Depression is no joke; it’s not something you can simply ‘get over’ or ‘snap out of’ and it can happen to the best of us.

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It can happen to those who seem to have the world at their feet, to those who are successful, outgoing and the ones who, because you’ve seen their Instagram, you always think are ‘having the time of their life’.

For some, they have found a way to fight their depression, whether this is through their own self-help, support from their friends or resorting to medical care. But for others, they are still coming to terms with whether there is anything wrong at all, let alone solving what they don’t even know is an issue yet. For those who suffer, it’s hard enough admitting there is a problem, let alone finding a way to fix it.

Fitness is very commonly used to avoid, compress or alleviate some symptoms associated with depression. A common mistake most people seem to make is thinking that working out is only good for helping you to lose weight or treat yourself to some nice new muscles. You may be happy with your shape or you might just not like exercising, but one of the most underrated reasons for exercise is the part that makes you ‘feel good’; the part that helps you feel ‘mentally healthy’. If you’re still wondering how fitness can help you in your darkest of days, here are 10 ways in which fitness fights depression.

1. Wake Up Happy

We all love our beds, right? Getting out of your cosy pyjamas, pulling your face from your favourite pillow and dragging your body out of the warmth and into the cold can be hard at the best of times. For those that suffer from depression, the already difficult task of getting up becomes 10 times harder. Regular exercise can make you feel more energised, more awake, more alert and, in turn, getting out of bed will become that little less challenging.

2. Sleep Well

When your brain is working overtime with worries, stress and negative thoughts, getting a good night’s rest is almost impossible. We all know what happens when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed for just one day of the week, so you can only imagine what a constant stream of bad nights will do to you and your body. Mental stress will wear you out for the wrong reasons, so give your body a healthy reason to be tired by keeping it moving, and sleeping like a log will eventually become second nature.

3. Fight Depression

A common symptom of depression is anxiety; worrying about everything and anything means your mind is working overtime and it’s exhausting. Your poor brain is going at it 24/7, but you’re also dealing with the daily tasks of, well, life. So, give your mind a release. It needs to ‘let go’ every now and then, and exercise is a smashing way of letting off steam.

4. Feel Awake

Depression is a mental demon that can literally suck the life out of you, making you feel tired, sluggish and generally lacking energy, no matter how much sleep you do or don’t get. Putting your body through its paces is not just about the way you feel during exercise but also about the buzz you feel after it.

Working out releases endorphins, and for those that don’t know, those hormones trigger a positive feeling in the body similar to receiving a dose of morphine, minus the addiction – acting as a natural remedy for fighting pain and stress. That energetic buzz you feel after a good old sweat session may be just what you need to get you through the day.

5. Glowing Skin

Stress is an absolute nightmare for your skin and for many this only adds to their worries. Exercise isn’t all about training to be an Olympic athlete or preparing for a trek across the seven continents; it has amazing health benefits, too. Sweating like a pig flushes out a lot of the toxins, dirt and grime from your pores, so add this to some clean eating with the right super-foods and this can result in healthy, spotless and grit-free skin.

6. Confidence

A lack of confidence and self-worth are sadly very common side effects of depression and something you simply cannot ‘shake off’. Setting some goals, whether it’s in the gym, a five-mile walk or playing tennis with a friend will give you something to aim for and even look forward to … but achieving those goals means a high five for you and something you can definitely be proud of. Making this a regular thing is a great way to build your confidence back up and can help you feel a little more ‘you’ again.

7. Look Good

Being super-toned is great for some, but it’s not the be-all-and-end-all and it isn’t for everyone. It does, however, help when you don’t feel comfortable wearing your favourite dress anymore, and a good old-fashioned workout may just help you get back into it. So, no, it may not be your dream to be a bikini model, but it sure does feel good to look in the mirror and be happy, than to avoid it.

8. Focused

Depression can often leave us with no motivation, no drive and no concentration, and life without those traits, well, let’s just say it sucks. It sucks at work when you struggle to get anything done, it sucks to have no desire or will to do anything and it sucks when this is the opposite of ‘you’.

Physical exercise is one of the best things you can do for that brain of yours, as what you’re really missing is dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter commonly known as the ‘motivator molecule’ and those who suffer from depression tend to lack it. Dopamine also allows us to have feelings of enjoyment, bliss and euphoria, so without this, you’re bound to feel unmotivated. Working out increases your dopamine level, so a regular dose of exercise equals a regular dose of happiness.

9. Be Social

Dealing with depression certainly won’t make you feel like the life and soul of the party, and for those who suffer severely, they will struggle to socialise at all. The point is, we should all have a little ‘me’ time, but too much of it can have a negative impact, so get yourself out there, whether in your garden, your local park or braving the gym. Getting out and being active will help you realise you’re not alone and that being around others isn’t so bad.

10. Productive

One of the most common benefits we hear our clients talk about after they’ve experienced their 12-week fitness journey is that they’ve not only learnt how to perform in the gym but also their whole lifestyle outside of the gym has completely changed. If you’re usually super career driven and successful, the last thing you want is to feel like you’re doing a poor job in the office.

Allowing yourself to set goals and focus on your health and fitness also gives you motivation to focus and work harder in other aspects of your life, giving you that spark of yours back that you feel you’ve been missing.

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