Posted by Barbariana on November 2, 2000, at 21:40:44
Hello,
I have a question involving running. More of a pet peeve,
really. It seems every time one truns around, there
is a new study claiming to prove that running helps
depression.At first I was able to dismiss them with, "Oh the
study was done w/ mildly depressed folks -- doesn't
apply to me." The latest one I saw, however, was done on
severely depressed people. Now this hits closer to
home for a long time long distance runner who's,
w/ one
exception, long time sometimes severe depression
is unaffected by running for better (40 mi/wk
these days, did 70 for years, 80 briefly)
or worse (had several stretches w/ no running for 6-12
mo). This has been a 20+ yr phenomenon -- running
makes absolutely no difference to my depression that
I can see. The one exception was the 1st year I ran.
As my fitness improved, I had a sense of mastery &
control and was really happy about starting up this
sport with a team.
THIS is what I suspect is going on in those
studies because one hears lots of competitive runners
talk about the golden days of starting up and seeing
almost constant improvement. One can even see it in
running clubs when new people go through a steady period
of improvement. Those studies, aside from not being
double blind, aren't following people for more than
a year.Aside from being a pet peeve, I do think it is
important if suffering people are being given the
idea that running itself helps when it perhaps is
something about the process that is having an effect.
As much as I value running, it's not the most enticing
prospect when one is depressed. So better not to
make miserable people feel worse,
as if they arent doing everything to help themselves if
they aren't up for it. If it's the mastery or commraderie
having an effect than that would be important to know.
People could come up with their own version of an
activity that includes those features.So I'd love to hear whatever anyone has to say
on this topic, and why. I can take it if this turns
out to be an annoying example of life being unfair,
so let me hear your experiences, views,reactions please.
Sincerely,
B
Sincerely,
B
poster:Barbariana
thread:2035
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001031/msgs/2035.html