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Slizl t1_j3hgh4c wrote

Sports teams have also given my kids a built in friend group when going to school (especially beneficial when going from elementary to middle school and middle school to high school).

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firegoddess333 t1_j3i6e5t wrote

Definitely, it's not just about the act of exercising, but also the exposure to other people, situations, environments etc. that helps. If you just exercise in a basement by yourself you won't experience the same antidepressant effect as participating in a fun social activity.

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PuppyCocktheFirst t1_j3i9rf3 wrote

This. It’s a shared suffering kinda thing that results in tighter friendships too. There’s a reason Crossfit is so cult like, save this is a huge part I’d argue. Not only that, but especially in high school when what others think of you or how you perceive others view you - being fit and capable at something, gives you confidence. I personally owe a lot of my current love of fitness, confidence, and social skills to having played sports in high school. Lately I’ve struggled with depression, but any time I fall off the wagon and get back on, it only takes a few weeks before the feeling of confidence and positive self image start coming back, which bleeds into my confidence and mental well being everywhere else.

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booglnoodl t1_j3iuthv wrote

Good on you for paying attention to your kids friends and making sure they aren't socially isolated!

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dr-freddy-112 t1_j3gyrje wrote

Exercise is the only thing that has kept me sane. Very little beats the feeling you get when you exercise to exhaustion. The endorphin rush is amazing and the work itself is meditative.

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hiricinee t1_j3hemhb wrote

I came for the antidepressant effects I stayed for the gains. I'd have kept lifting only for the first part.

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PracticalDrawing t1_j3i2l24 wrote

Same… I’m 50. Just started doing yoga but there is mo substitute for high intensity cardio for the mind

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dr-freddy-112 t1_j3i3wld wrote

Personally, I opt for HIIT using sleds and weights. My cardio mostly consists of basketball and hiking.

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FalconUniverse2617 t1_j3jb4ru wrote

I don’t know man I’m so tired when I exercise to exhaustion I always think never again but of course ultimately end up in the same place. Reminds me of a hangover really

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dr-freddy-112 t1_j3jwl4c wrote

It gets easier the more you do it. Once you start to get used to it, you feel good for hours after.

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LudSable t1_j3llpqn wrote

I read somewhere there was evidence that the "runner's high" is less about "endorphins" is actually more "endocannabinoids"

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TATWD52020 t1_j3gnt07 wrote

Empirical experience echos this for all ages.

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Mikimao t1_j3hel95 wrote

Yeah, but don't let this fool you into thinking it's the only solution either. I was a very high level athlete, I have been battling depression since age 15. I know elite athletes who also battle depression. There are limits on what just exercise can do, and it shouldn't actually be floated by as a replacement for actually getting treatment for your symptoms.

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-ghostinthemachine- t1_j3h84uc wrote

If exercise cures your depression then consider yourself lucky you don't know what deep and unrelenting depression actually is. One thing is for sure about all these studies about various remedies: the more time you spend doing literally anything else the less time you have to be depressed. Put another way, the symptoms of depression are in many ways the depression itself.

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Apprehensive-Top7774 t1_j3jlamy wrote

>If exercise cures your depression then consider yourself lucky you don't know what deep and unrelenting depression actually is

Fact of the matter is exercise has been proven time and time again to helo alleviate depression. Will it magically fix all of your problems? No, but no need to gatekeep depression of all things. People can be extremely deeply depressed and still get help and improve with lifestyle changes. It doesn't make it not real depression just because they were able to get out

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PauliNot t1_j3j72ux wrote

Yes, the “natural antidepressant” in the title is misguiding. Exercise can help elevate your mood, but it’s not curative. People whose depression is “cured” by exercise probably don’t really have it, and they definitely don’t have it severely.

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Chonkybuns t1_j3hx93u wrote

I used to exercise nonstop, but now I'm not allowed to anymore. I didn't see a difference in my depression with or without the exercise.

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raynethackery t1_j3i1gbc wrote

Not allowed to?

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Chonkybuns t1_j3i1qwg wrote

Yeah, I have an eating disorder, and my parents and doctors forbid any exercise.

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MyFaceSaysItsSugar t1_j3krjyb wrote

Yeah that’s only the case when no one is continuously telling you how much you suck at the sport/exercise you’re being forced to do.

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Wagamaga OP t1_j3gi7fd wrote

An antidote to teenage depression might be found in school gymnasiums and on sports fields, a major new review argues.

Supervised exercise programs are associated with significant reductions in symptoms of depression among children and teenagers, according to the analysis of data from 21 studies involving more than 2,400 kids.

