eDiets Contributor
There are periods of time in all our lives when we feel despondent, lethargic, depressed and hopeless. These feeling states can last from a few minutes to many years. The length of time feeling down depends on what loss, trauma or hurt you maybe suffering from. Examples of personal traumas are: One of your parents may have died when you were a child. You may be suffering from a breakup with a partner you still are very much in love with. You may have been a victim of a violent crime or you may be recovering from substance abuse.
The amount of time feeling in dismay is contingent on what coping and recovery skills you learned. Many of us don’t know how to face, experience, work through and let go of emotional pain. Many of us are afraid to face it because we are fearful that this path will lead to infinite agony. Some of us are ashamed to admit that we have problems that have become unsolvable.
There is a way to resolve these problems and this method of resolving emotional pain is not something the big pharmaceutical companies want you to know. They prefer that you went to your physician and signed on for a prescription of the latest anti-depressant or anti-anxiety.
The way to not only heal emotional pain, but to achieve true happiness is through physical exercise. Now medication can be effective, but exercise has been proven to be at least if not more effective for folks who are depressed without the side effects of sexual dysfunction, difficulty sleeping and suicidal thinking.
Psychotherapy can also be helpful in exploring the reasons why you are not living a fulfilling life. A skilled therapist will ask you questions that can lead to new insights. A good therapist can also help guide you through the pain and teach you how to love yourself.
Perhaps before you try the psychotherapist or medication routes, you can delve into exercise. If you have never exercised before or haven’t for a long time, obtain your physician’s clearance to work out.
Here are seven ways you can increase your sense of happiness through exercise:
1. Exercise will bring you into a totally new world and can forever positively transform your life.
2. Exercise will tone your body. Therefore you will begin to feel better about the way you look.
3. The brain chemistry changes while you are working out; leading to feeling calm.
4. You will feel a sense of accomplishment after each time you exercise leading to improved self-esteem.
5. Exercise can be a healthy means of distracting yourself from your emotional pain. Exercise can also be a means to face your emotional pain because the increased confidence will allow you to deal with internal traumas in a bold, self-assured manner.
6. Exercise by itself is known to improve depression and anxiety.
7. Exercise has been proven to make you smarter. Therefore you will develop the skills you need to let go of your emotional pain and discover genuine happiness.
Psychotherapist Bob Livingstone has helped millions heal their emotional pain during the past twenty years. He has been instrumental in assisting victims of emotional and/or physical violence recover from trauma and no longer be victims. He is a featured contributor to DrLaura.com, Beliefnet.com, eDiets.com, Selfgrowth.com and SheKnows.com. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Body-Mind-Soul Solution: Healing Emotional Pain through Exercise (Pegasus Books, Second Printing 2008). For more emotional healing visit www.boblivingstone.com.
Labels: cardio, depression, exercise, fitness, gym, happiness, health, lifestyle, workout
Comment: Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:36:00 AM - 
Henry Thomas said...
Great article. Yes, this is when most people want to sleep, but exercise is the key. It releases those endorphines and can make a person feel great. I've used an exercise vest for the past 2 years, and in a way, it's forced me to exercise when I didn't feel like it. Check it out.
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 8:50:00 AM - said...
I totally agree. I've suffered from depression the past 12 yrs and have taken a variety of medication and found that a healthy diet and DAILY exercise helps uplift my mood, calm me, helps me to focus, and gives me feeling of accomplishment. I powerwalk at least 2 to 2 1/2 miles a day either outside or on my treadmill and do this at least 5 days a week. I'm aiming for 3 miles in 45 minutes. I've added some running in there too and never thought I could. Each goal I set for myself gives me something to look forward to a its rewarding. The best thing is it takes my mind off things. I set time slots for myself each day so I try a variety. Now that its getting colder outside I know I'll need to do more in the house which I hate but I've bought a sationary bike to add to my routine so I don't get board. Yes........a good diet and EXERCISE is the best medicine!!
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 11:08:00 AM - said...
When people tell me they are feeling depressed, I recommend that they get up and do something.
I am not talking about chronic depression, just those moods that crop up in everyones life.
Even something as simple a cleaning out the junk drawer or going through the clothes in your closet. Even if you don't feel like doing anything, especially if you don't feel like doing anything, do something.
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 12:35:00 PM - said...
Exercise is definitely a depression lifter. I feel so good afterwards and I get so many ideas during my runs. I was in a very unhappy work situation for two years and if it wasn't for my exercise routine I think I'd have gone mad. I regularly ran both outside and indoors and took part in a skip circuit which was absolutely fantastic. Its working with others, laughing and socialising and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of those 60 minutes.
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 12:41:00 PM - Keek said...
Winter time brings less daylight which leads to decreased activities and seasonal affective disorder. If you can't engage in outdoor activities like you did in the summer, I suggest using rubber resistance tubes for strength training to keep toned. Just 10-12 minutes a day is all you need. When a commercial comes on the tube, get off that couch and start pumping rubber. No bulkily machines taking up space, either. Make a game out of it. Soon the entire family will be rushing to the tubes during TV breaks.
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 3:50:00 PM - 
marien said...
I for sure know thats true because although i havent been thru any of these, an can at least handle my emotions mean suppress them which made me add weight because i never bother anything, i have tried once in a while to exercise, it gave me the "feel good effect" and it lasted a long time.
also to day i had to go for a wedding some 5 miles from my house, i didnt take the car, i went by B.R.T, so i had the time to walk around for more than 30 mins. when i got back, normally you should feel stressed, instead i feel Great for taking those walk.i have been indoors all week so u should inderstand
Comment: Saturday, November 01, 2008 11:32:00 PM - Jed Rose said...
I cannot agree more about the exercise/happiness link.
Since I lost an excess of 15kg and kept it off longterm with walking and gym work 6 times a week, I am more healthy, happy and resilient.
The stressful things that I have allowed to bring me down in the past are all still there, but I handle them better and they don't mean anywhere near as much to me as they did in the past.
Comment: Sunday, November 02, 2008 11:46:00 PM - said...
Really enjoyed the validation that this article made me feel. i am a crusader to my friends on physical fitness. It is a proven fact that phyical fitness supports great brain health, so it helps to deal with issues more clearly. Everytime i feel the fatigue of working out, i know that feeling feels so much better than lethergy. Thank you for this article.
Comment: Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:33:00 AM - said...
Exercise has improved my depression but I need to do it every day. When I stop exercising for a few days I feel sad again. Last week I was having a bad day and I went to get acunpunture and afterwards I felt great. I've been feeling great for a week now and will go for my second treatment. I also take medication and in the past worked with a therapist. I do agree with the article and do yoga, water aerobics, treadmill, strenght training, and love to walk on the trail along the lake.
Comment: Saturday, November 15, 2008 7:34:00 AM - Janice said...
I totally agree with this article. Since May when I started to exercise on a regular basis, I feel good about my accomplishments in reference to taking care of me. It fuels the mind and energizes the body. What I have found out lately is that if I exercise in the morning before going to work, I feel much more energized with a positive attitude. Being that I am in an administrative position and that can sometimes be stressful, I go to work feeling that I can accomplish anything no matter what challenges come my way. Along side of exercising, I also realize the importance eating healthy and drinking water on a daily basis. Since May I have lost 10 pounds all because I changed my outlook on taking care of me, my body, my mind, and and my soul. It's been worth it and I intend to keep it going. The boost has been quite self-motivating!!!
Comment: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:38:00 AM - medical information websites said...
Nice article!! :) Thanks for sharing! Must read article especially to people who feels depressed and wanted to do something to help themselves... Great tips! :D
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