jumpy
04-13-12, 08:23 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17701485
Been saying it for ages.
Now I don't 'suffer' from depression; but I do have my low points over the years - living with my ex and her mental health problems put a great deal of strain on me to cope with all of that (something I can see clearer now I'm not with her), but I always tried to get her to be more active - it's not a panacea but healthy body, healthy mind can go some way to ease some problems and give some focus, particularly with self esteem, where it is best served.
Since being on my own again after such a long time with her, I initially found it difficult to adjust to this. So what to do?
I started walking, or rather hiking a little more seriously, with friends at first and now on my own. Sometimes up to eight hours a time - when I have the time hehe.
I also went back to some resistance training again - lift weights and do cardio (at 33 years old I learned how to skip... ya rly). Most of this I do at home 3 days a week, for around an hour a time and on my off days I skip for about 15 minutes when I get home.
Better diet, or rather, healthier foods are things I've tried to pay more attention to as well.
Now, none of these things actually change the situation I find myself living in - single and dealing with erratic employment on the wrong side of the recession.
I believe that there will always be certain things that are far beyond your control. You just have to accept this and not stress over it.
These things might be how other people behave in your relationships, or how larger social economic factors filter down to your little slice of the big cheese, making it go all soft and mouldy.
But on the plus side, I'm fitter than I have been since leaving school, and that feels good, without the need to be a gym-rat who spends hours upon hours sweating it out. It's a routine that I enjoy and doesn't subsume all my free time. I sleep better, for the most part now, too.
Healthy body, healthy mind - the connection isn't so hard to make and whilst it certainly isn't going to be a cure for schizophrenia or anything serious like that, it is another tool in the box to be used to change your life for the better - not perfect, but better. The body and mind know when to take advantage of each other to the best effect without all this counter productive activity we call 'thought' - it can be no coincidence that the hormones created by the body as a result of exercise, show a positive impact on psychological well-being... exercise, sex, good food, success in an endeavour, social interaction ... notice a pattern yet? All things that are good and healthy for us in small ways, we are designed to actively respond to on a deeper level. That might sound a little esoteric but it works for me.
Other changes are I have kept off the smokes and I try to spend less time alone, though I must admit to both craving the occasional smoke and being mostly comfortable with my own company - I don't want the complication of another person in my life yet, for many reasons I'll not extrapolate here.
The article linked reminded me of something I'd been doing already, as you have read about just now, and I felt it worth saying a few words about it, given the path my life has taken over the last several years or so. When you think about it it's so simple it should be obvious.
Been saying it for ages.
Now I don't 'suffer' from depression; but I do have my low points over the years - living with my ex and her mental health problems put a great deal of strain on me to cope with all of that (something I can see clearer now I'm not with her), but I always tried to get her to be more active - it's not a panacea but healthy body, healthy mind can go some way to ease some problems and give some focus, particularly with self esteem, where it is best served.
Since being on my own again after such a long time with her, I initially found it difficult to adjust to this. So what to do?
I started walking, or rather hiking a little more seriously, with friends at first and now on my own. Sometimes up to eight hours a time - when I have the time hehe.
I also went back to some resistance training again - lift weights and do cardio (at 33 years old I learned how to skip... ya rly). Most of this I do at home 3 days a week, for around an hour a time and on my off days I skip for about 15 minutes when I get home.
Better diet, or rather, healthier foods are things I've tried to pay more attention to as well.
Now, none of these things actually change the situation I find myself living in - single and dealing with erratic employment on the wrong side of the recession.
I believe that there will always be certain things that are far beyond your control. You just have to accept this and not stress over it.
These things might be how other people behave in your relationships, or how larger social economic factors filter down to your little slice of the big cheese, making it go all soft and mouldy.
But on the plus side, I'm fitter than I have been since leaving school, and that feels good, without the need to be a gym-rat who spends hours upon hours sweating it out. It's a routine that I enjoy and doesn't subsume all my free time. I sleep better, for the most part now, too.
Healthy body, healthy mind - the connection isn't so hard to make and whilst it certainly isn't going to be a cure for schizophrenia or anything serious like that, it is another tool in the box to be used to change your life for the better - not perfect, but better. The body and mind know when to take advantage of each other to the best effect without all this counter productive activity we call 'thought' - it can be no coincidence that the hormones created by the body as a result of exercise, show a positive impact on psychological well-being... exercise, sex, good food, success in an endeavour, social interaction ... notice a pattern yet? All things that are good and healthy for us in small ways, we are designed to actively respond to on a deeper level. That might sound a little esoteric but it works for me.
Other changes are I have kept off the smokes and I try to spend less time alone, though I must admit to both craving the occasional smoke and being mostly comfortable with my own company - I don't want the complication of another person in my life yet, for many reasons I'll not extrapolate here.
The article linked reminded me of something I'd been doing already, as you have read about just now, and I felt it worth saying a few words about it, given the path my life has taken over the last several years or so. When you think about it it's so simple it should be obvious.