Ask Lemmy

Extremely mixed. Last year my mental health was probably at its lowest after realising how bad my health was (weight and muscle atrophy from becoming a hermit in COVID times). I did a lot of work and I was finally able to go on walks daily without being exhausted and that felt really good. This in turn gave me more energy in the day and that also felt really good.

Also started doing weights. That didn't feel as good. Making progress was nice but I was basically always in pain or aching, and when I wasn't, it meant it was time to work out again. After exercising and the muscles were popped, it felt really good but that subsides. And seeing muscles like that start bringing out the body dysmorphia badly. It was the best Ive ever looked and it made me feel awful. Then I injured myself and it got it was even worse.

Tl:Dr light cardio yes, weightlifting not really

What I'm getting from reading these responses is that exercise can alleviate some of the crushing effects of depression, but because it's difficult and time consuming, you'll need a better reason for it than just "I'm suppose to" otherwise you'll just be making your life harder and creating an unhealthy relationship with exercise.

Everybody has to fight through the first few months to genuinely create a good workout habit, but if you start small (such as a 20 minute walk 3-4 days a week), you'll be able to ease into the really good stuff without so much hardship. The plan is to be working out for life, so what's the rush?

I believe the army created negative associations in me about exercise, since they used it as punishment and I always had the anxiety of my next PT test hanging over my head. It took a few years to disentangle myself from those connections and begin working out the way I wanted to and really seeing the results I was looking for. Now, after ~5 years of very frequent exercise, I'm finally getting to the point where I feel like it's a net positive to my mental health.

It was very helpful for me. I have trouble working out now however. Funnily enough, I tried an experimental ketamine treatment and now that I don't feel negative it's harder to make myself exercise

ETA: Mostly try to find something you enjoy, not something that feels like a chore. Also, diet and fit culture are like poison so I would advice to find true compassionate professionals to help you out in your search.

Yes in my case BUT I had to find the right exercise for me as well as the best time of day to do it.

I now do it everyday and have done so for 17+ years. Sometimes I pepper some different stuff here and there, but nothing crazy. Also, food. The correct meals for me have made all the difference in the world in how I feel. This also includes some extra minerals that my body needs.

It's hard to decide any causation for me personally, but my fitness tends to at least correlate positively with my mental health.

Excereize is the only thing that ever helped me. I need to feel like I can run through a building sometimes and if I don't I fall back into my vices. I will say that one difference is I am a very fit individual and when I put my mind and body to it I am able to do some things that are considered very very difficult. I've competed in jiu-jitsu at a reletively high level and won first place in more than one competition where I had to fight 4+ people in a row. And I've rock climbed some very difficult climbs that many people spend their lives trying to do. For anyone interested I've flashed some outdoor 5.13s

So I think the difference is that I'm genetically gifted and when I am actually working out and devoting myself to fitness it pays off in huge ways. That keeps me going, idk what I'd do if I worked out and then just felt like a loser. I feel like a fucking demon when I'm working out. I feel like a fucking loser when I'm sitting around.

Yes, there is a reason so many people say go for a walk. It’s not cure all, you still need to work on your mental health. This is how I’ve come to explain it. when your body is unhealthy it has to work harder, a mentally ill person is already working harder. If you get your body healthy you will have more capacity for your mental health. Though like others have pointed out, do something you enjoy. I started with walking and moved to running but the walking alone was good. I had no idea I would enjoy it but once I started it became habit.

I can imagine how exercise would do anything but depress me further. I despise working out. I remember being told I'd love it after a few weeks, but after a year I still despised it. Put me in a gym and you'll see me at my most miserable

YESSSSSS there is no other realistic answer; I am willing to die on this not-even-a-hill

Yes, definitely. For me, it is kind of a meditation - while I work out, I can't really think a lot, and after working out I'm exhausted. It is just a reset for thoughts.

Kind of, but it's not a miracle cure or escape. I tried exercising while depressed and I tried exercising after I learned how to manage depression. It never cured my depression but it is part of managing it. It's part of a healthy life style, which is part of taking care of myself, which is part of not feeling like I hate myself and my life.

I keep going to the gym because I enjoy it and it's an excellent way for me to vent emotions, no matter what my mood is.