"This is the first time that we've been able to put enough studies together so that we can make a pretty good conclusion to answer the question, 'Is physical activity and exercise good for children with depressive symptoms?'" said co-study author Walter Thompson, a retired professor of exercise physiology with Georgia State University in Atlanta. "The answer is overwhelmingly yes."

https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/sports-activity-physical/2023/01/06/id/1103344/

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anTHaRic t1_j3gkzh3 wrote

Exercise helps, sure. But it’s not as simple as “exercise and you will cure depression”. So calling it an antidote is ridiculous and dangerous hyperbole.

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Standard_Wafer_9681 t1_j3gqbc7 wrote

For some people it actually might be that simple.

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anTHaRic t1_j3iy8yt wrote

And if you’re already exercising and still depressed? How do you think it feels to read that the solution is to do what you’re already doing?

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Standard_Wafer_9681 t1_j3iyjxm wrote

Probably disappointing but why should the way it makes some people feel alter the truth?

Cognitive behavioral therapy might work. I hope those people find solutions. Just like I hope the people who are not helped by SSRIs find solutions.

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rippleman t1_j3gq9xx wrote

For a lot of folks with milder symptoms, it can come pretty close and oftentimes stop it. If you're depressed and not disabled, you need to exercise. No treatment plan is complete without it, nor is a general healthy lifestyle. Movement is demanded by the body and brain--not requested.

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anTHaRic t1_j3iy7lz wrote

And if you’re already exercising and still depressed? How do you think it feels to read that the solution is to do what you’re already doing?

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rippleman t1_j3iykkt wrote

As someone who has depression--yes. You do need to keep doing it anyway. Whether you like or not, it's something we have to do. Life isn't fair. Stopping exercise and good things for yourself makes it worse.

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BeenBadFeelingGood t1_j3kx9pm wrote

It probably feels demoralizing af?

I’ve been there. I beat my depression and I do more than just exercise. I learned CBT. I take sauna. Take cold shower. Reach out to friends when I feel lonely. I learned to meditate, which helped me in two major ways: 1 it helped me understand that i am not my thoughts and I can create my own thoughts and not identify with random thoughts and 2 out it helped me understand my inner world and I’m not bothered by external stimuli, almost at all

You have to find a multi-pronged approach and learn to appreciate your struggle: I’ve been given a bag nails to carry forever? Cool. I’m not depressed. Someone says something rude? Cool. That is their thought and it doesn’t affect me. There’s a Reddit post that irks me? Cool post. We move to a better a thought and continue to vibe high

You can do it!

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anTHaRic t1_j3l9m9p wrote

> It probably feels demoralizing af?

That's the point I'm trying to make, I'm glad at least one person got it.

I'm not severely depressed, but there are some things to work on. I'm happy to hear you've got things sorted out, that's great!

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3gxoeq wrote

It is empirically the single most effective method of reducing depression symptoms.

Better than ssris, better than diet, better than quitting drugs.

It is the foundation of any sane recovery plan.

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Jeffreybugist t1_j3i2i1d wrote

>Better than ssris

I call bs.

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Skeptix_907 t1_j3i70ru wrote

Well, not "better", but "as good as".

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3i82x8 wrote

No, what I said wasn't ambiguous. Don't change my statement.

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Skeptix_907 t1_j3j0gla wrote

Right, but you didn't provide evidence for it. I've only ever seen comparison studies that show that exercise is roughly as good as medication, never seen one good review that shows it's better than medication.

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3j23vy wrote

I don't have to provide evidence your eduction is not my responsibility.

There is nothing ambiguous about what I've said. Exercise is more effective than ssris at reducing depression symptoms, end of. There is empirical evidence.

Ssris rarely perform much differently than placebo in controlled trials. It's not really a difficult treatment to perform better than.

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Skeptix_907 t1_j3j9td1 wrote

>I don't have to provide evidence your eduction is not my responsibility.

When you make an outlandish claim that is not common knowledge, the onus is on you to provide evidence.

>There is empirical evidence.

I've yet to see any. All I've seen is opinion.

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3jn3mu wrote

It's not an outlandish claim. It's mainstream science. Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not true.

No, you find the studies. I'm not your research student.

Have a lovely day.

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A-Wolf-Like-Me t1_j3jqezb wrote

Jumping in here. You made an absolute statement in r/science.

I personally agree with you, but you need to provide a source if you make an absolute statement; otherwise just say it "could be" if you don't have the time. You are communicating on a platform where some will place trust in anecdotal evidence from redditors, and others will begin to doubt their own understanding.

We should be encouraging that people support their statements with scientific literature to reduce potential incorrect information from circulating.

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Skeptix_907 t1_j3n0okj wrote

Respectfully, you're acting and debating like a child. If you have nothing to support your opinions and pass them off as fact, I have 12 year old cousins who do better than that.

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3nrpxh wrote

Because its like asking me to provide a source that the earth is round.

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SoggyMattress2 t1_j3i7ypf wrote

A 25 second Google search is all it takes.

