Walking could be a useful tool in treating depression

[jumpy]

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.

[Sailor Steve]

I do suffer from depression, and not just walking, but doing anything is a great help. When it hits I usually lose interest in doing anything, and it becomes the proverbial vicious circle. Now that I'm "retired" this is a bigger problem, and I find that keeping to a routine keeps me from thinking about it at all. The routine involves regular work on projects like my ship game, model-building or playing music. I also go for a bike ride every day, but irregular activities like just taking a break to go to the store or read something also helps.

Of course the biggest help is posting on Subsim.

[Rockstar]

Good advice and from personal experience I know walking does a body good both mentally and physically. Take the Appalacian Trail its only 2,100 miles long.

[Diopos]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

...
Of course the biggest help is posting on Subsim.

Or even just logging in ...

I had a rather depressive period in my 20's. Going for a walk came almost as a natural reaction. So you open the door, go out and WHAM all the ugliness of the city strikes ten-fold. It was in this phase of my life that I grew a respect for architecture, city planning and talking to the neighbours!

.

[Stealhead]

I have never had any issues with serious depression myself so I cant really say what helps for people that do but everyone no matter their life out look does get stress from time to time so an activity that gets you away even if just for a few hours is a good thing and even better if it is in the outdoors.

When I was stationed in Germany nearly every Saturday and Sunday I would hop onto my bike and ride on the many foot,horse and bike trials that connect one town to the next they always went through woods and sometimes pastures and it was a great escape it was nice being the only human in sight and just to feel the fresh air flow past as I rode along.There was a spot along one trail on a hill that over looked the base and it was great to just sit there for a few minutes and watch the people scurry around the base like little ants.

I grew up in the scrub oak of Florida and live there today so I have always enjoyed simply walking around and just admiring the natural world I could not live in a large city to be honest I have visited many in my day but a week or two is enough for me.

[Betonov]

It's true. Try and be depressed after wiews like this

[Skybird]

Depression, in a wider interpretaqtion, aims at a life status of "inactivity", due to lacking energy. That activity therfore does not help depression to persist and to improve, to put it this ironic, is no surprise.

The difficult trick is to get a really depressive person into activity mode first. And to prevent the rise in energy level from translating into a successful suicide attempt.

Depressions is a very diabolic and treacherous, underhanded disease.

Due to some issues and stories in my life I am vulnerable to feeling depressed, too, a certain basic melancholy seems to be part of my character. I found it worthwhile to depend less and lesser on the agreeing, the opinion, the appreciation of other people. If them and me do match over issues, fine. If not, it does nto worry me anymore. This attitude makes you stronger, mre appreciating your own value instead of defining yourself by the norms and standards of others or society, and it immunises you to the popular beliefs and myths of modern life. The price is that while you get stronger in self-esteem, you also find yourself in a very isolated position. Many friends you do not win this way.

But it is better than to be pulled down by depressive or frustrated mindset when staying with false friends and people with whom you have nothing in common.

And it has always been my impression that neurotic depressions often are caused by conflicts arising when people excessively define themselves by the expectations and standards set by other people, instead of following their own reasoning about what is valuable and deer, and what not. This of course is irrelevant for psychotic depressions.

Try to live your own life in the way that you want, but follow the golden rule - and as long as the latter is true, give a damn on what others think about you. If you are being liked, fine. If not - so what?