Running my way to better mental health...

[livetodance]

So I'm going be brave and honest about why I'm doing C25K. I have been battling depression for over a decade now and I keep hearing that exercise can be as effective as medication. After a week of trying to start the programme, I finally did it. I've just completed my first run which was tough, but I think the first step is always the hardest. I'm determined to keep going now. If there's anyone out there facing the same challenges, I'd love to hear from you. Perhaps we can motivate each other to keep going

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Oh well done, depression is horrible and a huge battle.

The programme and this site really will help and you will find loads of support here

Good luck

[livetodance in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks for the supportive msg and encouragment! Have a lovely weekend.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to livetodance]

Thank you we will and you too

Something I did was read posts about people running and graduating and then went back and read their first couple of posts because we all started unfit and a lot of us are so much calmer and happier now

I had to take a break through health in May and really thought i’d never run again for a while

We ran our first 30 minute run this morning and although still slow arrived home still grinning and high fiving and proud

You’ve got this it will soon be you

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

Your name livetodance says everything about your attitude to overcome your depression and admitting it is half the battle. Well done. Fresh air and the goal of C25K will help you & so will this community. You are not alone. Keep on keeping on. I have just started & completed W1 today & will probably take forever to do week2.. 🤣

[livetodance in reply to Annieapple]

Thank you! Well done for completing week 1 that's amazing. Week 2 will be a challenge but keep going. You got this

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate in reply to livetodance]

Thanks

[Zanzibar4 Graduate]

Well done on taking the first steps on an amazing journey. Take things slowly and keep moving 👏👍

[DiscoRunner Graduate]

Well done for giving this a go, it shows great strength. This is a lovely forum full of support so post often for encouragement and any struggles you’re having. Although I don’t suffer from depression, I’ve found the boost to my mental wellbeing a huge and unexpected outcome of taking up running.

With regard to getting started my first breakthrough was learning that my brisk walk could be faster than my run. I naturally started running faster than the warm up walk and I really wasn’t fit enough! So don’t be worried about running slowly - loads of us are slow runners and love it that way.

This is an incredible transformative journey - I really hope it works for you too x

[ChrisWhatmough]

Well done. I too have been battling with depression but since I started exercising and running I feel ready to get off my meds.

Keep it up. We can do this

[livetodance in reply to ChrisWhatmough]

Thank you Chris that's really positive. Well done you fot sticking with it! We can do this ☺

[Buddy34 Graduate]

Great for getting started. C25k is an amazing plan and really does work you'll get lots of encouragement and support on here . The physical fitness of c25k is great but the mental health benefits are amazing . It's made me such a happy positive person. It will help you so keep going and keep posting . Good luck 😊😊

[Tbae]

Hi livetodance,

C25k and the magic forum will change your life.

Best wishes, go with it, enjoy and let it give to yourself this gift of running.💥

👊💥⭐️👏👏

[Pinknfluffylady Graduate]

I too suffer from depression and anxiety and started C25K for the same reason as you, together with hoping to increase fitness and decrease weight!

I graduated last week and haven’t looked back, loving the freedom that running gives me. Good luck and enjoy the endorphin rushes. 🏃‍♀️☺️

[Irish-John Graduate]

Depression is literally a killer. Drives me up the wall that society has all sorts of "Days", Bumper stickers, Open Rally's etc for all kinds of illnesses but mention that you have Depression and the room goes quiet...

But - not here

I didn't take up running because my life was going so well I wanted to lurch, stumble, veer and feel like I was in cardiac arrest around the Park. I sure as heck wasn't feeling I needed more flamboyance in my days by being seen in a track suit in 100 degree plus weather. And I sure as heck didn't think I could ever run to the marker in the park that was just at the first curve....a whopping three tenths of a mile away!

However - I was depressed, isolated, nothing to do and knew my "glory days" were over. Nothing much to look forward to except boredom, Ill health and maybe years of 'getting old and desolate'

Yep, suicidally depressed and I knew it. The tablets barely helped, got me out of bed in the morning but I hated the side effects - plus being FURTHER depressed that on top of everything else I had to take "mental" meds.

Honestly - only reason I didn't pull the trigger some days was while I didn't really believe "God" would be pissed or anything like that - I've seen too much in my life to be able to convince myself beyond any doubts that there is not a Devil. And I don't want to meet him for as long as possible.

So - knew I needed a severe "shock to the system" and did day one of C25K.

Despite two forms of Asthma, screwed up footbones, fifty or more pounds overweight, only a couple of years off a huge 37 year heavy smoking addiction, 94 degree heat and very high humidity and literally never having run more than a hundred paces in my entire life...off I set.

