Exercise is therapy

The question I get asked the most is- why do you run so much?

My answer always is- It's my therapy.
At a very young age I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I was given medication and told to see a phycologist two times a week and a psychiatrist once every other week.
For years and years I'd take my medication and make my appointments. I always felt like the medication was keeping my anxiety and depression at bay, but they were always lurking in the background waiting for the day I forgot to take it. Come that day, I'd be back at square one. I was very overweight, unhealthy, sad, lost and a shell of the person I wanted to be.

Insert running.

Running brought new thoughts to my mind- "Breath in, breath out" "Keep running until that telephone pole" "Maybe I can run faster"

Running brought something I could control- I could control how fast or slow I went, where I ran, how far I ran, what I thought about

Running brought a sense of pride- My first time running I held a jog for :30. THIRTY SECONDS. ( If you think you sucked at running, I promise- I sucked more) Every time I ran, I was proud I could run faster or longer or further.

Running brought appreciation for my body- If I wanted to keep running, I needed to fuel myself correctly, and to get my lungs and legs stronger. I needed to stretch and to sleep normal hours.

Running brought fitness- The more I ran and ate better, the more weight I lost. The stronger I was overall, the better my clothes fit, the better I thought about myself.

Running brought happiness- The combination of controlling how I thought and what I did, better nutrition, weight loss, strength gain, pride, appreciation and overall fitness brought me happiness.

Years and years later- I still run for therapy. When I'm stressed, sad, anxious or just not feeling like my true self- I put on my shoes, get my dog and head out.

Exercise doesn't always have to be based solely on building muscle or losing weight- it can be about therapy. And it doesn't have to be running. For me, running is what I found but everyone is different.

Today I want you to think about what exercise is therapy to you. Is it lifting weights, yoga, hiking, biking?

Whatever it is, it's time to start taking advantage.