Exercise Decreases Depression --> Why?

[President Wilson]

Well,

I recently attended the American College of Sports Medicine conference and viewed an excellent symposium on exercise and mental health. Further, Gabriel and I have just completed a manuscrip that we will submit on mechanisms associated with exercise which lower depression.

In short, the evidence is very clear that exercise decreases depression. For example. Dr. McCullagh, who Gabriel is working on a number of studies for publication as we speak conducted a meta analysis in which those who exercised had moderately lower depression than those who did not. In clinical populations, Landers found that exercise had a large effect on lowering depression, and that these effects increased to very large the greater the duration of exercise was. I.E. greater than 9 weeks of exercise compared to 8 weeks or less.

Perhaps most exciting is that exercise lowers depression as much as drugs( the evidence is very strong here), and in cases more than drugs! Further, the side effects of exercise are health, a better body etc. Where as the negative effects of drugs are too many to list.

Here is the research question fellow academics and scientists. Why is this occuring? Why do you feel exercise lowers depression?

Note that depression in its greatest form can described as an affective (eg. mood) disorder characterized by psychological (mental), behavioral (our everyday behaviors or action), and physiological symptoms (actual structural or physiological changes in the body, such as changes in hormone levels) (Cryan et al., 2002). A number of the more prevalent symptoms include depressed mood, irritability, low self esteem, fatigue, and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide (Bear, Connors, and Paradiso, 2006).

thanks for your valuable input!

[Venom]

This is a great research topic.

It is insane how much money people are spending on depression pills every year. Yet, scientists have been saying for a while now, that exercise is probably the best anti-depressant solution in existence. And guess what--it costs nothing! Just grab a pair of shoes and go run. /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Or at most, buy a gym membership.

When analyzing this guys, I would think critically. Mechanisms could include: structural changes, chemical changes, perhaps psychological changes, such as distractions, and social interaction, etc.

There are a lot of theories on this. The President has come up with an awesome one, that we hope to publish on soon. I am sure he will share that with you guys later soon in this thread.

[rickck48]

That is an exceptional report. My compliments to you all. I felt lik eexercise helps everything. Now that this being brought out about depression maybe people wil take a closer look instead of thnking the vain ideas and see health more closey. Well done! My honorabe hat is off to you! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[book]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a great research topic.

It is insane how much money people are spending on depression pills every year. Yet, scientists have been saying for a while now, that exercise is probably the best anti-depressant solution in existence. And guess what--it costs nothing! Just grab a pair of shoes and go run. /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Or at most, buy a gym membership.

When analyzing this guys, I would think critically. Mechanisms could include: structural changes, chemical changes, perhaps psychological changes, such as distractions, and social interaction, etc.

There are a lot of theories on this. The President has come up with an awesome one, that we hope to publish on soon. I am sure he will share that with you guys later soon in this thread.

[/ QUOTE ]


Structural change : Increased muscle mass/decreased bodyfat. Increased fitness and general well being

chemical change: well I imagine the increased cortisol and endoprhins from exercise would have a relaxing effect. Also increase in growth hormones and other anabolic hormones may contribute to a sense of well being

Physiological effects: Well I think a lot of times people get depressed because they see their lives stagnating or even heading back wards (monotonous lifestyle, loss of job/family member, injury etc..et..) and exercise gives them an outlet that they can achieve on. When they notice the changes in their body it's like a beacon for them, that there is something they are doing that is improving there life and is exciting.

Well at least those are my thoughts. I remember when I was really injured how depressed I got when I wasn't training and numerous times I've seen board members exclaiming how they hate not being able to train.

[ryancostill]

This is a little out there but... In another thread in this forum I have posted a journal article which outlines the relationship between physical fitness and mortality. Perhaps there is an innate, inherent drive within the human individual toward as long a life asa possible and this is driven by a mechanism which associates (or even rewards) activites which can prolong the life cycle (such as exercise, good nutrition, sunshine etc) with feeling good (general well being, good mood etc.). Similarly, activities of detriment to the life cycle (inactivity, poor nutrition, insufficient sleep, lack of sunshine) are discouraged by stimulating feelings of depression.

