Want to feel better? Some research suggests that exercising helps lift depression. Would anyone like to try it with me? We could talk about our results on the forum after we exercised each day for a few weeks.

From Psychological Self-Help by Clayton E. Tucker-Ladd:

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Exercise promises long-lasting results. In just the last couple of years, there have been a couple of interesting studies showing that an aerobic exercise program--stationary cycling or treadmill--for 30 minutes 3 times a week reduced major depression as much or more than medication (Zoloft). After 16 weeks, the remission rate was 60% for both groups, but at follow up after another 6 months the exercise group had a higher recovery rate (than the drug group) and they were less likely to relapse (8% vs. 38% in the Zoloft group). The subjects in this study were middle-aged or older (Babyak, et al, 2000). Be sure to check with your doctor first, but exercise would be good for you in many ways, not just with depression. Seriously consider this. Even more recently, other studies report that daily exercise reduces depression by 1/3 or 1/2 within 10 days, that is faster than most people respond to anti-depressive medications.

The data keeps coming in. Please pay attention to this. Another well done study (Trivedi, M. , January, 2005, American Journal of Preventive Medicine) shows that exercise alone three or five times a week for 30 minutes reduces depression by about 50%. That is as good as taking antidepressants or as good as getting Cognitive-Behavioral psychotherapy. The study observed mild to moderately depressed 20 to 45-year-olds.

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Saafir
<font color="red"> Check out the original article here </font>