Hi
Out of the blue I have become depressed particularly about my age of 63 years old. It had seriously affected my mood. I have been advised that some kind of exercise can help starting with walking.
Has anyone else felt like this due to aging ? Any tips or advice would be appreciated.
thank you
Chris
So sorry to hear you are struggling with depression. That must be really hard. But so well done for reaching out to us and starting on your walking journey.
Walking has helped many people, especially if you can find beautiful routes in woods and nature.
Do post about your walks here. Every walk is an achievement and a new experience and it certainly helps me, and I think many others, to share these.
Huge welcome to the app and this community. Any questions, don’t hesitate and ask.
Hi Book-lover3 I have suffered from bad depression for most of my life. Yes, I'd say walking has a positive effect on my mood. Not walking or hiking in a group- that made me feel absolutly awful (that's just my experience), but walking alone, definatly! I have recently joined this forum and it has added another (and positive) dimension to my ramblings. Happy walking and see you on the forum !!! 🥰
Getting older sucks doesn't it? Sorry to hear you are depressed about it though. Walking will help, even 10 minutes away will make a difference, and then if course you could always try couch to 5 k. I was your age when I did that and am not sure how I'd cope most days if I couldn't run. Remember, whatever you do take it steady and don't push yourself too hard.
Dear Book-lover3 welcome to the Club! I mean the club where we all wonder how we got to be so old without realizing it, wondering what to do about it, what to do after retirement, and being afraid of being dependent on others and so on. It does get me down at times. The upside is we are out of the rat race. There are days I feel truly blessed I do not have to go out each day and negotiate traffic, office politics, food shopping and visits. I agree with our other friends here that walking and fresh air are good for you. So is music - I have a free subscription to SubStack for their music and get to listen to a new composer every day.
If your profile name is anything to go by, you are a book lover! So am I. I read for a while every day. Of late, I have been reading how others like us have coped with aging, sickness, disability. I just got a book 2 days ago "The Wisdom of Morrie" by Morrie Schwarz that I have started reading (remember "Tuesdays with Morrie?"). Another book by a woman "How to be Sick" was also very inspiring. I work with NGOs and enjoy helping younger development workers think through their work.
Unless yours is clinically diagnosed depression for which you need to take meds, please try not to focus too much on it. I have a client who is quadriplegic and founded an NGO 15 years ago. He tells me humorously "I have helped so many people, but I can't wash my own ***, I need someone to do it for me." I think if someone like him finds zest in life, why can't I? I am 72, divorced, caring for my 43 year old daughter, a breast-cancer survivor and every day brings some challenge or the other. I still think life is beautiful, despite it all.
Wow. Thanks for that. I've been feeling down about getting older (I'm 58). This helped.
I don't know how many times a day it's happened lately that I remember how old I am and how many years have gone by. It blows my mind.
I'm continuing to have a good life and have nothing I can complain about. Still, accepting the aging thing is hard. I know it will come; it has to. Some days I feel like I'm just mourning for my youth.
Any advice is welcome, even if it seems tough. I know I'm dealing with the same thing everyone else has to eventually.
Yes, I’m a member of this club and I agree with all the other comments. Exercise definitely helps me. Even f I struggle to force myself to do it, I almost always feel better afterwards. I think you need a variety of weapons against depression. I saved this little chart recently from a disability support forum. Not sure any of the suggestions are an instant fix, but all useful. I hope you will find a way through. Post your walks and find encouragement here..🤗
Hi
Thank you taking the time to reply. It does help to know what others are doing and that I am not alone with this. X
New to Forum, Not new to Walking 🚶 
How to start walking. - help sheet
