Antidepressants and Exercise

Antidepressants and exercise

So there is a big dose of honesty in this post today, hopefully you will get something from my honesty and vulnerability that will help you in your life because really that's what motivates me to post every week.

We all know the health and mental benefits of exercise and there is huge amounts of research out there showing that exercise can be just as beneficial as antidepressants at helping with the treatment of depression. This is amazing and I really wish that our culture in Scotland supported this line of 'holistic' treatment more (I'm sure we'll get there). With all that being said, sometimes people need the support of an antidepressant. This has been my experience recently (not due to depression but actually due to a pre-menstrual disorder) and this can affect all aspects of our lives but I want to focus on my particular experience with exercise rather than the science. According to all the research I've read there's no evidence that antidepressants affect our athletic performance but for me it meant a large period of adjustment to the side effects. Mostly it meant adjusting to not feeling that real drive and buzz to push myself to my limits (this kind of 'apathy' is a common side effect). Here's a few of my thoughts if you take antidepressants and exercise regularly or work out with someone that does.

1- It's ok the be kind to yourself. Even if you don't feel like pushing yourself to your limits you can still have a great work out. It doesn't make you any less fit or your workout any less valuable

2- You won't always feel like working out and that's ok. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just to move even though we don't feel like it. Also remember there may have been a time in your life where any exercise felt like too much (maybe even going out for a walk seemed impossible) so give yourself the praise you deserve for getting to where you are right now.

3- Don't worry about keeping up with everyone else. Your fitness 'journey' is yours. It isn't for anyone else and nobody else knows your body or your experience like you do. Do what you can, push yourself on the days when it feels possible to do so, and remember the reasons that you choose to exercise (usually these are more to do with health and well-being that hitting times or targets).

4- Side effects do wear off or reduce but in the meantime give yourself time to adjust. If you are exhausted and need to sleep, sleep it off (I had several naps whilst waiting for clients in the first month of taking mine!). If you feel like you need an extra rest day, take it. These small things don't dictate our overall habits unless we let them long term. Be kind to yourself and recognise that this is probably not going to last forever.

5- Remember why you're doing this. Nobody goes on medication because they like it or because it seems fun. As my doctor said to me 'If you had asthma and you needed medication for that you would take it, wouldn't you?' I'm not saying medication is the be-all- and-end-all but sometimes it's a form of self care, or helps us until we can deal with things in a more encompassing way.

6- Your body might not feel the same when your exercising as it did before (mines often feels much more sluggish) but I get through my workouts just the same and I still hit personal bests even if I don't feel like I'm powering through my workouts the same way.

Most importantly, I'm not a doctor or a medical professional, I teach people how to get fit. So if you're worried about medication, side effects, or anything similar please speak to a doctor. Take care of yourselves.