and cures can bring the patient out of their depressed state and also keep them mentally healthy for a long time to come. Fortunately depression even in its most severe forms is curable and there are many methods to implement a cure to depression
But how does exercising link to depression, especially when the treatment involves psychotherapy coupled with anti-depressants? Speaking in biological terminology, physical exercise helps release feel good factor known as endorphins that help uplift the mood of the person indulging in exercises. These chemicals are hormones that bring about a feeling satisfaction to the intellect and production of this hormone in the body can be achieved through even the most simplest of activities. Hormones are basically chemicals that are used by the body to create different effects throughout the body. Researchers have found that the analysis subjects showed that individuals who exercised were less depressed than individuals who did not exercise (Craft and Landers). In a general life experience it is very common to see that people who tend to exercise more and remain active are less likely to be found depressed. A healthy mind dwells in a healthy body they say. If physical activity or exercise can relieve major depression then millions of people can benefit from a therapy that is easily available to them.
Extensive studies are done each year with depression patients to find the various effects of different therapies, and exercising is one of the therapies that always yield some positive results. It was found in many of these random and controlled experiments that exercising lowered depression in most of the patients initially. These patients were put into separate distributions ranging from mild to severe forms, keeping numbers of men and women alike. Running, both in aerobic and anaerobic forms, is known to act as a supplementary antidepressant for mild depression patients during such experimental therapies (McCain and Holmes).
Exercising, however, can be of many forms and may produce different effects on both the body and the mind. Hitting the gym is great, but not always especially when someone is doing it to get rid of their depression (James et al.). The reason being that heavy lifting or cardio may initial show mood uplifting effects but they do not cure the cause of depression leading to an addictive routine that yields no fruit.
The right kind of exercise matters a lot. Psychotherapists recommend to different forms of exercises known as aerobic and anaerobic exercises (Craft and Landers). Anaerobic exercise is a special kind of exercise that requires the use of short but intensive bursts of energy, but does not require an increased amount of oxygen use. Short distance run, softball exercising are some examples of anaerobic exercises. Aerobic exercise on the other hand is a kind of exercise that requires increased oxygen consumption over a long period of time. Jogging, brisk walking, dancing, swimming, rope skipping, cycling etc. are some common examples of aerobic exercises. Psychologists and psychotherapists prefer aerobic and anaerobic exercises to other forms of exercises because of the performance and goal oriented nature of other exercise forms. In addition to this, other forms of exercises like heavy lifting or cardio, as these may prove strenuous for the patient. Psychotherapists prefer to remove any and every cause of strain and perform drills that only help increase the vitality of the body, hence they incline more to aerobic or anaerobic exercises the depending upon the age group and physical condition of the body.
Aerobic exercises helps release toxins from the body, in the form of sweat and regular bowel movements, while supplying fresh blood and oxygen to the tissues, nurturing them to build and heal faster and secret hormones and other secretion in the appropriate amount to regulate body metabolism. Anaerobic respiration is a bit more passive and can be applicable to all, especially to the patients who cannot afford go out in the open and practice full body exercise and strain. However, the best form therapeutic exercise regimen should include sessions of both aerobic and anaerobic exercises tailor made to the biological needs of the patient. With the right kind of metabolism in place, the body and mind becomes more accepting to therapy and psychiatric suggestion. This helps yield better results as patients begin to accept and respond more to medication as well as other forms of therapy, hypnosis for example.
According researches done on large and varied groups of patients with various intensities of depression a psychotherapist must choose the right combination medication, therapy and exercise according to different factors, from patient’s previous medical and psychological history to their body type, to get the best results. It is essential that a depression patient gets the right amount of exercise so that they can keep fit to cope with mental strain and derive strength to keep their metabolism running (McCain and Holmes). However, researchers debate the use of exercise routines alone because uplifting effects achieved through exercises do not seem to remain permanently effective as the therapy proceeds to more advanced levels.
Research needs to be done and a lot needs to be learnt yet, but keeping fit is no doubt a proven way to keep the mind and body healthy. Depression may have any number of causes, but with a weak body the intellect will take time recuperate from the shock (James et al.). The situation may obviously be worse for individuals who do not possess a healthy body or who do not maintain a healthy routine. In such cases, the mind loses its first support, the body itself. Even so, a therapy would take its toll on the body and as a result hamper the process of curing. This would lead to a vicious cycle of relapses and further damage the body and mind of the patient.
Conclusively, it is understood that exercise is beneficial for patients of depressive disorders. Exercising should be carefully selected and included in the therapy regimen for speedy recovery of depression patients. Aerobic exercises for younger and more active patients is a recommendation to help release pent up vigor, while anaerobic exercises can be applied to all due to its mild nature. However, the fact exercise alone can be used as an effective is still highly debated and standard methods like medications etc. remain the major part of therapies. Fitness is an important prospect and exercising can be used as a supplement to medication and other forms of therapies to answer the problem of cure of depression. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercising methods, usually the ones preferred by the individual, should be utilized as prevention.
Works cited
Craft, Lynette L. & Daniel M. Landers. “The Effect of Exercise on Clinical Depression and Depression Resulting from Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis.” Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology Vol.20 (4) (Dec. 1998): 339-357. Print.
McCann, Lisa & David S. Holmes. “Influence of Aerobic Exercise on Depression.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Vol.46 (5) (May 1984): 1142-1147. Print.
MNT. What is Depression? What Causes Depression? Medical News Today. 7 Apr. 2009.Online
James A., A.B. Michael A. B., A.M. Kathleen, Herman S. Craighead, K. Parinda, Mellissa Waugh, M.F. Leslie, Murali D. Mark & K. Ranga Krishnan. “Effects of Exercise Training on Older Patients with Major Depression.” Archives of Internal Medicine Vol.159 (19) (Oct. 1999): 2349-2356. Print.