Also, if you are interested in the area of depression, suicide etc it is interesting to investigate the association between weather and suicide rates. The very high levels of suicide in Ireland (compared with mainland europe) are often associated with the dull, rainy climate here. I think studies have been done on this topic but do not know of any off hand.

[Bahir]

I would think that, at least for guys, working out raises testosterone levels, and I would think that depressed guys often have low self esteem. So by working out and raising T-levels, you get both a psychological boost by looking better body-wise, and a chemical boost by the testosterone.

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
chemical change: well I imagine the increased cortisol and endoprhins from exercise would have a relaxing effect. Also increase in growth hormones and other anabolic hormones may contribute to a sense of well being

[/ QUOTE ]

Great two hormones to discuss. Interestingly enough on cortisol, it appears to be inversely related to positive mood acutely (which is not necessarily that bad because there are other hormones that you mention that help counter this), and chronically it actually appears to be a main culperate for actually causing atrophy in certain regions of the brain. Essentially it appears that certain regions of the brain, particularly the hippocampus are associated with the capacity to constantly form new cells daily! When this process is interferred with, the hippocampus atrophies and depression is strongly linked with this.

I'm also glad you discussed endorphins. There is a lot of debate as to their function in exercise and depression, whcih I'll discuss
in my summary and thoughts latter. But in short, I think they are a critical component to the antidepressant effects of exercise.

[ QUOTE ]
Perhaps there is an innate, inherent drive within the human individual toward as long a life asa possible and this is driven by a mechanism which associates (or even rewards) activites which can prolong the life cycle (such as exercise, good nutrition, sunshine etc) with feeling good (general well being, good mood etc.). Similarly, activities of detriment to the life cycle (inactivity, poor nutrition, insufficient sleep, lack of sunshine) are discouraged by stimulating feelings of depression.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very insightful! That sounds like it would make a great paper!

[ryancostill]

[ QUOTE ]


Very insightful! That sounds like it would make a great paper!

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of us have more than enough work on papers to be doing at the moment thank you very much!!! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
Some of us have more than enough work on papers to be doing at the moment thank you very much!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha ha! Too true! The formatting of our paper is comming nicely as well Ryan!

[sucramdw]

This is a topic I am super interested in, I wish I had the time right now to research it!!! /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a topic I am super interested in, I wish I had the time right now to research it!!! /forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm going to go ahead and submit a version for the magazine as well. Its quite interesting!

[TheShanMan]

[ QUOTE ]
Physiological effects: Well I think a lot of times people get depressed because they see their lives stagnating or even heading back wards (monotonous lifestyle, loss of job/family member, injury etc..et..) and exercise gives them an outlet that they can achieve on. When they notice the changes in their body it's like a beacon for them, that there is something they are doing that is improving there life and is exciting.

Well at least those are my thoughts. I remember when I was really injured how depressed I got when I wasn't training and numerous times I've seen board members exclaiming how they hate not being able to train.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think this is very true... Several years ago after being laid off, I was very thankful to have a daily workout routine going because it gave me something that I could accomplish every day, as opposed to just sitting at home in my underwear /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif all day looking for jobs on the net.

[Gain_is_Pain]

I think alot of depression has to do with self perception. If you are exercising regularly then your self percepion will be far better. Looking better, feeling healthier, sense of worth etc..

If I was miles out of shape I reckon I'd be depressed too!

[TheShanMan]

Absolutely!

[Fahsy]

Very interesting topic. From personal experience I can notice a big difference in my personality between training days and off days (usually 1 day per week). I feel a tremendous endorphine rush after working out which usually last for the rest of the night it seems. I also have a great feeling of accomplishment after a workout, especially after a heavy back or leg workout. Overall, bodybuiling (and working out in general) helps me deal with life better. I would like to add more, but it is time to workout.

[President Wilson]

Man,

thanks a lot for your insight! In short I really like the psychological mechanisms you discussed, and they do have evidence supporting them.

The article I am going to publish with Gabriel in particular addresses actual structural changes that occur in the brain with exercise.

