Beat Up Depression

This past summer has been extremely challenging, and in ways I didn’t expect. While some things are clearly part of Hashem’s plan, others are not nearly so clear. But one thing really stands out in my mind right now: I miss my gym!

What I’m talking about is that pumped-up feeling, the feeling that I’ve already stretched and jumped and pushed myself hard for an hour before I get to the weights. I’m talking about that awesome high you get after pushing your limits.

I miss that high. So much.

So much, in fact, that my happy-go-lucky energy that I delude myself into thinking I have–that’s not here right now. Of course, it could also be that we’re still in summer vacation and the kids are around me all the time, fighting, screaming, and making inhuman demands on me to do unreasonable things like feed them all the time and do their laundry every day.

Now I understand that working out wasn’t just a physically fun thing to do. It was also a mental and emotional outlet and a great way to give you a natural high through your body’s G-d given capacity to make endorphins. You know, those happy chemicals that make you so… happy.

Not only do I realize that I need that endorphin flow to keep up some decent level of positivity, but I also realize that exercising gives me the extra push and energy I need for the rest of the day.

I can’t stress enough what a difference it makes in your day to start it out by hitting the gym. You feel that extra good energy in everything you do. At least, until the kids get home. Then all bets are off.

Now here’s the thing. Exercise is a great complementary treatment for many illnesses, both physical and mental.

More specifically, exercise is a wonderful and very necessary part of dealing with depression.

Depression can come from many causes, and each person must deal with it in the way he or she feels is best.

But, depressed people would be doing themselves a great disservice if they didn’t get started on some kind of workout routine.

Depression takes away a person’s motivation. Exercise gives you motivation, not just to exercise more, but it also motivates you in every aspect of your life.

Depression makes a person tend to be sluggish. Exercise forces you to get out of that sluggish feeling by pushing your body past its comfort zone.

Depression makes a person tend to be withdrawn. Exercise makes your body produce endorphins, which are chemicals that make you feel good. Those feel-good chemicals help people get some of their personality back, making social interactions more enjoyable.

Depression makes a person tend to gain weight. Eating out of depression, loneliness, or any negative feelings is an escape. Working out not only helps get your body in shape, but that time in the gym also motivates a person to start taking better care of his body. Furthermore, the endorphins make a person happier, which makes a person less likely to turn to food for emotional comfort.

I could go on and on, but I think I’ve gotten my point across. If you want to really beat up depression, you’ve got to start exercising.

Hire a personal trainer if you can afford it. He or she can give you the motivation you need to get started. And it’s fun because a good personal trainer is usually energetic and likeable. Of course, that’s probably because you’re paying them, but whatever.

If you can’t get a personal trainer, try working out with a friend. It’s always more fun to laugh at each other trying to figure out how to use the pull-down bar than to do it on your own.

If you can’t bribe a friend to work out with you, find a trainer. Search around and download a few videos and work along with the trainer. I’ve seen many people do this and it’s the next best thing to having someone with you in person.

Depression is a complicated illness, and it should be dealt with on many levels. If people need medicine, they should take it. If people need therapy (and who doesn’t), they should see a therapist. If people need to start eating healthier (and who doesn’t) they should eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and lay off the toxic chemical assault from all these artificial poisons in our food.

But don’t for a moment discount the fact that exercise is a very important and necessary part of beating up depression. So, go on. Sign up for that gym you’ve been avoiding and get those happy chemicals