Depression Articles

Stress, Depression And Exercise: A Breakthrough Approach

Stress and Depression can wreak havoc on anyone including: college professors, doctors, housewives, laborers, and students. It is an illness that will affect every facet of your life; your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. I know this first hand as I began my own recovery from drugs and steroids and the mind numbing depression that followed over nineteen years ago.

Exercise can play a vital role in relieving stress and depression. Often people go to group therapy or 12 step programs which is great. But as I found out the smoke filled meeting halls were full of people who drank endless cups of coffee and loaded up on donuts and cookies. I would use caffeine and sugar to take the place of drugs which lead to a sense of false comfort.

There is growing evidence that exercise can play a vital role in the recovery process as a way to alleviate the paralyzing effects of stress, depression and other emotional disorders. In Conquer Stress and Depression with Exercise (CF Publishing, 2006), J. Alexander Bodkin, M.D., Chief of The Clinical Psychopharmacology at McLean Hospital, states ?In my clinical work with people suffering from mood and anxiety problems, and the substance abuse that often follows from these, I have found time and time again that consistent, reasonably vigorous exercise is a great help. By the time people get to me as patients, exercise alone is no longer enough, but it remains a critical component of a total treatment program. Exercise will hasten recovery, improve well being, increase stress tolerance, relieve physical discomforts, improve physical health and appearance, and boost self-esteem and self-confidence."

An individual suffering from stress and depression can reap amazing benefits from a properly designed fitness program. Through exercise you get a feeling of accomplishment, increased energy (less fatigue), increased productivity, greater concentration, improved sleep, and an overall feeling of uplifted spirits.

The problem is, of course, getting started and motivated to stick with an exercise program. This is especially true for individuals in under emotional stress and depression. A lifetime of low self worth can prevent many people from improving their emotional and physical health. A health club, with all the spandex and beautiful people, is the last place you would want to be if you are you are already feeling lousy about yourself.

This fear is understandable, when I was first learning to live without drugs and going through a severe depression, I couldn't drag myself back to the gym, even though I knew how to exercise. The gym seemed like a nightclub to me. At that time I wished there was a health club, where someone could understand my predicament.

I responded to these feelings by turning my exercise knowledge into a tool for my own recovery. Since I couldn't bench press 400 pounds any more, I began to concentrate on the psychological benefits of my fitness routine. I started to focus on each and every movement - feeling the tightening, contraction and stretch of each muscle group. My mind and body were becoming one. In most people these are two separate entities, I wove them together to feel whole again.

This exercise program which helped me feel alive again, laid the foundation for my work. Today, I am the owner of Custom Fitness Personal Training in Boston, one-on-one personal training facility that specializes in working with individuals suffering from stress and depression. I also work with top executives who are under everyday stress and may be addicted to other things - like work, money and prestige.

I call my fitness program ? ?Mindful Movements? - which uses exercise as a way to obtain peak mental and physical health.

There are several steps you should follow:

1) WARMUP-5 minutes riding a bike or walking in place.

2) EXERCISE LARGER MUSCLE FIRST- Start with an exercise for your legs, chest, back, shoulders, arms, and. stomach.

3) KEEP IT LIGHT. If the weight is too heavy you can't focus on the movement of the muscle and there's a real chance of injury.

4) MOVE SLOWLY, USE CORRECT FORM.

5) CONCENTRATE ON THE PARTICULAR MUSCLE GROUP YOU ARE EXERCISING. You want to focus on the mind/muscle connection. Feel the muscle tighten on the way up, feel the contraction at the top of the movement, and concentrate on the stretch on the way down.

6) BREATHE CORRECTLY. Exhale through your mouth when lifting and inhale through your nose when lowering the weight.

7) GO EASY AT FIRST, SET REALISTIC GOALS. Don't try to look like Mr. Muscles or a supermodel. Your appearance will come if you enjoy the exercise routine.

Good Luck!

