[Kaspa]

I see that many INFPs are somewhat moody folk, who struggle with issues of self-esteem.

Medicine? Start exercising. Simple as that. Now, that may sound a banal choice, but there is a reason why all psychologists recommend it. Endorphines that lash out during and after of exercise make you feel good and you feel better about yourself since you are respecting the temple of your mind, soul or whatever is this thing that is our subjective existence. Rock-hard abs, or that perfect butt you always wanted - have a goal, and work for it.

Muhammed Ali was once asked, how many sit-ups he does in one session. He said he doesn't count, and after it starts hurting too much, he starts to count. That's hardcore.

I see sports are no area of big interest many of us - it's not even for me. But nevertheless, it makes it more important for us than many other things.





One guy in Youtube commented about this video, that he had a suicidal friend. He showed this to him, and this friend of him got his shit back together, started to take responsibility and started having goals in his life. That's just damn cool.

[fretterfet]

Exercise isn't going to cure severe depression, nor help with all self-esteem issues. I agree that it'll help some people, but it's not nearly enough by itself.

I do exercise, personally. I bike and walk everywhere, try to do pushups a few times a week, etc. It doesn't really help me with my mood. And my self-esteem isn't based on how I look (I've been told I'm an attractive individual, and I'm at a healthy weight; weight loss and super toned muscles aren't really a goal for me), but on my personality and how other people react to it. So I feel better if I think I'm a good person and I'm helping others.

[KateMarie999]

I have a job as a dog walker. I don't know if it's the exercise but I've been feeling worse about myself lately...

[Kaspa]

Exercise isn't going to cure severe depression, nor help with all self-esteem issues. I agree that it'll help some people, but it's not nearly enough by itself.

True per se, since depression is a mental illness that is based on biological disorder, where brain cannot produce enough serotonin on it's own. Of course, depression is more than a biological problem, since it's mentally triggered. There are many kinds of medicine, the ones that ease the symptoms and the other that finish the problem. No medicine works as a problem finisher for mental problems, and exercising isn't an expection to a rule.

Haha, now i feel like medical disclaimer.

[infpblog]

I tend to think self-esteem and happiness is related to how much control you feel you have in creating the life you want. If you want good relationships, fulfilling work and place to call home, but you feel that you can't attain those things after years of failed effort then you feel you have no control over being able to create your life. Instead you wait. You wait for the right person to come into your life. You wait for society to appreciate the work you want to do. Anytime you shift your locus of control to the external, it's giving away control and takes a toll on your self-esteem.

I think focusing on health is a way of bringing that locus of control back to yourself by making you focus on what you can control. I'll eat more fruit or I'll do one more push-up then a I did yesterday is just retraining our mind that we can accomplish stuff if we set our minds to it. Being able to effect change to your body can help move someone out of learned helplessness as you see that your efforts can produce results.

I exercise because I feel more energized when I do. I've been athletic all my life, but two years ago I was 30lbs over my ideal weight and I felt sluggish all the time. Now I'm down to a healthy 136lbs and I don't feel tired in the mornings like I use to.

[Aelthwyn]

I'm not an excersize kind of person, I generally feel like the motions of standard 'excercizes' are ridiculous and boring. If I'm going to be active it has to be actually doing/accomplishing something I like or feel is worthwhile (now dancing, that's fun). And I don't generally enjoy many active things - which means a lot of times when I do them I'm not spectacular at it and so I end up feeling more self-conscious, or I just feel like I'm wasting my time.

HOWEVER, I do find that being active in some capacity when I'm brooding will help me to snap out of it. If I find myself dwelling on negative thoughts I find it very helpfull to get up and go for a walk, or clean the house, or play with my rabbit or perhaps play with children if they're available. I agree that being active can give you a sense of satisfaction, and I think it also helps waken up my senses so I'm actually looking around me, smelling, hearing, feeling things which is a good change from my mostly inner life. As much as my mind likes to be stimulated, sometimes my body needs some stimulation too which it doesn't get reading a book or typing on the computer even though those things are generally a lot more interesting and enjoyable for me than anything else.

[Ace Face]

Don't be offended. The OP does have a point. I'll take it a step further, though, and say that exercise and keeping your thoughts in check will be what gets you through a depression. Here's the big, ugly cycle:

Thoughts----->Feelings----->Moods

It all starts with your thoughts. Check your thoughts. Checking my thoughts was my saving grace. Seriously. Anytime I recognize that my mood is starting to go south, I pull out my list of handy dandy cognitive distortions. It's my favoritestestest thing ever :) Everytime I get into a bad mood, I can pretty much peg it to one of the distortions on the list. Once I've given myself that reality check, I quickly re-route my thinking and start talking to myself positively. Give a shot; I dare you ;)

15 Common Cognitive Distortions | Psych Central

[iinnffpp]

exercise may greatly benefit those with mild, temporary depression. occasionally even a deeply depressed may come out of the depths of funk due to exercise. but it's not the end-all-be-all solution that so many people make it out to be. like some people have pointed out, those who are in a very deep, serious depression can't even get out of bed. what in the world can we tell these people? personally, i think Big Psych keeps touting exercise as a panacea because it's not as bad as endorsing Big Pharma, and it sends the message to people that all it takes is some physical effort to "eradicate" their mental/emotional problems. exercise is just ONE of many things depressed people can/need to do so they can improve. but is it THE biggest thing? no way. and it's definitely not as beneficial to all depressives as a lot of people claim it to be. that's way too simplistic.

that's not to say exercise has no benefits at all. from my experience, i find that taking walks, especially leisurely walks, doesn't help me much because all that sauntering makes my wind wander into places i don't want to be. the exercise has to keep you really focused on the task at hand, keep you sweating. this is why i'm doing more bicycling now. i can't let my mind wander when i'm riding a bike, especially since i didn't get a helmet yet :P

[FreeBeer]

I'm a 6 and exercise helps me deal with all the adrenaline floating around in my bloodstream. I exercise because it keeps anxiety away.

Meditation and thinking positively also helps, then there is just setting a goal and reaching it. I deal with everything else through sheer willpower, never have and never will take medication for psychological issues. Seen enough of that on the psychiatry seminars in collage. (BA in psychology)

I'm also someone who tried to kill himself a few years back (severe depression).

[pretyhowtown]

Everyone has good points. :)

I think a healthy diet and exercise are foundational for a good mood. Thought patterns are difficult to address because they are automatic and sometimes just beneath consciousness, so it takes a bit of digging, but it is also foundational.