"Just go for a walk..."

[LittleMissUnreasonable]

Why does this always seem to be one of the big solutions for people who are suffering from poor mental health? Maybe if I lived in Southern Spain having a nice sunny walk would be very pleasant. But the weather being so miserable and grey ends up making me feel worse. The thought of putting on waterproofs to trudge through the grey endless rain, only to end up in a condensation filled cafe that smells of damp coats just doesn't seem very appealing

It's hard to hear because although it might be good advice, when you are in a dark place it can be hard to motivate yourself to leave the house.

Have you considered swimming OP? Obviously involves getting wetter than being rained on 😂 but in a nice warm pool it is both relaxing and can feel like you've had some great exercise at the same time. I've found a women only session at our local pool and it's so lovely - no men or children in the way, you can just float about and do a few uninterrupted laps. Great for mental health and does not involve walking in the grey drizzle!

I agree that going for a walk can help with mild depression, but for clinical depression the thought of even getting out of bed can be too much.
Plus your mind is telling you ‘what’s the point? You are shit and worthless, nobody cares if you live or die, in fact everyone will be better off without you around’ and all those statements are absolutely true to you.
I don’t think you can understand the mindset unless you have experienced it.

I would have agreed with you a couple of years ago. Then I got divorced and ended up trying everything to help my mental health and walking and running was the best for me. Being around nature and hearing the birds makes me feel small and part of something bigger which in turn makes my problems a bit smaller.

when I’m really struggling I go to the beach- the windier and wetter the better. I walk along the front and the wind hurting my face in one direction and pushing me along in the other is amazing.

(This time of year, I am actually looking forward to dark evening walks and nosing in to people's houses and seeing life play out. If you don't like it people, shut your curtains ... 😂)

You don't know the severity of anyone's illness posting. That's dismissive.

I've walked through severe depressive episodes and found it helpful.

It helps if you're sad or mildly depressed.

Some reading

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01720-6

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4481680/

Good post here.
I am a long-distance hiker (treks over 2-3 weeks with tent) and it really does help my mental health to just get away and walk for days with only the things essential for survival on my back.
BUT I struggle with anxiety and depression. When I'm not on a long-distance hike I really struggle to get out of bed, into suitable clothes and go for a walk - even short ones just round the village. I force myself to go out most days, even for half an hour.
I find that swimming has a much more positive effect on my mental health - it seems to wash the anxiety away, for the rest of that day at least. It does something that walking around the block or short hikes don't seem to do.
I try to go at least once a week but the pool is quite a distance away and at the moment I can't swim for a few weeks due to another health reason. I'm really noticing the lack of swimming.

Maybe try swimming a few times and see if that helps. I find it so relaxing and coming home freshly showered and hair washed and feeling really clean is lovely.

I have Long Covid so can't walk like I used to and I miss it. Even when I really hated the thought because of drenching downpours etc, after 5 minutes fresh air, I felt great. ....If walking alone is boring, audio books are fantastic. You forget the time if you're not careful! Walking helps you lose weight, tones up your muscles and helps empty your mind of negative thoughts. It doesn't solve all your problems, but it helps you attack them with renewed vigour. I'm looking forward to getting over this blasted LC and getting back to regular walking. Watch this space...😉

It helped me. Me and DH started making ourselves get up in the morning before work for an hour. After a while we got up two hours before work and then also an hour after work. Weekends we would travel to new places to walk. It has changed us. We no longer want to spend the day on the sofa watching rubbish like we used to. It feels alien to us now. We’ve both lost a lot of weight (he lost 2 stone and I lost a stone) and we’ve started doing more exercise.

It’s really helped my anxiety and pains I have had in my hips and knee. We have bought wellies in preparation for the cold wet days.

I should add that we have no children so this is easier for us to find the time than some.

Not sure about the mental health link, but yes, it boils my piss when people suggest walking for weight loss

Haha I do too. I love how cosy people's front rooms look on an Autumn/winter night.