Its interesting, but the theme of the article is this

1. The evidence is clear that exercise lowers depression as well as and in cases to a greater extent then drugs

2. Both drugs and exercise appear to raise similar hormone and neurotrophic factors (factors that increase neuron health, and even new neuron formation).

These include for example

1. Insulin like growth factor
2. Epinephrine / Norephinephrine
3. Serrotonin
4. Endorphins ( which has a lot of contraversy but we argue that there is a great deal of support for this).

3. We propose that the mechanism that these substances operate are to actually cause structural changes in the brain, in particular 'neurogenesis' or the formation of new neurons in the brain.

4. Evidence for this

1. People depressed have atrophied or lower brain volumes
2. Exercise appears to reverse this
3. In animal models of depression, if neurogenesis is hindered then the depression effects of both exercise and or drugs is also hindered.


So the take home message is this: Exercis actually has real, substantial structural, and measurable changes in the brain, including the formation of new neurons, and increases in the complexity of those neurons! In contrast a sedentary lifestyle does the opposite.

Also I will discuss intensity and other factors.

I'll release a more detailed paper on our site in about 2 weeks with the other articles, like leucine and such like. But the paper for the site will be less technical and more clear than the technical version submitted to Medicine and Science in Sports and exercise

[J-Bird]

When i come home from the gym, I peel off my shirt and hear a splash as it hits the floor. I look at the mirror and see my blood pumped body, grin and nod my head, and right then, i know that I kick (!@#$%^&*)!

seriously though, it feels great to like what youve worked so hard on, not vanity, but accomplishments.

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
When i come home from the gym, I peel off my shirt and hear a splash as it hits the floor. I look at the mirror and see my blood pumped body, grin and nod my head, and right then, i know that I kick (!@#$%^&*)!

seriously though, it feels great to like what youve worked so hard on, not vanity, but accomplishments.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is very true. One thing I like about constantly training is that it feels as if you are in control. It also feels like you are in a continual state of improvement. Like everything you do, including eating your meals has purpose and meaning

[NJI]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a great research topic.

It is insane how much money people are spending on depression pills every year. Yet, scientists have been saying for a while now, that exercise is probably the best anti-depressant solution in existence. And guess what--it costs nothing! Just grab a pair of shoes and go run. /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Or at most, buy a gym membership.

[/ QUOTE ]
It would seem that this type of research would be of great interest to the health insurance industry. A one year gym membership would save millions of dollars per year when compared to diseases and other health related issues that costs them in, dare I say, unnecessary drugs, treatments and operations.

Jacob maybe you can get funding for more research utilizing this avenue? /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
Jacob maybe you can get funding for more research utilizing this avenue?

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a worthy cause.

In Florida i may be conducting a study this fall on this subject with Dr. Levenson, a worlds expert on this subject. I'll keep everyone posted. It all depends on some other factors, because I may also be conducting some research on HMB

[klosey]

maybe exercise releases the same mood lifting chemicals in the brain as chocolate?

[Ignoramus]

[ QUOTE ]

Structural change : Increased muscle mass/decreased bodyfat. Increased fitness and general well being

chemical change: well I imagine the increased cortisol and endoprhins from exercise would have a relaxing effect. Also increase in growth hormones and other anabolic hormones may contribute to a sense of well being

Physiological effects: Well I think a lot of times people get depressed because they see their lives stagnating or even heading back wards (monotonous lifestyle, loss of job/family member, injury etc..et..) and exercise gives them an outlet that they can achieve on. When they notice the changes in their body it's like a beacon for them, that there is something they are doing that is improving there life and is exciting.

Well at least those are my thoughts. I remember when I was really injured how depressed I got when I wasn't training and numerous times I've seen board members exclaiming how they hate not being able to train.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would think endorphines are the key. muscle development, overall health, and psychological mood developments can be attributed to reducing depression but endorphines have direct effect. When you workout u are causing your body stress, the brain releases endorphins to allow you to cope with it.

i just went through a relatively intense workout compared wth my previous ones and **** it felt almost as good as when i took a prescribed painkiller after a medical procedure. Something peculiar though was that this euphoric state was achieved/climatic only after my post workout solid meal.

