Sometimes the blues just don’t go away.  Clouds linger around us and not much seems to brighten our days.  Add to the fact that our lives are increasingly sedentary even with our busy schedules and often filled with uncertainty.  It’s no wonder that pharmaceutical companies are minting a fortune off our sorrows. I went through a major anxiety myself and got out of it just recently after almost a year and a half. I’d like to share with you in this video how exercise has been helping me to stay sane.

Thankfully, new research offers a genuine silver lining.  A study out of Duke University offers compelling evidence that at least thirty minutes of brisk, cardiovascular exercise is more effective than taking Zoloft, a common pharmaceutical drug used to treat mild to major depression.  The study also demonstrated that the more one exercised the less likely their depression would return.  Another startling conclusion, according to Professor James Blumenthal who headed the study, was that exercise in addition to taking an anti-depressant did not have a greater benefit than exercise alone.

Why does exercise work in treating depression?  Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, suggests that exercise increases blood flow to the brain and releases endorphins, our body’s natural antidepressant.  If you’ve ever felt euphoric after a workout, chances are, your body let loose a healthy dose of endorphins.  

Along with endorphins, exercise also releases another chemical known as serotonin.  Aside from environmental factors such grief and loss, many in the scientific community believe that a lack of serotonin is the main culprit in triggering depression.  In fact, antidepressant drugs often artificially increase serotonin production in the brain.  

A great experiment to do with yourself when feeling down or anxious is to workout or go for a light jog for thirty minutes to an hour then gauge your mood afterward.  More than likely, you’ll feel a palpable lift to your spirits and mood.  It may require a bit more willpower to get yourself going if you’re unhappy or stressed, but it’ll be worth it.  Exercise rather than taking a pill can provide us with a greater sense of control over our daily stresses and sorrows.  It can also teach us that our lives do not have to be at the mercy of our moods.  Instead, we can actually control how we feel with effort and persistence and take better charge of our lives.  

Of course, it goes without saying, that if you’re currently taking antidepressants or experiencing an unusually high amount of sorrow or anxiety, it’s best to consult with a doctor first.  

Best,

Zuzka