Jeff Rutstein is founder of Boston's Exclusive Personal Training Center, Custom Fitness and author of Conquer Stress and Depression with Exercise. For more information go to http://www.conquerstressanddepression.com

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

A Spiritual View Of Depression: Living With The Unknown
There is never a time in life when things are not changing ? when one view of reality does not give way before another, or one person whom we are connected with or another does not go through a shift that changes them, or a situation we find ourselves in turns out not to be what we expected it to be. There is no time of pause in life's ceaseless flow, however it may appear on the surface of things For even in the quiet times of peace, things that are of the future are being prepared, and the end of one phase is already on the horizon, waiting for the next phase to begin. This is the nature of life's ceaseless movement, and it is part of wisdom to learn how to move with it.

The Signs of Depression and Effective Treatments
Many people suffer from depression and in mild cases, may not even know it. In more severe cases, it can seem to consume you completely. There is hope however for the people that are in the throes of this potentially life altering state of existence. From psychotherapy to modern pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies to exercise, there are ongoing studies that are finding more and more effective treatments to this harrowing and sometimes elusive illness. Statistics show that there are millions of people in the United States alone that wake each day with the dread and despair that depression can induce.

What About Drugs for Anxiety and Depression?
As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression?" The answer I give is "Yes" and "No."Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help.

Depression
The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer of this but found no such evidence or behavior. The same was true for all other mental or medical conditions, so they think 'witch' covers my condition in life; because I refuse to participate in the materially managed environment any more.

Depression: One Womans Story
Sharon was talking to a friend on the phone one night. When her friend asked, "How are you?" Sharon suddenly exploded with emotion.

Depression in Young People
The World Health Organisation predicts depression will be the second greatest cause of ill health globally, at enormous cost to national and world economies. Depression is on the increase and will become "second only to heart disease as the world's leading disability by 2020." Depression is responsible for 70 per cent of recorded suicides in Britain. One in five people suffer from depression at some point during their lives. Severe depression is at worst a killer and in its less severe forms, debilitating and damaging to the health of individuals and their families. Massive changes to working conditions, reduced exposure to the natural environment and to the amount of exercise that we undertake have occurred over the past 100 years and thes...

Two New Books for Adults and Children Based on Clinically-Proven 'THE Burris Life Coach' Process for Depression
The only clinically-proven process for depression is now available in two new books by the recognized life coach (http://www.kellyburris.com) standard and author Kelly Burris. As the founder and CEO of THE Burris Life Coach, Burris' latest books assist readers in taking control of their subconscious to combat depression.

No Depression Coming for U.S. Economy
Larry Edelson takes a closer look at the mortgage crisis and why it's nowhere near being over and why it's not as bad as people are making it out to be. In this issue of Money and Markets, Mr. Edelson examines the seven reasons why the mortgage and credit crisis are not that bad for the U.S.

Depression And Thinking Right
So what does depression and thinking right have to do with feeling happy again. Well you will find that the two are actually interconnected. Generally people who have depression don?t think the way a normal happy person does, therefore one of the best things to do is to change the way that a depressed person thinks.

Energy Depression Hits UK this Week: Massive Bills and More Misery Ahead
UK households will be hit this week with massive quarterly energy bills, reaching £350 for a typical household

Does Depression Treatment Make Sense?
Does depression treatment make sense? If you ever suffered from depression as a patient or had to deal with depression as someone close to a patient having this mental illness, you most certainly will have had doubts like this in your mind or will have had arguments about this question. It seems that many depression sufferers, especially if they have been hit by this illness recently, have serious doubts about the effectiveness of depression medication. In many cases they can recall stories from patients who did not have success in treating depression via one depression treatment method or another. There are two common misconceptions about depression treatment and modern medicine in general that may lead to such a reaction:

Teenage Depression ? How to Knock Depression Out!
While the issue of teenage depression is a grim reality, not many people are able to grasp the idea. After all, young people go through lots of changes and changes in behavior are just one of them; but teenage depression is far more serious than this.

5 Facts About Depression No One Else Will Tell You About.
Depression is a very tough phase in anyone?s life. However, it can be treated if you get help in time, you can relieve the affects of depression through proper counseling. Sometimes, doctors will prescribe medication. If you follow the medication and treatment properly, it will help to eliminate depression. Opening a dialogue with your doctor is an important first step in getting your depression properly treated.

Depression-My Story
What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not something that you have made up in your head. It's more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days.