Posted by Quintal on January 2, 2007, at 19:44:02 [reposted on January 3, 2007, at 20:56:09 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Whoa, posted by linkadge on January 2, 2007, at 18:45:43
>That blurb about exercise wasn't a study it was just more or less an opinion.
Obviously, and a refreshing one at that for people who have found exercise consistently makes them feel worse, yet who are still encouraged (perhaps even bullied) by their doctors, friends and family into maintaining a painful level of activity on the basis of supportive studies.
>Exercise may not work for everybody, and that just like how any given antidepressant may not help everybody. That doesn't mean that people should just ditch this potential benefit to body and mind.
Where is it said that everybody should ditch exercise? I trust the basic intelligence of people posting here to keep on exercising if they find it beneficial. People who don't however, may find some comfort to know there are others with the same problem.
>Most people who maintain a moderate routine exercise program report enhanced sleep. Studies have also shown that exercise can enhance deep restorative sleep.
There are a substantial number of people who find themselves in the minority - i.e. that exercise disturbs their sleep. I am one of them and I'm grateful to the author of that article for offering a supportive explanation of why that may happen.
>Studies have also shown that regular exercise acts as a *buffer* against stress. Those who exercise regularly show reduced stress hormone release in response to stressful events
Studies, studies, studies. Well personal experience is more persuasive as we all know from our trials with medication. Studies showing 70% response rate to Prozac are of no comfort to the 30% of non-responders. Likewise with exercise.
>Stress may be increased *during* exercise but it often decreases for the rest of the day. Just like how heart rate increases during exercise, but decreases overall.
Yes, or course, in theory all of this is true and I'm sure there are many studies supporting it. Again some of us find the opposite is true for us as individuals when putting these recommendations into practise.
>An exercise plan that is appropriate should leave a person feeling depleted nor should they be crashing.
Ideally yes.
>I am not saying that it will work for everybody, but if exercise is making you feel worse, you may be tackling it the wrong way.
When I'm feeling well I find my level of physical activity increases naturally without any conscious effort on my part. When I'm feeling well moderate exercise can *then* help keep my mood bright but it has never been useful to me as a weapon to fight depression. I'm wary of exercise being over prescribed to depressed people as a self-help method as it can turn into another source of guilt and frustration. When I'm depressed I find the exertion of simply climbing the stairs leaves me feeling dizzy and exhausted.
My GP is currently experimenting in withholding antidepressants and prescribing exercise at the local gym as a trendy and progressive treatment protocol. Sounds great in theory to all the keep-fit fanatics but I think it could well be a disaster for depressed people who are already self-conscious about their appearance. The last place many of those people want to be is in a gym and I worry about the effect having gone to their doctor only to be denied medication they want and instead being told they must attend a fitness centre will have on them. My GP like most others just doesn't have the sensitivity to foresee problems like this and those studies encourage people like her - that is my main objection to the popular fad of promoting exercise for every physical and mental ill.
Obviously exercise is very effective for some people, for other it forms the backbone of their treatment protocol but it must be used wisely and sensitively otherwise it can in some circumstances cause greater harm. It was refreshing and gratifying to read of somebody offering an explanation of why exercise can make depressed people feel worse.
Q
poster:Quintal
thread:719061
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20061106/msgs/719067.html