But fear is not all bad.  It is a normal emotion. Fear keeps us alert.  Fear warns us of potential danger. The Dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant feeling of apprehension or distress caused by the presence or anticipation of danger. Fear is future driven.  It really has nothing to do with the past.  Depression, guilt, and sadness are past driven emotions.  Fear and anxiety are always about the future.

E. Stanley Jones, a missionary to India in the 1930’s calls worry, anxiety and fear, “the greatest single trinity of evils man can take into his life.” Think about it, what would that mean in your life if you could choose not to fear, not to worry, not to be consumed with anxiety? It could be life changing.

As the weather improves going outside to walk or ride a bike or work in the yard becomes easier.  There are several reasons why exercise helps with depression.  The Mayo Clinic’s website offers three main mental health benefits.  First of all, exercise helps to release the brain’s “feel good” chemicals called neurotransmitters and endorphins.  These natural chemicals are helpful in easing depression.  Secondly, exercise can reduce immune system chemicals that seem to make depression worse.  And finally, exercise increases body temperature that has been shown to have a calming effect.

There are some direct benefits to the mind as well.  It has been reported that exercise helps you to gain confidence as you set goals and achieve them.    While you are exercising you may actually be thinking of something other than your worries and this can be very helpful.  When we are depressed we seem to focus only on what is upsetting us.  Often exercise can involve social interaction.  If you join a class or walk on the treadmill next to someone you are with others.  Just being with people can be therapeutic.  Depression fools your mind into thinking you need to be alone.  Depressed people tend to isolate themselves and that only makes the depression worse.  I think it is helpful to remember that exercise is a healthy coping strategy.  Many coping strategies carry with them other problems making the depression worse. Some examples might be overeating, alcohol, Internet or TV.

Another way that physical exercise can help is in the discipline that regular exercise demands.  When a person is depressed or weighed down with anxiety it is hard to get out of bed in the morning so simple tasks can feel overwhelming.  But getting out and taking a walk even when you don’t want to requires discipline and this can be very empowering.  It can be the catalyst to change.  It can move you from feeling out of control to regaining control.

Remember if your depression worsens you may need professional help.  Talk to your doctor or make an appointment with a New Source counselor.  You don’t have to be depressed anymore.