What Is Depression?
Depression is a common medical illness that affects more than 246 million people globally. Although this illness can cause an individual to experience several emotions, the most common feelings associated with depression are sadness and a loss of interest in activities.
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Even though millions of individuals worldwide suffer from depressive symptoms, several do not seek help. When depression is not managed, it can lead to a decrease in an individual’s ability to function. In severe cases, depression can also cause a person to commit suicide. Suicide claims the lives of nearly 800,000 people annually, and is the second leading cause of death in persons aged 15-29.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Depressive symptoms include:
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Feeling sad or experiencing an “empty” mood
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Loss of interest in hobbies or activities, including sex
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Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness
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Irritability or restlessness
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Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
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Reduced appetite or overeating
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Thoughts of suicide
Does it Have to be a Certain Type of Exercise?
The certain type of exercise is dependent upon many factors including what the individual prefers, their access to resources, and their social support system (Stanton et al., 2013). Some of the commonly assessed exercise interventions have included cardiovascular exercise and resistance training. Although both of these types of exercise have been shown to be effective, more research needs to be conducted to determine if one is superior to the other.
Can Exercise Actually Help?
There are currently several treatment methods for depression. However, a treatment that is commonly overlooked is exercise. Exercise as intervention method for those experiencing depressive symptoms is a growing area of research study. In general, several of the research articles regarding this subject have indicated that exercise has a positive impact on a range of depression severity levels seen in different age groups and genders (Stanton et al., 2013).
