[MrMisdiagnosis]

The only thing that has been consistent with my happiness is exercise.

I have noticed a lower rate of exercise amongst mental illness, but also a lower rate of mental illness amongst people who exercise.
Its like a chicken and egg thing to me, does lack of exercise increase the need for meds and symptoms of most mental illnesses?

[Crazy Hitch]

Oh exercise is awesome

I'm just suprised with my extra energy I haven't utilised this

[secretgalaxy]

Over the summer, before my hip surgery, my dog and I were biking 10-15 miles a day. Today, I am planning on biking 15 with him and it will be the first since my surgery :P But because of the stupid DST, the sun won't be rising until 7:30!!! Ugh... I hate being stuck in my room...

Exercise has no impact on my mood, generally I end up more depressed and tired than when I started. When I was first diagnosed for about 8 months straight my mum dragged me to the gym every day, we worked out, did classes and took the dog for 10km regularly without fail. And everytime I crashed into a hole after, until the next day when I was dragged out to exercise again. We started small and continued as the fitness continued so it wasnt a fact of doing too much at once.

For a few years I was a track work rider for racehorses. That was a very physically demanding job and although I was around 70kg I was extremely fit. I did love that job but it was the horses that made me happy, not the fitness aspect of it. I was riding up to 8 horses in full race work a day (4am start) and then handling, hosing, rugging, poo pickup, yealing prep then back home to work my own horses and care for them too.

I still consider myself a competitive horse rider but my horse had a break over summer as my mood was too low. My partner is going to start bringing her into light work for me so when I get out of ip I can get back to competing.

When not riding I still do AT LEAST 30 minutes 3-4 times a week if its a bad week, and at least 30 minutes a day on a good week (one day off if possible, we all need a lazy day!). Walking around campus and my physical job clocks my steps in at about 18,000 a day so I consider that exercise. (OCD side note, there are exactly 172 stairs from the bus stop to my first class haha).

I asked my doc why I dont get the happy benefits, she said not everyone gets the same reaction to the endorphin release and if the distress is too high then the endorphins can have zero effect. I suspect that is why even at my fittest I never experienced happiness after exercise.

This is in no way a post to deter people, exercise has benefits for everybody but unfortunately I am not one that gets the happiness from it after. Im hoping once my adrenal tests come back I might be able to balance my hormones out a bit better and figure out a way to enjoy the benefits of exercise.

When I am hypomanic/manic I exercise. When I am depressed, the energy is sucked out of my body.

I think it does help to burn off extra energy when I am up.

I honestly HATE exercising. I am just not a physical individual at all. My outlet has always been my music: I sing in several choirs and play several instruments. Where many people say exercise relaxes them, helps them work of stress, helps them stabilize their mood, it has NEVER done that for me; quite the opposite really. In my case though, give me some time with my music, and I am much calmer, my mood is better, and it truly feeds my soul.

I think people have to find that thing in their life that works for them. Our society tends to say that exercise has to be that thing, but for some of us it is our music, our art, or some other outlet.

[gayleggg]

I don't but I know I would feel better if I did. It's just that the lazies get me. :-)

Best wishes, Gayle
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[Trippin2.0]

There's no "No, but I really wish I did" option, so I couldn't vote.

Hopefully I start this coming week....

[scatterbrained04]

I used to, but I find it harder now to do now since I became a single parent. Then I never had the energy. I feel like I have the energy now since my med change. So I guess I should start. My pdoc asks me every time I go in. It's sunny and in the 40s today so will be going for a walk later.

[Turtlesoup]

I prefer hiking to any other form of exercise but I have PT exercises I do to help with my pain-being outdoors works for me on so many levels. I also have a gazelle that I run on at times which is good because it's not weight bearing & I blast music via the ipod. It gets me out of my head which helps my OCD & racing thoughts, decreases my depression & anxiety & overall I just feel happy when I do it. I also do a lot artwork while listening to music which also gives me some of the same positive effects. Thanks for this thread.