Through tragedy and triumph my running has always been there as a guiding light against the storm. A storm that I will most likely battle for the rest of my life. Despite the odds it has given me the edge to endure any challenge that comes my way and I believe wholeheartedly that I would not be where I am to today if it weren’t for my running.
The personal struggle that I have kept hidden from most people and that I’ve been battling for most of my life since I was 12 years old is depression and anxiety. Until now I have never written about this but I feel that it’s the right time for me to speak out on this issue not just for myself but for anyone else who is struggling with this burden. Let me tell you that if you are struggling with this in silence you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization there are 300 million people around the world struggling with depression and anxiety. In the United States it has been reported that there were 16.2 million people who experienced a major depressive episode in the last year. An undeniable epidemic that has only continued to get worse with each passing decade.
The good news is that there is help that goes beyond antidepressants and therapy. While these are proven methods that have helped millions of people alleviate the effects of depression and anxiety I’m here to tell you that there is another way. According to a recent study conducted at Boston University researchers found that aerobic exercises like running, cycling, swimming, rowing, cross-country skiing, and even brisk walking can be as effective as antidepressants in treating mild to moderate depression. A routine of regular exercise can stimulate the production of serotonin and other other neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins. As a result many people have seen significant improvements in their mood and overall happiness. By engaging in regular exercise instead of antidepressants individuals also won’t have to endure many of the harsh side effects associated with these drugs like weight gain, insomnia, nausea, fatigue, dry mouth, and constipation. A risk that might be worth taking for certain people.
I must admit that I’ve been an active person all my life but it wasn’t until I started running competitively in high school that I noticed a monumental change in not only my physical fitness but my emotional well-being too. Along with a substantial increase in my speed and cardiovascular conditioning I was more elated by the improvement in my mentality. I noticed that I was a lot more relaxed, focused, confident, and happier than I was before I started. These positive effects translated into the classroom as well as I went from being an average student to graduating with high honors and getting accepted into my college of choice.
The seven dimensions of wellness are physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, environmental, and occupational. To this day I firmly believe that running has improved my life in almost every one of those areas since I started. What was merely an interest in the beginning eventually evolved into a lifelong passion that transcended all understanding. While the ride became a lot smoother I still faced a series of challenging hurdles in my early 20’s that would test my limits.
Fast forward half a decade later and I was riding high as an undergraduate at Lock Haven University. I had a 3.8 GPA, I was the senior sports editor for the Eagle Eye (newspaper), and I was juggling full-time classes along with a 45 minute commute each day to school. It was an exciting period of non-stop action where I was discovering not only who I was but what I wanted to pursue as a career. It all looked great on paper but I started to notice that I was becoming overly stressed out and depressed near the beginning of my senior year. Why? Because I didn’t have balance in my life. From an intellectual and occupational standpoint I was doing great but emotionally I was going down a dark path. The reason being that I started to drift away from my running and physical fitness. I kept up with my running through most of my college years but once I started to prioritize the needs of other people over my own well-being that’s when my depression got worse.
I slipped into the worst depression of my life. After years of writing and editing for the Eagle Eye I stepped down as editor to focus solely on my studies. I barely got through my classes during my final year and at one point I actually tried antidepressants (Zoloft) but after taking it for months I noticed that it had no effect on my mood. I also experienced some of the horrible side effects from this drug like insomnia and my depression actually got worse. I quickly got off the antidepressants and to this day I have never taken another antidepressant again. What brought me back slowly but surely was my running and my strength training routine. It took months for me to get back to where I was mentally but through the grace of god and through my own sheer will I did it. I somehow regrouped, finished my classes, and graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Communications (Journalism).
After that point I vowed that I would never sacrifice my physical and mental well-being again for external validation. Well over a decade has passed and I have stayed true to my promise by maintaining a healthy balance with my training, diet, and occupation as a freelance journalist. Right now I’m in the best shape of my life both physically and mentally. I owe a large part of that to my running, faith, and some amazing people that have inspired me along the way. My depression and anxiety will always be there. I still have to work hard at it every day but I’m hopeful about the future and I feel like I’m in control of my own destiny.
Running is woven into the fabric of my being. It’s a part of who I am and it always will be. Beyond my own wellness If my story can help and inspire others I will feel like I have truly succeeded. No matter how hard life can be remember that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and the greatest power that you will ever have is your faith, inner strength, and determination. It can be done. It will be done. Never surrender.
Alex Reid
Move At Will 