Depression and anxiety are both serious issues that should not be taken lightly. This is especially true during the holidays. If you suffer from depression or sad thoughts, encourage you to reach out and talk to a professional or a loved one that you can confide in. Don’t go it alone.
If you know of someone that is suffering from depression, please reach out to them or seek help and treatment for them. Sometimes it is hard to be a caregiver. I understand firsthand how difficult it can be. Seek help and treatment for the person suffering from depression.
According to the Mayo Clinic: Exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits and can help you:
- Gain confidence. Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.
- Take your mind off worries. Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression.
- Get more social interaction. Exercise may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Give someone a friendly smile or greeting to help put you in a better mood.
- Cope in a healthy way. Doing something positive to manage anxiety or depression is a healthy coping strategy.
Exercise probably helps ease depression in a number of ways, which may include:
- Releasing feel-good brain chemicals that may ease depression (neurotransmitters and endorphins)
- Reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression
- Increasing body temperature, which may have calming effects
Exercise and eating healthy also helps to make one feel better, when things are going tough. When I am troubled over something, yoga or taking a jog or a walk helps me feel better.
Why am I discussing such horrific topics on this blog, during a time when we are supposed to be celebrating? I wanted to reach out and let my readers know that it is okay to be sad and that depression hurts, so don’t go it alone. Get help, before it is too late.
Recently there were two tragedies that really made an impact on me. One was a groom that committed suicide after he said “I do” a few hours after the wedding. He left behind a wife and a little child.
The second is a mother of five that shot and killed her children and committed suicide after a failed relationship with a married lover.
Click on the following link to read more on the subject :
Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms (Mayo Clinic)
Exercise and Depression (Web MD)
Prescribing Exercise to Treat Depression (NY Times)
Groom commits suicide hours after wedding – (MSNBC)
Groom & doom after wedding (NY Post)