Ramp Up the Action
Finding a workout routine that accommodates your needs
For people who struggle with mental health, seeking professional help and support can feel like a never-ending marathon. Finding the right doctors, the right programs, and the right medication can end up taking years. It’s tiring and can seem impossible when you’re not in a suitable mindspace. At the end of the day, after fretting over your own wellbeing, you might just want to detach yourself from that stress, tune out, to relax. And being physically active can understandably, not have the certain cachet it should when it comes to your mental health. But a huge benefit of exercise and physical activity is that it helps relieve stress, which is a common factor in both depression and anxiety.
Choosing to become (regularly) physically active is hard even for someone
without depression and/or anxiety. It’ll always be easier to stay in, cancel plans, and binge-watch a show. But getting past that mental barrier and seeking help outside of doctors and counselors is another step towards living with less of the stress and pressure that depression and anxiety can cause. And just like finding the right doctors and medication, achieving the right exercise routine, one that you can afford, fit into your schedule, and most importantly, one that you like doing, can be hard.
I made the personal choice to become more active in my early 20s because of the known correlation exercise has with mental health, but faced another barrier that was more challenging than I assumed it would be. I have a physical disability that impairs me from many activities, and I knew — even going into a gym initially — that I wasn’t going to be able to do certain workouts. The goal from that point was finding a place and routine for myself that would not only help with my depression and anxiety, but would also accommodate my physical disability… which, as I found out, is a very hard thing to do.
Although I live in a progressive and forward-moving city when it comes to being accessible for those with physical disabilities, it’s still not perfect. Private companies aren’t held to the same standard as public spaces or services, and often don’t meet basic levels of accessibility for people with impairments to use their facilities. Many gyms advertise having low-impact workouts/rehabilitation services, but don’t have an elevator or changing rooms that have safety bars. Moreover, overcrowding of equipment makes moving around with a walking aid extremely hard. So who are these rehabilitation services for?
Having a physical disability added another hurdle to finding an activity and safe place that was equipped to handle my needs. I’ve had instructors tell me they can “fix me” and I’ve quit many exercise programs because they’ve falsely advertised being accessible for everyone. And I called them out on it. When I started looking for an exercise routine to incorporate in my own rehabilitation (both mental and physical), I didn’t think the limitations that outside forces set for me would have such a heavy emotional impact.
When you’re constantly being told you can’t do something — not because of your abilities but because there isn’t a space for you to be you — it affects your
motivation. I reverted back to the original thought that maybe I was better in that comfort zone of marathoning movies at home. The unconscious message people and places send by not being accommodating has a negative effect on individuals with disabilities; and if you’re already coping with depression and anxiety, it can make you feel more isolated.
I’m lucky to have found a public pool that was built in the last five years and
meets all accessibility standards, while offering free low-impact aquafit classes for non-members a few times a week. I’ve always loved swimming, so it seemed like a natural fit. But it was a long road to find this one place, and I know I’m lucky to live near this facility. Not everyone who has both a mental health and physical disability can say the same.
The limitations society sets for people with disabilities is not because non-disabled people intentionally create barriers… they just weren’t thinking. So you have to make them think, notice, and do something. Tell them their standard isn’t good enough. Not just for righteous action, but because you deserve a place to better yourself comfortably.
Originally published in the Summer 2017 issue of Shameless magazine
