Depression takes its toll on people worldwide. Most of us have felt burnt out or down in the dumps at times. Many of us have felt far worse, bad enough to seek medical help because it is taking over and ruining our lives. Unfortunately medical help has some rather unhealthy side effects like cost, mood swings, health problems and the fact that the problem still remains even if we feel a little better for a short time. Researchers are now proving that there is one way to improve depression that has no side effects and will give lasting results. Exercise.

Exercise psychologist Andrea Dunn, Ph.D., of The Cooper Institute in Dallas reports just how effective exercise can be in treating depression. “It affects the biology in the brain in the same way that anti-depressant drugs do,” she says. Chemical altering medications force the body to be come dependant and never allow the imbalances within to recalibrate and come to stable levels. So just how does exercise actually help if you are clinically depressed?

Research now shows that depressed patients have very low levels of serotonin and exercise is one of the best ways possible to boost those levels. Although historically depression has been considered a character condition, evidence suggests that major depression results from a deficiency of available serotonin. In addition to boosting serotonin levels, exercise combats depression in many different ways. Some of the most easily noticeable differences are;

• Better physical body; less fat, more lean muscle.
• Body functions better.
• Great increase in energy due to becoming more active.
• Less frequent mood swings. Overall mood becomes proactive.
• More positive outlook on life.
• Thinking becomes clearer.
• Greater self esteem and confidence due to becoming healthier and having a better looking better functioning body.
• Handling stress becomes easier. Confident body language such as standing taller, looking people in the eye and taking deep breaths are projected.

The changes stated above cause a ripple effect that enhances other areas of our lives. When these areas improve, so does the way people view you. When you project happiness and confidence that is genuine, people naturally respond in a more positive light. In a way, beginning a movement or exercise program can begin to teach us how to take control of our lives and shape them how we want them, despite not having solved all of our problems. This is not a cure all, but a way to begin to get back on track.

So what is the best exercise program to combat depression? That depends entirely on you. If you hate going to the gym every day and yet you choose an exercise program that takes place in the gym, most likely you will end up getting bored of the same old routine and will not stick with it. An exercise program must be flexible enough to enhance your life. This simply means you must choose a total fitness plan that you enjoy, that you can do anywhere, anytime that you choose. The less limits you have, the more likely you will be to stick with it. Why? Because you like doing it! If you are one of those severely depressed people that cannot muster up the motivation to do anything for any length of time, it becomes an absolute must that you begin with something that you LOVE doing. Listen to the advice your body gives you. There is no perfect plan to follow.

You must learn to listen to your body. This is the key to faster results and better motivation. After you begin to get active, then choose an exercise program that is well rounded and will help to take you to the next level. Fitness is not a quick fix bullet cure all for lifes problems. A quick fix usually helps for a bit and we end up at the beginning again, starting from square one. Exercise and health is a lifestyle choice, an ongoing process that helps you a little bit more each day. When we view it in this way we are far more likely to stick with it for the long run because we understand from the outset that things take some effort and time.

Sometimes we can’t just rely on willpower. Try to identify your strengths and skills and apply those to exercise. Change isn’t simple, but we don’t need to try for monumental changes all at once. Try taking a series of simple steps toward your goal. It can be a very effective way to build up to those huge goals we all have. Just figure out what is the very first step for you.

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