No iron weight lifter believes that their workouts are for the benefit of or powered by their body. You know that with each rep, you are training your muscles and mind to be strong and powerful, and that you are using both to achieve your desired results.
It was probably a combination of the two that motivated you to start exercising in the first place. Set a goal to be physically strong and fit usually comes from a desire not to feel otherwise mentally. Perhaps a long time ago you made the decision that you never (or never again) wanted to feel incapable of accomplishing anything. She found a healthy way to gain more control over her life and how she feels, and began working on both body and mind. Exercising became a way of facing life and a way of facing it.
However, while exercise can generally help you overcome sadness and avoid negative feelings, “it doesn’t guarantee that everything in life will run smoothly,” says Kate Hays, a Toronto psychologist who practices sports psychology.
In the face of a major stressor, you may begin to feel the way you felt before you started exercising: unable to make something happen. This is when you can be vulnerable to depression. If negative thoughts or depressed mood become more frequent, more intense, or last longer than usual, it is important to seek professional help. Studies have shown that a combination of exercise and psychotherapy is the best recipe for depression. Like going to the gym, seeking help for depression requires a commitment to the process and patience in seeing results. And just like starting an exercise regimen, most people immediately feel better just from taking the first step.
MORE THAN THE BLUES
Sure, you think you can solve anything by exercising. But even the toughest guy should know about some common depression triggers:
Injury: Since exercising is part of your coping strategy, routine, identity, and even your social network, a physical injury can be a real problem. mental to delay. Also, since exercise can work as an antidepressant, “when you can’t exercise, you can’t get a physiological improvement in mood,” says Hays.
Overtraining: “One of the typical signs of someone who is overtraining is the [his or her] the mood worsens, “says Hays. You may have trouble concentrating or sleeping, or you may be irritable. Hays cautions that a” downward spiral “can develop if you try to alleviate these symptoms by training further.
Personal loss: A sudden or tragic event can disrupt your routine, your resources, and ultimately your mood.
Family history of depression: According to Hays, you can lower your risk of developing depression by exercising, but exercise “doesn’t prevent depression from happening.”
Chronic negative perceptions: Athletes who respond negatively to stressors are at risk for depression. Don’t see the desired results in the gym? Depression can appear if you interpret the reverse in a negative way. Say to yourself, “If I haven’t set realistic goals,” instead of “I’m weak.”
