Going to GIVE WALKING A TRY

Ponder · ‎15-09-2013

My long term depressive state has driven me into deep despair on a daily basis. I take one type of antidepressant and also on a low dose of anti/psychotic for Severe Anxiety which does take the edge of it. None the less, like many others here I struggle with all the dreaded symptoms of depression and barely able to get from A to B without having to force every step along the way.

I got the social phobia thing as well ... LOL ... Laughing can help at times ... Going out the front door is hard enough which I am sure many depressed types can relate to, so this attempting to walk thing is not always my favorite way to relieve the pain and suffering of depression. BUT ALAS something must be done!

Truth is, I know it works. Just as anyone who has ever exercised for an extended period knows what well being usually follows. So too ... it is that when we let ourselves slip ... that each slip makes it twice as hard catch our grip and the further we fall into the abyss.

Guess it's time to see if I can roll out of bed with some kind of routine, with regards to a morning walk to the end of the street and back. Gave it a try this morning but can't give a valid comment until I've been at it a week.

Pretty much reach my attention span for now. Wish me luck because I am going to need it. For someone that used to be a runner ... I can't believe I have gotten to this state. Alas ... I have no intention to run again ... I just want to get back on my feet ... 🙂

The_Real_David_Charles · ‎15-09-2013

Dear Ponder,

Walking to the end of the street is a big leap if you've been more or less lacking any exercise. How about a back up plan ? On the days when this street exercise doesn't quite gel get out to the back garden and do a few circuits of the washing line. There's an American book about getting fit by..........walking around the washing line. It's not just the physical side that benefits - your mind can wander too.

I guess you'll expand it to the block, the neighbourhood, the shops and maybe the movies.

Adios, David.

vip · ‎15-09-2013

Hi Ponder exercise is sooo important to help treat depression try and get in the routine everyday and then go from 10 mins to 30 to 60, I have joined the gym 2 yrs ago and it does wonders for me I try and go everyday for an hr now i stay there 2hrs definately feel more better. Goodluck.

Dennis38 · ‎16-09-2013

First off Good LUCK! now than walking does help with the depression because some times you can simply start walking and let the body go forward and get what it needs while the mind goes else where. I will fully agree with you that it can be hard to set a routine but once you get into it hopefuly you will find that you enjoy walking and you might just extend that walk beyond the end of your street. I find, for myself, that when I feel myself slipping that if I can go for a walk I can kind of keep myself from slipping to much.

Chloemay · ‎16-09-2013

Good luck with your walking...I am starting on an antidepressant on Wed and going thru a bad patch....my dog forces me to the park every day......wishing y,ou well

jess334 · ‎16-09-2013

Hi Ponder,

Good luck with your plan! Exercise is always a great idea to relieve stress. So difficult for me to get off my butt though.

Let us go how you go!

Ponder · ‎17-09-2013

Thank you very much for your replies everyone. They are greatly appreciated. I think I once heard talk about the clothes line walking on the TV a long time ago David. I can see how that could work. I am actually reading (off and on as I do) a book called “Healing Walks for Hard Times: Quiet Your Mind‎”.

My attention span is pretty short, but so far it’s been a very good read. Over the last couple of days, I am pleased to report that I have and am still working on getting up and walking in the morning by myself, with one in the afternoon with a friend to which I previously stops seeing out of sheer effort to get out of the house.

Still early days yet … Thanks NES, sounds like that’s working out for you. Good Stuff … : ) I’ll work to being able to lift my head and not project anger when I am walking. Hard to explain really, but I can easily fall into rages with my testosterone/frustrations … Very low self esteem, pitiful and insecure no doubt. If I can just keep walking … I know I can change some of that and act positively on the remorse that seems to come about when I feel as though I am getting some sort of control back.

ANYWAYS … I hear ya Dennis … I really just want to move like you say … keep from slipping. For Sure! I’m off the rails and very negative in most social sites I visit these days … For now, walking is all about rewiring my brain.

Cheers Chloemay and Jess : ) … I love the parks and might actually head out that way more often in the mornings, but not too sure about the people is all. Dogs are awesome though! I don’t have the energy to be stressed Jess … LOL … that comes when the walking begins to kick in. : ) … Life surely can be a roller coaster when thinking about it like that. I actually needing to stress the body in order to get moving, but sometimes depending on how I am dealing with what resides within … can often wind up with my blood going from low to boiling. But alas … these new meds I am on … seem to be working.

Things is … I’m only the one that can take the steps. If I don’t get moving then the meds are null and void. It is hard … but I’m just aiming for routine thus far.

Good news I s I’m still going …

Thanks for your support … I’ll check in at the end of the week to let you know how it’s going.

Dave.

Ponder · ‎21-09-2013

I'm please to report that the walking is working out pretty good. I'm still struggling to find a solid routine, however overcoming that by getting out regular as opposed to a strict time. The same also goes for when I am walking, as in I walk to how my body feels. (Not how my mind thinks it feels)

As a result I am steadily awakening to a sense of well being that has been missing for quite some time. I can now see the extent to which I had restricted myself to sitting or laying in the one spot inside and how that has debilitated both my mind and body.

I'm enjoying the Sun ... that is for sure! Mornings and after noon with midday under the cover of thick scrub (although I have to watch out for ticks). I'm back out with my camera on the bush trails and opening back up to nature basically. I do hang my a head, but it's slowly getting stronger as I make attempts to say hello to passers by. My anxiey is still easily detected in my voice but none the less, I have to admit that the socializing under such an activity is minimal, yet enough of a challenge as the walking and no doubt as beneficial for me.

That's about it for now ... perhaps I can link a photo or two once I have time.

Take care guys and thanks for your support.
Dave.

The_Real_David_Charles · ‎21-09-2013

Dear Dave,

That's a great start. I've been walking/taking my dog out/etc for many years and if I miss a day it really affects me. You can't beat the strength of mind and the community "hello's". One day a week we walk a ways to get a cooked sausage which is cut up to share between me and my dog. Sounds really simple but the cafe are good friends and that shop area know my dog really well. At $2.50 you can't get much cheaper exercise. My dog locks onto that particular route well !

Adios, David.

geoff · ‎22-09-2013

dear Ponder, I'm late to jump on board here, however as I get up early I take Moo-Moo down to the park art 3.00 am where I always meet a male friend down there, well he always walks at that time, plus he is my car mechanic, and we wait for our newspaper to be dropped off to us, he has also just lost his younger brother from a car accident, so he enjoys the company, and we always have a laugh.

I have been doing this for about 10 years, but I confess I always walk with a walking stick that time of the morning, because of the pot holes in the grass as I am notoriously falling over, so I am called 'autumn leaf'. Geoff.