Treating Depression Successfully Requires a Multi-Pronged Strategy
There are no silver bullets, but these complementary therapies work
This article is part of a Wise & Well Special Report: The United States of Depression.
“Stop telling me to go for a run.”
My friend was saying something I often hear from clients about family and friends who think treating depression is simple: Just go for a run and stop eating so much sugar. Get over it.
Except, my friend already exercised. She already ate well. Telling her to go for a run again when she could barely get out of bed was not helpful.
Exercise and nutrition can play an important role in managing depressive symptoms, but very rarely do they fully replace therapy and medications. Saying that someone with clinical depression can stop using traditional treatment therapies if they move more and eat better food could cause people to not seek treatment when they need it most.
The value of exercise
Exercise is an effective tool to reduce depression risk. People who walk at a brisk pace (fast enough to increase your heart rate while still being able to talk) just 10–20 minutes each day have up to 25% lower risk for depression compared to people who…
