Exercise Your Demons.

Exercise is not the panacea to better mental health, but then neither is anything else.

It’s a proven fact – exercise does have benefits when it comes to a wide range of mental health problems.  There is overwhelming evidence from years of peer reviewed research showing just that. The problem that seems to be becoming more and more prevalent is the belief that exercise is the great panacea, that you can ditch the medication and the doctors appointments, grab a pair of running shoes and just run the “blues” away.  If anything this attitude towards treating mental health problems is actually detrimental, and can lead to even deeper problems for those suffering from chronic depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, or other severe forms of mental illness.

Whilst research shows that exercise can be very beneficial for those with low to moderate depression, and can help to maintain a healthy mind, those with more severe depression can find the proclamation “you just need to get out and do a bit of exercise” very damaging.  There will be times when getting out of bed and having a shower seems a herculean task; and despite what even some mental health professionals call “being lazy” the fact is that severe depression comes with psychomotor retardation, a well known effect of severe depression which can make people move, speak or even think more slowly.  Asking someone in this state to go for a brisk walk or a jog around the local park is like asking them to flap their arms and fly to the moon – it’s simply impossible.

And don’t think that we aren’t trying.  There have been times when I’ve managed to force myself out for that cure-all walk, only to find that I don’t feel better, in fact I feel worse.  I question myself, wonder what the hell is wrong with me, why this isn’t working. And if I can’t manage to get out of bed, if I can’t even get dressed much less make it out the door for that walk, then I feel incredibly guilty.  That’s the thing, no matter how hard other people can be on someone with mental health problems, trust me, they are nowhere near as harsh as we our with ourselves. And this failure to feel better after trying our best makes us feel worse, makes us feel like a failure, pushes us deeper down into our depression.

Another factor is that exercise can be another tool in our arsenal of self-destructive behaviours.  It can induce hypomania and obsessive behaviour, leading us to over-exercise, causing physical as well as further mental harm.  It can become another means of self-annihilation.

So what on earth should one do?  Should we exercise or not? Well yes, we should, when we can, and for the reason that there are so many benefits, both physical and mental.  But as with anything, moderation is key, and don’t expect miracle results; exercise is simply not the panacea it is at times purported to be.  The truth is that mental health illnesses are as complex and varied as physical illnesses, and what works for one isn’t necessarily going to work for all.  Some may find they don’t need medication anymore, that moderate exercise works for them. And if that’s you then great, keep doing what you’re doing! But others will need a variety of approaches to managing their condition, and this will likely include medication and therapy, as well as exercise.  What really matters though is what works for you. And if things aren’t going so well for you today, if you’re too depressed to go out for that walk or that jog around the park, then don’t feel guilty. Do what you can, when you can.