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4thDevilsAdvocate t1_is9m1xr wrote

Reply to comment by Due-Enthusiasm5656 in Scientists researching possible candidates for treating Alzheimer's disease found exercise outperformed all tested drugs for the ability to reverse dysregulated gene expression. by shadesofaltruism

Even if the depression's not severe, that depends on the depression.

If, as some have theorized, learned helplessness is a driving force behind depression, it might be that the person in question fundamentally cannot believe exercise can change their life for the better, regardless of what science or their therapist says, and that SSRIs (or psychedelics, or some other chemical actor) are what are needed to snap them out of it.

Depression is really a bit different from any other disease. Unlike most other diseases, the behavioral changes it causes can lead people to avoid treatment; a common cold or bipolar disorder aren't self-reinforcing, but depression is. Sure, certain mental illnesses might make someone harder to treat, because the behavior of person inflicted with them makes it harder for them to seek treatment, but few mental illnesses make people actively and consciously decide they should avoid being treated — like, "I know something's very wrong with me, but it's better for everyone else if I just crawl off into a corner to die", as opposed to a mere "I forgot where my meds are".

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Due-Enthusiasm5656 t1_is9p6cs wrote

Even diet has a huge role in depression. Your microbiome has 30 trillion live bacteria who need fiber and the right nutrients and they send signals up the Vagus nerve to influence almost everything. Left alone what nutrient deficiencies can do.

-source: Max Lugavere's and Paul Grewal's MD, Genius Foods

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SnooDoubts826 t1_isbo1lr wrote

how is this not common knowledge though?! I'm scared for humanity when I (and you) are the only people I've ever seen talking about this.

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greysneakthief t1_iscw3eh wrote

It's partially because the exact role of intestinal microbiome is still under scrutiny and research. Claims like the one above, while sounding like definitive knowledge, are working theories. No doubt microbiome has an impact on general health, but to what extent is still under some intense debate.

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SnooDoubts826 t1_isdgmfo wrote

Obviously if a living creature doesn't get it's required sustenance (proper nutrition), it's health is going to fail. What is there to debate?

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Due-Enthusiasm5656 t1_isdq5gf wrote

Seems pretty close to defininitve to me, I'm not waiting for years of research. Scientists are even calling the microbiome "The Forgotten Organ".

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Due-Enthusiasm5656 t1_iscihq3 wrote

I guess it's easier not to for people. This comment was -2 before some people came along and voted it up. People want any excuse not to change their diet.

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Portalrules123 t1_isc2urh wrote

Don't forget the structural factors in society that contribute to depression as well, we can't completely individualize it which makes it harder to fully combat.

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[deleted] t1_isdt4zv wrote

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4thDevilsAdvocate t1_isdv1gx wrote

A bit, I suppose, but I think the difference is that bipolar disorder lets you still want to get better but hate the treatment that actually makes you better, whereas depression can make you not want to get better, period.

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TornShadowNYC t1_ise68en wrote

appreciate your point. that said, as a medical social worker i see the the more severe the mental illness, the less likely it is that a person has insight, and more likely it is that they tend to decline to take psychotropic meds. unfortunately i don't have research on this but it's widely understood amongst my colleagues that people with serious mental illness will likely decline to start/ continue psychotropic medications. they don't see the need.

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TheWaywardJellyBean t1_isf0iya wrote

When I have SAD hits around the end of January/February exercise, a healthy diet and my sunlamp are often some of the only things keeping me from an episode of severe depression. I feel my most calm and at peace when exercising (meaning not feeling apathetic, listless or sad). It's usually a lifeline for me in those months. I know it's good for me so I force myself. Although with SAD (at least for me) unlike typical depression, I don't think really negatively about myself (no negative self talk), it's more zero energy/fatigue, feeling very apathetic or sad, struggle to experience happy emotions, inability to focus, and things don't bring enjoyment.

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