Well, I did it. At the finish, I was bent over double trying to breathe through both ends of my body, dripping wet, lungs knees feet hips shoulders neck and even my damn skull aching like I'd jumped off a twenty foot high wall...and a woman passing by was going to call the Paramedics because I had "Sir - you have a blue tinge around your eyes and mouth!"

Looking back on it, I now think that far from trying to "wake myself up" by "trying running" I was actually subconsciously trying to off myself.

Anyway - that was three years ago and feels like a whole different life. I get a bit "down" occasionally but haven't needed meds in over two years, not Asthma inhalers, I'm enjoying life like I was a teenager again mentally (but a lot more sensibly than when I was a teen lol) and I have made a lot of new friends through this forum plus am getting to know people at various running events I now travel not because I'm bored but because it's fun and some of the places have races and charity runs I enter and all in all I can honestly say, life has never been as consistently satisfying

Is running easy? Hell no While I have run HMs - one without walking at all - I still lurch, pant, gasp, veer and stumble even on the "easy" 5ks. Every time I go out, I wonder if I can actually run more than a few hundred yards....but the vital thing, the "Magic", is dependent on going out. The hardest distance to do some days is to outside the front door. After that, the Run goes as it will. Some days are good, some runs are like being a grayhound and a very few have been "sod it for today, I'm stopping early" But every run is money in the bank against physical and mental misery.

I hope you give it an honest go. The programme is for real. The forum is genuine. We might run on our own but we never run alone here

Wishing you many happy miles in your future 🙂

[Tbae in reply to Irish-John]

Wow IJ💚 what an account, what a story,I am pleased I spotted this.

Your the magic in this Forum alright.

Atb and hope all is good.

👊💥💪🏃‍♂️⭐️👏👏

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Tbae]

❤️

[madmother Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

What a thought provoking post. Thank you. I came on this morning to help me get my sorry ass out the door, and you’ve done it for me!

I came to C25k to help my daughter who was struggling herself with an eating disorder and the death of her granddad and wanted to do a charity run. I was really stressed out and full of guilt at my not knowing she had been ill for so long, I was off work with stress. She did the charity race and stopped running. I’ve carried on. Since the initial issues there have been 2 tragic deaths that have directly affected my children and which have had a massive impact on my eldest. Through it all, running has given me headspace. It helps but I’m not sure how.

Now I’m off on my run. Thank you x

[livetodance]

Thanks so much, very inspirational to know that it can be done and that it will help! Hope the endorphins help too x

[Rogie55 Graduate]

Well livetodance, your in the right place, with the right people. You will enjoy this journey so much. The people on here are fantastic and all your efforts will be acknowledged and praised.

I have been to dark places, my adventure into running has been wonderful.

Welcome on board.

[LUHAN Graduate]

I run for my mental health. I am on week 9 ready for run 3 and graduation. I now go for a run when I need it...ie a tough day mentally as since runs got longer I can't do every other day.

You are doing brilliantly and I know it will help you. Keep going...it is tough but definitely worth it xxx

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your decision.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5... and is full of tips.

Running is the means employed by many to keep the black dog at bay.

Enjoy your journey.

[Whowers]

I’m exactly the same! Hoping it will help my anxiety! I just completed my first run yesterday and hoping to do run two tomorrow! It was tough! Good luck! I hope it helps us both.

[livetodance in reply to Whowers]

There's been some really positive responses from others in the same boat and it's really helped them so fingers crossed for us. Keep me posted on your progress 😊

[-Steve- Graduate]

My motivation is more to do with improving my mood farther than fitness reasons too. Also having an activity to do during the week so I’m not just sat at home doing the same thing. The fitness benefits will be an added bonus. I will be starting soon.

[2Tired2Run Graduate]

Well done and I'll share too, that I have started C25K to replace decades of antidepressants. Stopped the pills some 3 weeks back and started this programme, as enthusiastically recommended by my GP. Her point is to replace the pills with natural endorphines. Today is a case in point, after a personal upset first thing and spending all day spiralling down, going over and over it in my head, decided it was a good time to test the theory. So tonight on with my trainers and out I went and blooming heck I've ticked off W3R1!!! It was hard work but cathartic .... my mind and body were busy with the joffling - I got my head space back. I'm so glad I changed my schedule and did it. I'm hoping to sleep tonight. I'm beginning to believe I really can do this . both ditch the pills and run 5K someday. If I can, we can... believe and go for it!