Exercise vs. Meds

I have mild depression, mild OCD, and moderate anxiety, and my mom and my therapist both told me at different times that they thought I should consider medication. So, I went and saw my doctor the other day.

She's not so keen on medication. She said that she could see me using it to "kick start" things, but only if I actively wanted to. (That's typical though, she doesn't like using meds unless it's really going to make a difference). Instead of medication, she thinks that daily exercise in the morning is the key. She told me to read this book, Spark by John Ratey that's all about how exercise is good for both physical and mental health...

So now I'm kind of stuck. Do I do the exercise and forgo the meds? Do I take the meds and do the exercise?

I have an appointment with my doc in 2 weeks to check on things...

Any advice?

Thanks.

Do the exercising and see what happens? If it is too hard or you don't see any differences in the next two weeks, then you can re-evaluate from experience.

And who's your doctor? I want that attitude! :-) I'm fighting to stay off meds for my blood pressure and am not thrilled with my other chronic problems that are mainly due to my excess weight and would love someone helping me stay off meds.

Get a free or inexpensive trial membership at a gym and take the book your doctor wants you to read along and read it while you petal on an exercise bike? LOL

I've been thinking that I'll (try to) do the exercise for the 2 weeks and see what happens. I just want opinions.

I have to do the exercise at home because my doctor told me in the morning before school and well...The only way to do that is if it's at home as I don't drive and my parents have enough people to get out of the house on time, so forget about early!

And I've already read the book (well, all parts that could affect me at all...I skipped the parts about ADHD, pregnancy, menopause and old age).

SingDanceRunLife, my primary care physician always suggests the least severe intervention for a medical problem first, and if that doesn't work, he goes to the next level of treatment, and then ramps up another notch if need be. I think maybe that is what your doc is doing. If you can solve your problem with exercise each day, that is great! No need for meds, then. Psychoactive meds are serious stuff and I am glad to see he wants you to try other solutions first. I hope you will give the exercise a serious try, and I hope it works for you! You are seeing a therapist too, so the combo of therapy plus exercise may be enough to help you.

I think thats a fantastic idea! why not also take a look at your diet, and other stuff like your network of people who love/support you? I believe that having balance in our lives is a healing thing, sickness is what happens in it's abscense. therapy can help us see how areas of our life are out of kilter, support can encourage us to change them, exercise can strengthen us and build our confidence...it also releases good brain chemicals...so we can feel good right now and have patience while all of this stuff works for us.

My diet could be improved upon...But not easily. I'm an extremely picky eater...Just to give you a quick rundown of the main things I won't eat: Milk, meats other than chicken and turkey (yes, that does mean no fish/seafood either), tomatoes, water unless I'm super thirsty or it's flavored...There are a lot more things too, but what I listed are the biggies.

People in my life? Well, there's my family, but I'm not close with them at all, so that's kind of out...And then there's people at youth group - my prayer group which consists of 3 peers and a college leader, and my pastor. My friend Zach also (he's my #1 support). And my T.

I'm trying to try the exercise thing...But it's hard. It's not my thing at all. I don't have the motivation to do it.

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SingDanceRunLife said:
I'm trying to try the exercise thing...But it's hard. It's not my thing at all. I don't have the motivation to do it.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">But if you do it, you may be able to stay off of meds!! That can be a huge motivator. Best of luck.

True that. True that.

Exercise can help. It's the only thing that kept me going for a long time. I didn't go on medication until my depression go so severe I couldn't make it to the gym.

I think exercise for me is more effective than any drug I've tried. However, I now need the drugs to be able to exercise. (It doesn't do much for my mood, it just gives me the energy to get out of bed.)

Energy is definitely a big thing. Half the reason I don't want to get out of bed early to exercise is that it's a big hassle for me to get out of bed ON TIME.

This morning, when I had nothing to do (I'm on school break right now)...I woke up around 8, but it took me a half hour to actually get out of bed, and the only reason I did get up even then is I had to use the bathroom.

So, do some exercises in bed! You can't pedal your legs or get hand weights and lift them. I was shocked when I started at the gym, the first exercise he started me on was just standing up and sitting down on a bench/chair. Later we moved on to holding weights while I did that. But stretch, and roll, and do somersaults in bed. . . it's all good and will help wake you up and get you out of bed, especially if you pass a "law" that if you are in bed in the morning, you have to move :-)