[Dzoni]

what about depression that doesn't come from things such as self esteem and things that you personally cannot control (things like living through 4 years of war)... i think depression is the cause of other diseases, my mom has to take anti-depresents due to the stuff we went through the war, i was 8 years old and seen people killed infront of me, 2-3 ft infront of me, i been put the gun to my head so many times at age 8, but strangly i've managed to put that behind me, where my mom cannot put that behind her and she is so ill, and as soon as she gets a cold, she attracts other problems such as sinus problems, chest problems and even physical problems such as back pains and muscle pains... she has taken up walking 30 mins a day (3-4 times a week) and she said her self that it has helped her a lot, but then things happen (family issues) and she stopped and caused the levels of problems to rise even more due to the constant stress, worrying and always not being healthy!

i personally need to find some serious papers about this because if i dont prove to her she needs to relax and reduce the stress (and depression) it can get even worse in the future!

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
When you workout u are causing your body stress, the brain releases endorphins to allow you to cope with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, especially acutely. Acutely, if you block peripheral endorphin receptors you eliminate the analgesic effects seen following exercise

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
what about depression that doesn't come from things such as self esteem and things that you personally cannot control (things like living through 4 years of war)... i think depression is the cause of other diseases, my mom has to take anti-depresents due to the stuff we went through the war, i was 8 years old and seen people killed infront of me, 2-3 ft infront of me, i been put the gun to my head so many times at age 8, but strangly i've managed to put that behind me, where my mom cannot put that behind her and she is so ill, and as soon as she gets a cold, she attracts other problems such as sinus problems, chest problems and even physical problems such as back pains and muscle pains... she has taken up walking 30 mins a day (3-4 times a week) and she said her self that it has helped her a lot, but then things happen (family issues) and she stopped and caused the levels of problems to rise even more due to the constant stress, worrying and always not being healthy!

i personally need to find some serious papers about this because if i dont prove to her she needs to relax and reduce the stress (and depression) it can get even worse in the future!

[/ QUOTE ]

Great question, and this is why the purely psychological reasons do not explain exactly what is occuring.

What appears to be occuring is that there are actualy structural changes in your mothers brain that are occuring, such as atrophy of her hippocampus. The general reasoning behind the paper Gabriel and I have under review in the Journal of Physical activity and health is that exercise stimulates neurogenesis and reverses the deficits that are seen in your Mom.

The evidence for clincial cases and exercise are very strong.
Shoot me an email and Ill send a copy of the paper for you Mom

[Dzoni]

Thanks PW /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Email has been sent!

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks PW /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Email has been sent!

[/ QUOTE ]

Right back at you! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Ignoramus]

[ QUOTE ]

Great question, and this is why the purely psychological reasons do not explain exactly what is occuring.

What appears to be occuring is that there are actualy structural changes in your mothers brain that are occuring, such as atrophy of her hippocampus. The general reasoning behind the paper Gabriel and I have under review in the Journal of Physical activity and health is that exercise stimulates neurogenesis and reverses the deficits that are seen in your Mom.

The evidence for clincial cases and exercise are very strong.
Shoot me an email and Ill send a copy of the paper for you Mom

[/ QUOTE ]

thats fascinating. i just sent n email for the copy too.

[President Wilson]

Great, I'll ship you a copy!

[Ignoramus]

[ QUOTE ]
Great, I'll ship you a copy!

[/ QUOTE ]

oh, no dont go through the trouble. I thought it was in pdf form or something. no need to ship me anything. thanks

[President Wilson]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Great, I'll ship you a copy!

[/ QUOTE ]

oh, no dont go through the trouble. I thought it was in pdf form or something. no need to ship me anything. thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

I just emailed you a copy /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Baugh]

As someone who had been diagnosed with a mild form of depression, I can say with utmost certainty that working out has had a benefit on my mental and emotional well being. While it's nice to see how my body is improving over the long term, I think the sense of accomplishment after a good workout is just as important.

Edit: Think I could get a copy of the article too?

