Is exercise more effective than medication for depression and anxiety?

[multigraincracker]

from MedicalNewsToday.com

A large new analysis of meta-studies finds that exercise is more beneficial for conditions such as anxiety and depression than standard psychotherapy or medications.
The new study found that essentially all forms of exercise produced significant mental health benefits.
Shorter, high intensity exercise programs produced the greatest effect.
Exercise provided the greatest mental health benefit to people with depression, or who had been diagnosed with HIV and kidney disease, pregnant and postpartum women, and otherwise healthy adults.
An expansive analysis of existing research concludes that physical activity should be viewed as a first-choice treatment for people living with mental health issues. The analysis distills the conclusions of nearly 100 meta-reviews of randomized controlled trials.

Physical activity is 1.5 times more effective at reducing mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression, psychological stress, and anxiety than medication or cognitive behavior therapy, according to the study’s lead author, Dr. Ben Singh.

While the value of physical activity for people with depression and anxiety is widely recognized, it is not considered for managing such conditions as often as the study asserts it should be.

went for a 2 hour walk today with my earbuds on. Forgot all about the Orange Guy.

[Silent Type]

1. Definitely feel better after exercising. Unless I get my Xanax refilled, I should be in great shape by 11/5.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Cut the carbs, fry the salmon too. /nt

[brewens]

3. I'm on and antidepressant (Celexa) and go for a long walk every day. If I had to give one up, it would be the

Celexa. Even on days when I decide to bag the walk because it's crappy outside, I've been good, or just think I don't feel like it, eventually I get bored and out the door I go.

I'm in a nice older residential area with a couple parks and community college in range. Trees with birds and squirrels everywhere and occasionally other wildlife. I can't help but feel good out there.

[multigraincracker]

5. Outside is great.

In bad weather I go to the local rec center. Cost a dollar. I have a1/10 mile track in my back yard and I go to a local park that has a one mile trail.
Lately I’ve added some strength exercises too.
If interested read a book by Chris Van Tulleken. Ultra-Pocessed People. I’m down to 30% of my diet is ultra processed foods. The average American ears 60%. Don’t have to be perfect.

[brewens]

7. I'm in Idaho and am equipped for all weather. I've been out in near zero weather in a parka, insulated pants and ski

goggles. There is something cool about being out in weather like that but totally comfortable.

I'm a whole foods homemade fanatic. I hardly ever eat heavily processed food.

My home gym is a short bench, dumbbells and resistance bands. I have artificial knees, shoulders and hips. I can't lift heavy like I used to but that is also huge.

When I go for walks, I also make sure and go through any large grass area I'm allowed on. It burned more calories and is good for balance. Even nice lawn is all bumps and divots.

[mountain grammy]

4. Was walking 2-4 miles a day until last fall when I blew out my back

just had a procedure that might get me back to a mile, but at this point I'm just gonna start walking with a walker. The absence of my daily walk has led to depression and anxiety. I can take meds, but I miss my walk so much.

[multigraincracker]

6. Might try a stationary recumbent bike.

I see lots of folks on those at the rec center.
I have a pacemaker and see 3 different Cardiologists and they all say the same thing, keep moving.
Good luck in your recovery

[mountain grammy]

8. Thank you.

I’ll give that a try.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. It is until you cannot exercise. (n/t)

[hunter]

10. If I'm too depressed to exercise, exercise isn't going to help me.

Hell, there have been times in my life when I've been too depressed to eat.

Telling a severely depressed person they need to exercise and eat right might only make them feel worse.

Sometimes it's taken a trip to the psych ward and powerful drugs to jump start me.

[multigraincracker]

11. A trip to the psych ward is what saved me.

Finding out where all of that pain came from was a big relief. Went back to college and got a degree in Clinical Psychology. Had a great doctor.

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. If our American healthcare system took less of a band aid approach

to treating chronic diseases, including depression, I think a profoundly depressed person could benefit from a longer stay in a psychiatric facility. Then they could attack the depression from all sides - medication, therapy, diet, exercise. But all they do now is keep the patient long enough to get them "stable". Even a 10 day stay is considered "long".

[TexasBushwhacker]

12. The key is "mild to moderate" depression

Often people don't try to get help until their depression is severe.

[multigraincracker]

13. My degree is in Clinical Psychology.

Lucky enough to find a great psychiatrist while I was in the hospital for a major depression.
The key for me was discovering the cause for it. I went on antidepressants and developed tremors from those drugs that have remained with me to this day. Perhaps there are some newer ones that have fewer side effects.

[crimycarny]

15. Interesting personal experience with running effects compared to Xanax

I lost my son to suicide in January 2022. I have always struggled with anxiety (GAD), which unfortunately my son inherited.

Before losing my son I had never taken anything for my anxiety. (Trying an antidepressant years ago was disastrous! Didn't work and I started having seizures too).

After my son's death my anxiety went to full blow PTSD panic attacks. My doctor prescribed Xanax (.5 mg). I know benzos get a bad rap but I was very careful with my usage.

I have been a runner since I was 19 (I'm now in my 60's). I even ran 6 miles on my treadmill the day before I delivered my son.

For the first two weeks after my son died I couldn't do anything at all. I'd try to hang on by my fingernails and then allow myself one .5 mg Xanax at 6 pm. The Xanax temporarily turned my constant panicked ruminations from a 10 to maybe a 7. Just enough to give my brain a slight rest.

After about two weeks I finally attempted a run. After my run, I realized my brain felt very similar to have it feels after taking a Xanax. A slight lowering of anxiety to the point my brain wasn't screaming.

It was an eye-opener of the positive effect of exercise since, prior to this, I'd never taken an anti-anxiety med so had nothing to compare exercise to. I'm about 2.5 years out and there are still days when the pain is unbearable. There is no "getting over" losing a child to suicide. But I've been able to reduce any use of Xanax to 2x a week max, and usually just those mornings when I wake up with that elephant on my chest or if I have to be in a tough social situation (like a friend's son getting married). I've kept up my regular running and it's definitely been a lifesaver.

Sorry for such a long post.