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Exercise can be ‘frontline treatment’ for mild depression, researchers say
(www.theguardian.com)
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this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2026
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Probably why it says mild in the title. Running regularly has certainly helped me and my mood.
Exercise helps me with my mild depression.
There’s no need to read this so cynically.
Dealing with executive dysfunction? Try doing stuff!
It’s probably been at least 10 years since I’ve seen this, but there used to be a lot of idiots on forums, including Reddit, who would respond to posts about people being extremely depressed (like debating suicide) and they’d just say stupid shit like “have you tried exercise?”
Exercise certainly helps many people with depression but it is not a magic wand
I mean here it's basically the other way around.
The article is talking about mild depression and people act as if exercise is proposed as a cure for severe depression which renders you unable to do anything.
It's a valid question, though. Lifestyle changes, while definitely difficult, often have a huge impact on mental health.
It's really no different than asking if they tried medication.
Fuck me, you’re one of them.
No, it’s not at all like medication. This article literally reinforces that. It works for mild cases. Dysthymia maybe, not really clinical depression.
MILD doesn't mean all. It may not work for you. It does work very well for some others.
Similar studies get reposted year after year because the results are valid. I didn’t start running regularly until the day I almost killed myself. I decided running would be good to help get that feeling out of my chest. It’s been fairly effective for years. I still get depressed, but it’s more mild.
Yeah, bit of a discipline paradox.
I find what works for me is calling myself a pussy and/or a piece of shit and bully myself into it.
I always think I'm a piece of shit so that doesn't help. Hating myself into action doesn't work.
I don’t wanna admit it, but I kinda do this too.
It's almost like you didn't bother to read it