[zidion]

I remember that when I first heard this, I thought it was just someones way of trying to get me to work out. As someone who was put on anti-depressants at a young age, and was on some form of them for a long long time, this is definitely true. Soon after I started working out, my dosage was lowered. As of a few months ago, I officially no longer on them.

Exercise has no only help me physically, but has really helped save me mentally.

[Stian]

If you look better you feel better.. Seeing your muscles grow (or fat go away) is a really good feeling.

I think depression is caused mainly because of a pessimistic view of the future. You may feel your life isn't heading the way you want it to, and also have a feeling that you are unable to change that.

What working out will show you more than anything is that you CAN improve, and can thus trigger a more positive attitude. The feeling that you can achieve great things is the most empowering feeling out there. If something in your life isn't exactly want it to be doesn't matter that much if you feel there's a chance that will change.

Building muscles\loosing fat\gaining strength will help your self confidence, and I believe a person who really believes in him self will have a hard time getting depressed.

[Petetheprop]

I've got to agree with the guys who have seen the anecdotal benefits of this - I've never been treated for Depression but I have some familiarity with the mild end of the spectrum.

I am definitely an easier person to know when I'm working out regularly (as long as you don't mind the smelly clothes) and after the initial shock period I have a lot more energy.

[rickck48]

I agree with Dtian, absolutely, I have my own business as well as a asst. Pastor. It is hard sometimes to find the time for motivation to workout,,BUT everytime I do that great feeling of euphoria does come along. I think depression can be defeated with steady bouts of lifting for pleasure or bodybuilding! My compliments to all your answers excelent! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Anthony Lapham]

I can defenatly prove that exercise helps cure depression as when i started bodybuilding i was 15, Wilson and the guys from bak then may remember my mum explaining that im too young etc... Not that i was ever going to stop heh...
However i started bodybuilding not only because i wanted to get big but because i suffered from depression. I started taking EMA fish oils to help cure depression however i found once i started bodybuilding there was no need to take these anymore... As exercising gives off a 'feel good' attitude and it makes you feel refreshed.

Regards ,
Ant

[klosey]

this might just be me (maybe not) but does anybody else find that when lifting they never get depressed but a week or so after stopping you dont feel depressed but perminantly narked off?

[Rhineheart]

What always upset me (as I do/did suffer from depression, everyone tells me that when I go to the gym and return, my attitude is COMPLETELY different (much more positive and upbeat). The same people tell me that its not a great thing that I semi-rely on exercising as a self-medication -- yet they're the ones taking anti-depressants, overweight, etc.

Thoughts?

[MartinofSweden]

How do you guys think passive activation of muscle (with electric stimulation) would affect depression? Do you think people who suffer depressions so severe that even getting out of bed is simply not possible could benefit from this type of treatment? Maybe passive stimulation could help rule out the pure socio-psychological effects vs the neurophysiological ones to some extent, taken this kind of treatment leaves a measerable result at all.

[shellybelle]

although i mostly agree with this article. the only problem i have with it is that sometimes exercise makes you pretty tired(esp heavy lifting), and to me, that doesn't help with my depression. and with winter comming, nothing helps but medicine. i did exercise to be able to go off my medicine, and was off of it for about a year, but the fall/winter is approaching...and so were my symptoms...

[Venom]

Seyle had a solid concept of stress acting as a eustressor (good stress) or distressor (bad stress).

Certainly exercise can act as the later. In order to avoid this, you must work on designing a proper, periodized training program. Also, your nutrition must be equally solid.

[Chiron]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
When i come home from the gym, I peel off my shirt and hear a splash as it hits the floor. I look at the mirror and see my blood pumped body, grin and nod my head, and right then, i know that I kick (!@#$%^&*)!

seriously though, it feels great to like what youve worked so hard on, not vanity, but accomplishments.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is very true. One thing I like about constantly training is that it feels as if you are in control. It also feels like you are in a continual state of improvement. Like everything you do, including eating your meals has purpose and meaning

[/ QUOTE ]

Great stuff guys.

You right about the control Prez, it is the best feeling ever. Besides lowering depression I also find it a great stress reliever.

