I have always heard that running and exercise fights depression. My first week back as a runner has confirmed this to me. In the past, I have thought of this mainly as a biological phenomenon, with exercise having positive neuro-chemical effects. This morning I built my own theory on why running has such a powerful effect on one’s mood. I am certainly not denying the biological dynamic. Rather, I am suggesting another concursive process is at work. Running teaches me self-control and my ability to create positive change. This experience is a significant factor in overcoming depression.

I have struggled with depression most of my life. It has never been overwhelming, but it has affected my behavior in many small ways. One root of this melancholy is a feeling of being out of control. Right or wrong, there have been times when I felt stuck in situations that I did not choose. When you are depressed you tend to believe that other things are controlling your life. These may include circumstances, other people, social injustice, your own past choices, or a chemical imbalance. The problem with all this is simple, your stuck; there is nothing you can do about it. This feeling of helplessness turns to hopelessness and the depressed person becomes increasingly passive. This passivity works against them and confirms their sense of self-pity.

Much of this process occurs at the level of perception rather than realty. I have never traveled far down that path, even if I have shared in those self-defeating thought processes. You become what you think and feeling will often follow your actions.

Running and exercise works against this because it puts me back in control. Everything about jogging is teaching me self-control. I learn to overcome my feelings when I answer the alarm clock at five in the morning. I take action when I step out the door into the cold winter air. I decide my course and stick with it. Running is about taking control of myself and creating positive change. With this mindset, feelings of depression fall away without a struggle. They simply do not fit in this new world.