this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2024
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All the people saying exercise... I swear that has to vary across people. I went to the gym thrice a week for two years and hated every gd second of it.
It really does seem to very considerably. I know a guy that's addicted to running and will just do it all weekend, because he starts and doesn't want to stop. I've never gotten a buzz from physical activity of any kind.
I've heard of the "runners' high", but even as someone who used to be very athletic, all I ever got was the "runners' 'please fucking kill me right now so I never have to do that again'".
I was going to the gym before getting laid off. Gym helped me with my mental health.
I am sorry it didn't work out for you.
Then you really are the target audience for all these "go active" advice, which is actually great! The thing is, exercises are great for most relatively healthy people (the ones who do not require professional mental help), as they strengthen your body in the same way as savings strengthen your financials. You just can do a little more of anything with it. So - you are not a lost cause, congrats! ) That said, you do not need a gym to stay fit. Not sure where you live, but there are normally public spaces with fitness equipment available in many urban areas. Or you can google some fitness sets that only need a flat surface for you to do. Something like this would be a good start. And remember, that too shall pass.
Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Sometimes it's fixed through diet/exercise. Sometimes it's fixed through therapy. Sometimes it's fixed through medication. OP is seeking a solution that doesn't involve prescription meds, so everybody is suggesting other possible solutions. While exercise may not have worked for you or me, there are plenty of people who have successful results with it.
In short, yes, it definitely varies across people.
It probably does vary to a degree, but it also needs to be the right kind of exercise for you. I always hated the gym and thought I just hated exercise, but then I discovered folk dancing. I went from never having enjoyed any sort of athletics to dancing 14 hours a week because I fell in love with it.
I didn’t notice immediate effects, but a month or two after I started, I realized that I was cooking more and staying on top of cleaning and errands much more consistently. Then the pandemic hit and I stopped dancing. I started gradually having less motivation to clean or cook. I haven’t started back up sadly, but I got an active job about a year and a half ago, and it was just like before: not until I was getting regular exercise was I really able to stay on top of things and feel like an adult.
Gym going made me uncontrollably hyper. Beat Saber has worked wonders.
Beat Saber 100%. Playing a game ans exercising at the same time, genius.
Have you ever tried pistol whip? That game feels so good to play for similar reasons
I just hate how difficult it is lol
Synth Riders is fun but I still have no clue how to play it
Exercise can be whatever you want it to be.
Ditto. Exercising never feels good. I don’t like being sweaty and I don’t like moving around unless I’m going somewhere for a purpose. The only way I’m able to “enjoy” it is if I smoke weed before or numb out on a tv show/movie so that I can pretend I’m not exercising. And then after working out I’m exhausted and need a nap. The entire process sucks. I’ve never been into sports either. Or riding the bike or swimming. Yoga is tolerable, but it’s better when I’m high.
Why not walk outside instead of going to a sweaty gym and being bored and miserable?
Going to the gym isn't exactly like this. It helped me a lot with my mental health but I am in a position now where I can't resume it, so that's why I am considering the medicines temporarily.
Please reread this chain, I'm replying to someone who literally said they hated every second of it, if you hate the gym you don't have to go and there are plenty of other things to do.