Exercise, Depression and Anxiety

 A few months ago, right around the beginning of spring my brother mowed a trail that surrounds some acreage that my parents own. He and his wife began using it to walk on daily. They would walk four laps around it almost religiously everyday.

Knowing that I was suffering with severe anxiety and depression, symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, he encouraged me to join them. Acting as someone suffering from depression I was immediately apprehensive and resistant, however he insisted that I get consistent exercise and also encouraged me to start drinking more water.

I started out walking and eventually transitioned into doing a bit of running as well. As a result of not being an experienced runner and also being exceptionally out of shape I developed shin splints and was not able to run for a while or walk for that matter. Eventually the shin splints healed and I am back on the trail again.

I wouldn't give anybody the advice that exercise is a cure-all for the struggles of anxiety and depression but it is an element that does contribute to a healthier state of mind. Increasing hydration, taking supplements and vitamins have also been beneficial.

 I still have very bad days but they are fewer and farther between and often less severe. I also find myself being more productive in other areas as well. It's a grindingly slow process unfortunately, but progress, not perfection is the goal.

What I would encourage is for anyone that is suffering with symptoms of anxiety and or depression is to start setting yourself a small daily goal of getting some form of exercise and committing to doing it daily. Starting small is key but I have found that I am continuously adding to my regimine though I began with just a bit of walking once a day. 

Since starting walking several months ago I have been able to add running, sit ups, push ups, pull-ups and dips to my routine. I also worked my way up to running an entire lap around the trail which felt like a great achievement, especially considering where I started from.

I do take medications for my OCD as well. I have learned however that one cannot rely simply on medications to improve their mental health and from doing some research have learned that exercise improves the effectiveness of the medications.