Cold wet miserable days are the best for walking in imo cos you don't get overly sweaty or sticky. A cold foggy December evening when people have their Christmas decs up makes for a delightful walk really.

I never used to be big on walking, and as a fat person it's not something I ever really thought I would enjoy, especially as there are so many steps involved before getting to the walking bit like putting shoes and socks on, finding a weatherproof coat, putting on gloves, putting on a scarf, putting on a hat, it really used up a lot of my daily capacity for "doing" things. But it makes me feel so much better.

I get to the top of the hill I live at the bottom of, that's a sweaty arduous mess, but the descent is just so liberating it makes the trip up worth while.

I kind of agree with the OP. I've recently retired and am looking for things to do but everything seems to revolve around walking - over 60s walking group, ladies walking group, church walking group etc.
I suffer from arthritis in my knee and have good days and bad days. I can't walk far and wouldn't like to embark on a group walk and then have to give up part way into it.

There doesn't seem to be anything in my area to do apart from walking,

I have experienced it. That’s why I know how some days it’s important to drag yourself out of that door even if it’s just to put the bins out or to walk to the end of the road.

breaking that cycle is massively important.

Walking is one of the most underrated things you can do for your health.

It is exercise, nature and fresh air.
It helps clear your mind, raise your heart rate which increases oxygen around your body and increases serotonin. If it’s sunny it also gives you vitamin D.

If you go to the doctor and get antidepressants, they are basically a long walk in pill form as they have the same effect on the body.

Its really difficult to go for a walk when you’re feeling low though and I know when I’m starting to feel low as I don’t want to leave the house.

I personally prefer going out when it’s raining, especially if I’m feeling a bit down as you see less people and it doesn’t matter if you look like crap.
Then I come home, have a shower and get into my comfy PJs early and have a hot drink whilst watching a programme on TV.

Of course depression cannot be cured by 1 little walk but it definitely can help.

Natural white noise of leaves and rain has an effect on the brain. Its calming. And theres a lot of research behind this.

The phrasing "just go for a walk" certainly sounds dismissive, but I have found that walking in all weathers has been an enormous boost to my mental health. The exercise, the fresh air and just the routine of it all help. On the bleaker days, listening to the radio or a podcast relieves any loneliness I might be feeling. On a nice day the birdsong or just the sound of the wind in the trees is soothing. But mainly the sense of having achieved something, of having got outside the same four walls for a time is the most easily attained and inexpensive way of improving mood, however black things might seem.

It'll hardly help if you have to return home to the place or situation that's making you feel miserable in the first place. And no, people can't just address that by 'changing their lives'. That usually takes money. Lots of it.

DH and I go for a walk every single evening without fail. Whatever the weather. I have never once regretted it although it’s not always easy to actually get out the door.

I also walk alone.

Humans are biophilic. There are countless studies that show that exercise outside really does help mental health.

A good coat is key, plus good shoes / wellies / walking boots (I prefer wellies)

Walking for weight loss is incredible and one of the best exercises you can do.

There is a reason that someone is overweight and walking helps overcome this - whether it’s snacking or low mood etc walking can increase serotonin levels, decrease hunger pangs, helps you to sleep better and of course burn calories.

Totally agree

Also, to add, OP. I think of walking as a mode of transport, not something to enjoy.

Sometimes I enjoy just going to the shop, spending some "pocket money" on sweets and a drink or some crisps, and finding a nice bench or wall to perch on while I enjoy the spoils of the walk, and that's the destination. So I don't always enjoy getting to the destination, but I enjoy it once I'm there.

You don't have to live in rural countryside or have walking paths to go on, but just walk to get to little things you enjoy.

Thinking about doing it isn't always appealing but you need to just do it. Even if it is miserable go out, look around, hear things and smell different smells. It gets your senses and circulation going.

When you get back, you'll be glad you did it and feel better.