Typical example would be that I would have a bad day at work, boss busting my chops, loads of work and at the end of the day I just feel out of it. I then hit the gym in the evening and after a good solid workout my day's stress just seems to fade away. I personally feel it is a great stress controller as well.

With constant training an individual does become less depressed which as many of you guys mentioned is better than being on medication, however, when it comes to stress, I dont think an individual would want to train every single day to relieve himself/herself from stress, it would be too much for the body. Then again, this depends on the individual and how he/she handles it.

My apologies if I brought up something that has already been mentioned. It has been a while since I have been here, still catching up on all the posts. /forum/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

[fleabittenmutt]

I personally have found exercise, and specificly bodybuilding, to be the greatest antidepressant for myself. T This is my first post and I dont think I could find a better thread to make it in.
I am just starting to get back into bodybuilding after about 4 years or so and I feel better than I ever have. I broke my foot and couldent really work out and subsuquently
fell into a major depression. During the time I was not exercising I felt absolutly awful about my life and my self. I became compleatly apathetic towards everything in life, droped out of school, isolated myself from other people as much as I could, couldent even get my self out of
bed some times, and was constantly thinking of suicide. I started to see a psychiatrist and he put me on just about every antidepressant there is and none of them really had any benefit, but a lot of side effects.
I also started to drink pretty much all day every day to excape my life, and putting alcohol into my system, especially sometimes up to 15 or more beers and whole
bottles of 100 proof vodka, is pretty much like throwing a match into a barrel of gasoline, I would get very violent towards my family and very destructive, usuly not remembering a thing about what happened the night befor. I would wake up and notice things like a huge gash in my
leg that probly should have gotten stiches and blood all over, and things like a broken tv or furniture around.
Last april I got a laceration in my tendon on my finger and was bounced from doctor to doctor - partly because I had no memory of what happend and partly because they didnt
know what to do with me - so instead of just having a doctor sew the two parts of my tendon together I
had to undergo a primary tendon graft, they took a tendon from my wrist to replace the one in my finger, which I am just now starting to fully recover from. Infact it was just last week that my physical theripest said I could start to lift weights again, and after being physicly incapable of doing so for about 8 months it was probly the greatest thing Ive ever herd in my life! Just the thought of being able to work out again made me so happy i was able to stop taking my antidepressant and feel like my life was worth living again, and I was on effexor xr which is just about the hardest to get off of but I was able to stop taking it with minimal
withdrawl effects and have only just begun to start exercising again and I feel better than I think I ever have.
It isnt just the fact that I can lift weights again that has led to such a huge turn around in my life, part of it is that Ive found faith and spirituallity, but being able to do what I absolutly love doing - Bodybuilding - is a very big part of it. It has really made me feel a sence of control over my life and my self.
I apologize if this post is a little long and rambly, still cant really get a good nights sleep because of the effexor withdrawling from my system, but I hope it can at least help someone else out there who reads it, and it deffinatly helped me to wright it all out for other people to read.

[Birthright1]

Would the lack of any long term affect of exercise contribute to depression? For instance you go to the gym 3 days a week for a year and you feel really good after your workouts so this inurn helps your depression. But after a year of going and not really having a clue what you are doing and making no progress whatsoever; already suffering from depression don’t you think that this could possibly be the thing that puts you over the edge?

I guess the cure for this is a detailed workout plan that is proven to give results. However the inability to follow this plan is likely if said person suffers from depression to any great extent.

So while I agree with the fact that exercise will help with the short term affects of depression but without proper guidance and a planned routine that is followed I feel it will only lead to a deeper state of depression due to the failure of said person to obtain a specified goal; especially if that goal is not realistic and physically obtainable for that persons body type. Add to that the person having stopped taking there medication due to the short term relief from depression due to exercise and this could lead to a sever breakdown.

[joneser3eb]

I think it can help dramatically to reduce symptoms of depression. although I do not suffer from it myself, I have friends who do. They seem to be helped a great deal by working out. Alough I do agree it can be a victious circle, in that if you have trouble getting a routine down and are not meeting your goals or fail at what you are trying to accomplish then it can make things worse and make you give up all together.