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Jeffreybugist t1_j3mh3ys wrote

My "empirical" experience is that a gym merely has any positive influence (I have depression and I visit the gym 3 times a week).

SSRI on the other hand, gave me significant relieve.

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skittlesmcgee33 t1_j3hyqef wrote

For a lot of people it is an antidote. I think at the very least it is a very very powerful prophylactic. Children shouldn’t get depressed. Mandated physical education helps.

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anTHaRic t1_j3iyfik wrote

And if you’re already exercising and still depressed? How do you think it feels to read that the solution is to do what you’re already doing?

I agree it’s a powerful component. For many mild cases it is enough, and we should all be exercising. But “antidote” is overstating it for those with severe depression

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skittlesmcgee33 t1_j3j602z wrote

You're correct that it's not a magic bullet for everyone, but it's not some sliding scale where exercise is correlated to only works for people on like a "5 or below" on the depression scale.

"It doesn't work for everyone" does not automatically mean "it only works for mild cases". Those who see massive benefits from exercise (and those who don't) come from both severe and mild cases.

I'm not trying to nitpick here. It's just that depression makes people think their depression is somehow unique or significantly worse than everyone else's - and people commonly bush off the exercise thing entirely because "that's for mild cases of the weekend blues, not for real depressed people like me lying in bed pissing in Gatorade bottles".

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BeenBadFeelingGood t1_j3kxhh2 wrote

If you can recognize that it’s overstating, move on and don’t let it bother you. Don’t fuss. Depression is a symptom of little thoughts you make and accept as your own. They really aren’t

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Mikimao t1_j3hf5jv wrote

I can't even echo this enough times. There are elite athletes who have depression. It really isn't as simply as this one simple fix. Personally I agree, calling it an antidote is irresponsible, it's part of enabling someone to ignore the real problem.

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JeremyTheRhino t1_j3imdpt wrote

Good thing we have schools getting rid of PE to do standardized test prep with no evidence that that works

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[deleted] t1_j3i86od wrote

Due to unfettered competition, raging fat-phobia towards anyone who doesn’t look like Hollywood at the given moment in time, and lack of access to programming (transportation, fees, equipment needs etc.) a ton of perfectly active kids just sort of stop sometime in the beginning of puberty. People of all ages with access to affirming, fun and healthy athletic spaces tend to be healthier and more fit. Data on the health of people who live in walkable cities vs not is evidence of the need for health driven infrastructure in the US imo, and public game and sports is no different, again in my opinion.

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YoDJPumpThisParty t1_j3ipm5k wrote

I so wish yoga had been around when I was in high school. I was an artsy fartsy kid who was never going to enjoy team sports. But I love yoga. I’m happy kids these days have so many options.

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BeenBadFeelingGood t1_j3kxo60 wrote

Yoga got me out of my head and depression and into my body and mental and physical health; when I learned that yoga means “unity” it helped me understand that I was whole, again

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Funkshow t1_j3hkyey wrote

Hard to have a healthy mind without a healthy body.

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KerissaKenro t1_j3iwb1n wrote

Is it possible that this is also correlation? Kids with depression might be less likely to play sports, and that would influence the results

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dutchrudder04 t1_j3j5qbp wrote

Keep going and I guarantee you’ll find the same for adults.

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T-MinusGiraffe t1_j3j97u2 wrote

Maybe it's the exercise. Or maybe it's letting them outside to do something they actually want to do for once. Maybe it's both.

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ModernLOCKE t1_j3kt05r wrote

Yes, diet and exercise are the premiere anti-depressants. Struggled with clinically diagnosed depression my whole life and when I’m working out and eating right my sleep is better, work is more focused, and all around attitude and emotions improve.

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Alarmed-Accident-716 t1_j3hzqcu wrote

Depression was not nearly as big of an issue pre smart phone/ social media.

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Jeffreybugist t1_j3i2qs3 wrote

Correlation ≠ causation.

I suspect now we just have better diagnostics and awareness.

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TroutComplex t1_j3gpcd2 wrote

I would use caution, folks. It’s a meta-analysis talked about on newsmax.

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Standard_Wafer_9681 t1_j3gq0r8 wrote

It's a strong study published in a strong journal.

Do you have anything of substance to critique?

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Jeffreybugist t1_j3i2uto wrote

What does it mean "strong study"?

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A-Wolf-Like-Me t1_j3jhxyl wrote

To be a bit more specific, it's a meta-anslysis which is considered to be the top of the quality of scientific evidence pyramid. It has incorporated appropraite databases where the manuscripts were extracted from, and has followed specific guidelines for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis.

There are of course limitations to this study, but every study has its limitations. It's also important to know the question that the mauscript is trying to answer, as the article will try not to diverge from this question.

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