Exercise, Diet and Depression

[Stuffragette]

I suffer from severe depression and while my meds just about help me hold it all together, my New Years resolution is to give myself a better chance to have a happier year. Does anyone have any tips on a diet they follow or exercise you take? At the moment my diet consists of caramel wafers and lots of cups of tea, and my exercise routine is getting out of bed. I can't spend another year in this black hole so any tips gratefully received.

[Haggisfish]

I started doing a half hour intense class through metafit and it has really helped with my anxiety/fretting. I do it three times a week. When I was really miserable, just getting out of the house for half an hour in light helped. Small steps.

[UncrushedParsley]

I know I feel better when I excercise. Even a half-hour walk makes a diference. I also feel better when I eat better. I try, but not always manage, all my fruit and veg portions per day (fruit seems to be easier). Also increased things in my diet that improve mental health, like salmon, eggs, pineapple, brazil nuts (brazil nuts are better when they are covered in chocolate, I find...)

[MrsPepperMintonCandyCane]

I need to sort myself out in the new year so place marking for good advice.

[NiceAcorns]

I didn't know there were particular good that are good for mental health.

Am hoping Maltesers feature on the list

[Haggisfish]

Smoothies can be good for cramming in fruit and veg.

[Queenofknickers]

I hate exercise and didn't do any despite psychiatrist saying I should walk every day. Then we got a dog and I have it admit that going for a walk really helps the depression (along with the drugs or I wouldn't be out of bed!) it's true that DOING better leads to FEELING better

[MrsPepperMintonCandyCane]

I used to have a smoothie made with soya milk, bananas and almonds that was high in B vitamins. A deficiency in those can make depression worse apparently.

[windchimes23]

Omega 369, 5-HTP, vitamin C and Vitamin D. 4 small healthy meals a day and Couch to 5k. I will spend January running outdoors.

I am 12 days cold turkey from my bipolar meds. It is not plain sailing but I have a plan and I am sticking to it.

Exercise is the best thing for me. If I am still messed up at the end of January I will go back on the meds (but they just make me eat carbs and lie in bed).

Good luck to everyone.

[Stuffragette]

I think I'm going to try the couch to 5k thing but I loathe exercise so much. We are also thinking about getting a dog. I want a reason to get out. I'm going to see if I can find any specific diet depression books. I'll keep you posted.

[Mitchy1nge]

I feel at my best (which is probably not that amazing) when I run consistently 5 days a week, eat frequent meals and snacks throughout the day, and have a good sleep/wake routine of bed by 10-11pm ish and up at about 7am

it doesn't have to be running, as long as I get at least an hour (and preferably outside) of exercise every day it can be a nicely paced walk, you don't have to have a dog to go for a walk in fact it can be easier to go alone! also have horses so am forced into a routine there which is really good for me. Do you have a bike?

also find yoga really helpful although don't count it as exercise in the usual sense of the word

[JaneAHersey]

Food with good nutritional value really does make you feel healthier. I know from experience that it's difficult to break the habit of comfort eating but once you start breaking the cycle you will start feeling healthier and less depressed. Don't think about any changes as a diet, view it more as a change in eating habits. Start walking, when I suffered from depression I found it difficult to get out of bed now I get low if I don't do a daily walk.

It takes time to change lifestyle habits and you have to be patient. One step at a time, literally will help you change for the better.