Depression and I go way back, but it wasn’t until college that I started taking medication to treat it. Thus began my ride on the prescription drug roller coaster. People who don’t understand depression would say things like “you should exercise, you’ll feel better”. I resented those people and thought “yeah right, a run around the block will cure everything”. I could barely get out of bed, let alone go to the gym....Read the rest of this article on Diets in Review.com
Hey Kat--I'm late posting a comment on this, but I'm hoping "better late than never" still applies...
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thanks--for your blog generally, for your honesty, humour and willingness to be vulnerable in such a public sphere.
You'll probably never know how many lives you've affected, and I wanted to at least let you know that you've made a difference in mine. Your blog posts are always a reminder of how to face life with grace and honesty, but this particular post made a real difference.
I fight depression myself, but because it generally tends to be cyclical, and relatively mild, I haven't needed meds so far. That said, it tends to sneak up on me until I'm left shaking my head in bewilderment wondering why the hell nothing is enjoyable anymore.
Throughout last summer, I'd used running to help keep me on an even keel, as I prepared for some major transitions in my life (divorce, moving, all that good stuff). Once those happened, I fell out of the running habit--and couldn't figure out, in my increasingly depressive haze, why I was getting sadder and sadder. Then your post came along--and the lightbulb went off.
Thanks for reminding me how essential it is to get moving--how our minds and bodies and emotions are so intertwined we neglect one at the peril of the others.
You look fantastic, by the way--I know that isn't your primary motivation for exercising, but it's a nice side effect, isn't it? :)