86Thousand400: Using exercise to alleviate depression

It's largely through depression research that we know as much as we do about what exercise does for the brain. Exercise counteracts depression at almost every level.

In Britain, Doctors now use exercise as a first-line treatment for depression. And in the United States and Canada depression is the leading cause of disability. 17% of American adults experience depression, to the tune of $26.1 billion in health care costs each year.

Aerobic exercise has a positive impact on the entire range of depressive symptoms.

Think of depression as an erosion of connections - in your life as well as between your brain cells. Exercise re-establishes those connections with the neurotransmitters: norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin all having a large effect.

Joseph Schildkraut's work (1965), led to the monoamine hypothesis, which holds that depression is caused by a deficit of these 3 neurotransmitters. Most of our treatments and research since then has been about trying to reverse that deficit.

Exercise to alleviate Depression

Hospitals offering exercise for people with severe depression which in turn gives an endorphin rush. Endorphins produced directly in the brain contribute to the general feeling of well-being that usually comes along with exercise.

We sometimes lose sight of the fact that the mind, brain, and body all influence one another. In addition to feeling good when you exercise, you feel good about yourself, and that has a positive effect that can't be traced to a particular chemical or area in the brain.

Changing your exercise habits changes your risk for depression. Studies from the book Spark show that exercisers are less anxious, less depressed, less neurotic, and also more socially outgoing. (Everybody’s winning)!