Take Me To Post Comment Form Since writing about the amazing effect of exercise on the brain in relation to learning, I was hesitant to write about the value of exercise in relation to depression. I do NOT want to encourage you to stop taking your meds when your doctor is doing his/her best to keep you stable, compliant and making good progress in your treatment.

However, there is some promising news about using exercise to treat depression. Studies have shown that it is an effective and low-cost treatment for major depression. I could not help wonder if my brother, who was unable to find a combination of meds to effectively treat his deep-rooted sadness and hopelessness, could have benefited from exercise. I wish we had known about this connection before he took his life. I find it heartening that our loved ones may find relief from the terrible pain of depression through exercise.

We have all heard how exercise helps maintain physical fitness and prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. The Mayo Clinic reports that “If you have depression or anxiety, you might find your doctor…prescribing a regular dose of exercise in addition to medication or psychotherapy. They have observed that thirty minutes of exercise a day for at least three to five days a week can significantly improve depression symptoms.

In the June 2008 issue of Self Healing, Dr. Andrew Weil writes, “More than 20 million Americans suffer from depression in any given year, and antidepressants are now the most commonly prescribed medications in the country. Instead of pharmaceuticals, I suggest that people with mild to moderate depression try natural therapies.

James S. Gordon, MD, author of “Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey Out of Depression, explains: “Numerous studies have found exercise helps depression, likely by increasing levels of depleted neurotransmitters and by releasing “feed good chemicals called endorphins. Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least three times a week.

While the Mayo Clinic recommends exercise to treat depression, Psychologist Kristin Vickers-Douglas, PhD warns that “If you exercise regularly but depression or anxiety symptoms still interfere with your daily living, seek profession help. Exercise isn’t meant to replace medical treatment of depression or anxiety.

James Blumenthal, leader of the landmark study (National Institute of Mental Health) on depression and exercise at Duke University, writes, “Simply taking a pill is very passive. Patients who exercised may have felt a greater sense of mastery over their condition and gained a great sense of accomplishment. They may have felt more self-confident and had better self-esteem because they were able to do it themselves... These findings could change the way some depressed patients are treated, especially those who are not interested in taking antidepressants.

It appears that exercise is just plain sensible -- no matter what ails you. Why not try it, whether you are depressed or not?