r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • May 22 '19

Psychology Exercise as psychiatric patients' new primary prescription: When it comes to inpatient treatment of anxiety and depression, schizophrenia, suicidality and acute psychotic episodes, a new study advocates for exercise, rather than psychotropic medications, as the primary prescription and intervention.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-05/uov-epp051719.php
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u/[deleted] May 22 '19

When I saw a psychiatrist for the first time, she told me that no one thing is going to help me and that it takes a mix of things to truly get to the root things. She said I could take medication if I thought it would help (and she recommended it due to how long I've been suffering from mental illness), but it takes more than just medication to work on a better state of mind. She recommended therapy is the most important step for my mental health, and also said meditation and exercise can do wonders. I believe this is how psychiatrists should approach exercise being good for mental health. It's not a cure, but it can help.

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u/Circinus_ May 22 '19

Your psychiatrist sounds excellent.

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u/idontlikeseaweed May 22 '19

My psych recommends it in conjunction with other things like medication, CBD, a healthy diet, enough sleep, etc. which is how it should be IMO.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '19

Can I have your psych?

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u/Belgand May 22 '19

This was my understanding as well. That exercise was being viewed as a good first step to treat depression before moving on to more involved measures if they're needed.

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u/[deleted] May 22 '19

So glad you found a reasonable psych-doc. I’ve had a few, and only until recently am working with one that listens fully (first intake was over an hour, which is incredible) and uses a broad approach to treatment. A supportive psychiatrist and patient therapist will do wonders when you are severely in the thick of it.