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Exercise Therapy for Mental Illness and Depression
   

Good news for mental health patients suffering from depression. Recent research indicates that exercise can be just as, or even more effective than simply taking prescription drugs. For those accustomed to a life of inactivity, the prospect of daily exercise can seem overwhelming, Indeed, simply taking a pill can seem much easier and accessible than the commitment necessary to maintain a daily exercise regime. However, the cost and side affects associated with drugs makes the prospect of exercise as an effective therapy appear increasingly more attractive to doctors and their patients.

Exercise therapy can be particularly more effective in patients who have not wholly benefited from drugs, although it appears almost anyone can benefit. Researchers at Duke University found that exercise can lift the mood of just about anyone suffering from symptoms of depression. In the Duke University study, 156 people suffering from severe depression were studied. On third of the group participated in an exercise regime for four months. Another third of the group also participated in an exercise regime, but their therapy was augmented with the use of the antidepressant drug Zoloft. The final third did not participate in the exercise program, but instead were only treated with the antidepressant.

The results were surprising and encouraging. The group that took no antidepressant drugs, whose treatment consisted solely of exercise, reported the greatest improvement. Although researchers were not able to pinpoint the exact ways exercise can help lift depression, the study revealed that exercise alone can be an effective treatment option for people suffering from major depression. Doctors, it appears, have a new weapon in their arsenal against depression.

Some doctors speculate that exercise may be helpful for a variety of physical and psychological reasons. Exercise can improve appearance, thus boosting one's self-esteem tremendously. Individuals suffering from major depression often complain of a physical and emotional "numbness." Exercise can apparently "jolt" people out of depression by making them conscious of movement and their body at work. Exercise can also give people a sense of control. They can develop a sense that they are in charge of their own bodies, and over their lives. What other benefits might exercise have on people suffering from depression? Exercise helps counter the feelings of malaise and lethargy that accompany most bouts of depression. Exercise can help ease the physical pain associated with depression by increasing flexibility and strength. Backaches and headaches both appear to be eased by regular exercise. Exercise can also be a strong mood stabilizer. Exercise also helps ease insomnia and promotes healthy sleep patterns.

Exercise can also be very effective at reducing feelings of loneliness. Individuals suffering from major depression are encouraged to exercise with someone else or a group. This can help build a bond and support community that can be an invaluable source of security. Motivation appears to be one of the biggest obstacles that patients must overcome. Exercising with a friend or group can be excellent motivation. Committing to a supportive friend or group can help patients gradually make exercise a lifetime habit.

The Duke University study indicates that the positive effects of exercise can be sustained.

Unlike drug therapy, which can stop working if a patient ceases to take their medication, the effects of exercise can linger indefinitely. As long as patients continue to exercise regularly, it appears that the soothing effects of exercise will persist.

What type of exercise program is most recommended to individuals suffering from depression? Clinical trials are still being conducted to determine the best way to administer this type of exercise therapy. However, current research demonstrates that in order to receive the maximum benefits from exercise, patients should participate in a program that is at least nine weeks long. The exercise program should ideally be as performed five to six times a week. It appears that the longer and more intense the exercise workouts are, the more benefits the patient may expect to reap. However, any kind of exercise, including a short walk around the block, appears to be beneficial.

It is recommended that they consult their physician or mental health professional before beginning an exercise therapy program, particularly if they have not been active in year or are over 40.

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SolveYourProblem.com : 2006

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