Working Out or Medicine, What is Better at Combating Depression?

Depression effects 25% of Americans. Many people will talk to their doctors about SSRIs, a type of medicine that combats depression. What if I told you there was some science that shows that working out actually beat SSRIs when it comes to helping people overcome their depression?

Working Out Beats Depression (Sometimes)

Antidepressants are one of the three most prescribed drugs after Cholesterol and Pain Management. Over 75 million Americans deal with depression/anxiety or other mental illness.

Science shows that your brain changes structure adding new neuropathways when exercising (the same is true with medication). These neuropathways help your brain overcome mental illness (in mild and moderate cases).

A study by Chad Rethorst, PhD, and Madhukar Trivedi, MD, of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas tested the effects of exercise on combating mental illness.

The study showed that exercising by with resistance or with cardio exercises, 3-5 times a week, for 45-60 minutes proved to be effective for combating MDD (Major Depressive Disorder) in as little as 4 weeks. It also showed that patients who started the exercise program stuck to it at similar rates as the most popular prescription medication.

Doctors have a hard time articulating the importance of exercise and how it can relieve symptoms of some mental health issues. As one doctor said, “there aren’t commercials for jogging.” Patients want an easy way out and turn to medication instead of life changing programs like exercise and fitness.

One major problem in America is that exercise isn’t listed as a primary way to combat mental illness in medical books. The  American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Physicians don’t count exercise as an initial form of treatment a physician should recommend for a patient with depression. In Canada, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands list exercise as the first round of treatment for depression. The United States is also one of two countries (New Zealand being the other) that allows pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to the public which I think is a major issue.

Combat Depression and Build Self Esteem

I have worked with folks with extreme depression and self esteem issues that were crippling because they had no self esteem. One of my clients wouldn’t leave the house until she lost weight and felt better about herself. Depression/Anxiety can be crippling. Working out will help you not only combat depression, but help you lose weight and feel more confident.

My Suggestions: 

1. 20-30 minutes of cardio 3-5 times a week
2. 20-30 minutes of working out 3-5 times a week (with weights or resistance)
3. Work on eating healthier

 

Free Workouts

At Home Workout: https://www.cardioandweights.com/at-home-workouts/

At Home Workout 2: https://www.cardioandweights.com/full-body-workouts/

Beginner Workout: https://www.cardioandweights.com/workout-for-teenagers/

 

Free Meal Plans

Keto, Low Carb, and others: https://fatlossandworkouts.com/2018/04/23/sample-diet-plans-keto-low-carb-regular-and-more/

 

Have Questions or Comments? Message me at NutritionTrain at Yahoo.com

 

Thank you for reading,

Dustin Holston
Personal Trainer/Sports Nutritionist

 

****Note

I am not a doctor. Please see a doctor before starting any diet or exercise plan. The information in this article is for information purposes only.