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Exercise & Depression
Exercise helps relieve depression. Research shows that regular exercise increases levels of serotonin and endorphins in the brain. These are important neurochemical transmitters which help to elevate and stabilize your mood. In fact one of the known causes of depression is a lowered level of serotonin. Exercise can be as effective as medication for relieving mild to moderate depression in many cases.
There is more to exercise than serotonin and endorphins.
Exercise helps lower adrenaline a chemical associated with stress to help promote relaxation. And as you become more fit you feel better about how you look and feel. This can give you positive outlook in general. Try some easy aerobics. You may just cardio dance your troubles away.
Are You Depressed?
The standard symptoms for depression are:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or "emptiness"
- Sense of hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt
- Inability to enjoy ordinary pleasurable activities, including sex
- Noticeable change of appetite, possibly accompanied by significant weight loss or weight gain
- Shifts in sleeping patterns, such as insomnia or sleeping too much
- Difficulty concentrating, persistent irritability, excessive crying
- Preoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide
- Decreased energy, fatigue
- Persistent aches and pains
 Many things can cause depression – ranging from some medications to low levels of light during the winter months. Alcohol and a poor diet, as well as inherited predisposition, can lead to the condition as well. Before you decide on asking your doctor for an anti-depressant prescription, adopt the healthy lifestyle habits of a nutritious diet, regular exercise and enough sleep. If things don’t improve, seek medical help. Some herbal remedies that could be tried if approved by a physician or therapist include St. John’s Wort, although (early studies have had mixed results about its effectiveness and have found it to lessen effects of some other drugs). Another is ginko biloba, but check with your doctor before taking it.
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