OK, so I believe depression can be improved by exercises. But what can you do if you cant get your butt going?

Hardships pressing include Financial, Mother's Health, guilt, loneliness, feeling worthless, overwhelmed, fatigued to the point of falling asleep, abusing alcohol, alone. Smart enough to see I need help, but don鈥檛 want meds, and cant find anyone to talk with. Questioning my strength in my faith...Owe the one person, Mom financially, and she is fighting everyday with copd just to live. Im horrified, scared and no one knows .

You have buried yourself in a whole lot of burden that rightfully so keeps you on your couch. If you want to feel the benefit of exercise and the release of endorphines that help you feel better you have to give yourself permission, just for the time you exercise to put your emotional baggage down. Just for 15 minutes a day (or however long), tell yourself, "I'm taking a break from depression, etc. " Then walk out the door, or turn up the music, or put on some shorts and go do something. I never used to call this time exercise. I called it "energize time" instead and that's what I did. If you like nature then walk in a beautiful nature spot. If you like to dance then find the privacy and the space to get down with your music. If you like the mall, then put on shoes and walk around looking at cool things in the mall. Do not make your first attempts to exercise be another burden. It is your fun time. I began very much in the shoes you are in. I stopped all my good efforts with a pound of crap and just shut down. Finally, I just began bouncing on my bed while I watched t.v., then gradually with a lot of pain I walked near a river and enjoyed the sky. Then I DARED to try bike riding. Now I belong to a gym and watch tv while I work out (We do not own a tv at home so for me, it is fun to go to the gym and watch shows there.)
Just start but letting your playful fun side take over. Dancing is a very good place to start. Get alone and get your favorite songs and just dance all that stress away. It's fun . You can do that. ENERGIZE! With all the crud in your life right now, you deserve to do something fun. Take care. Love yourself enough to enjoy something and set down those heavy burdens for a short time everyday.

Motivating yourself is something only you can control. If you truly see that you want to get better, you are going to have to want to. Personally, i think that once you do get into exercise, it will become somewhat routine and easier for you to do it. I also suggest drinking lots of water whether you are exercising or not. It help improve depression a good deal. And sleeping is always good. Try improving the basic concepts of an ideal health, as they will almost always have an effect on your mental state. As for exercise, it will help your even more. Yet you have to want to get better. Try finding someone else to work out with, or switching up activites. Sports can be an easy way to get active.

It's time to let someone know. You obviously need to talk to someone. You said you are questioning your faith? Maybe you should seek help at your church from the reverand, pastor or father, or whatever faith it is you believe in. I hope you find solace. Peace be with you.

Excercise can be just temporary. Your body is healthy, but how about your mind? I think action in facing and handling the problems would be better. You can always excercise, but the problem is still there. So handle it as best as you can.

get the rest of your body going and leave your butt behind

It sounds like you are extremely depressed, my friend. Even if money is an issue, I would see a therapist asap. If you have a medical plan, it should be covered in some shape, way or form. If you go to school, it should be free (for at least a few months or so). Trust me, I was depressed for over ten years before I starting getting help, and I really wish I would have done so sooner.

As for not wanting to take meds, that's toally understandable. I'm very senstive to medications, so it took me a long time in therapy before I felt comfortable taking a low-dose antidepressant. However, once you find one that works for you, it will do wonders. The one I'm taking right now is Citalopram, and I literally have no side effects, even on the regular dosage.

As for exercise, I would start out slow ...literally. Take a walk around the block once a day for a few days. I recommend in the morning since it will help wake you up and you can experience the scents which only manifest themselves in the morning, like dew on the plants, crisp morning breezes, or in my case: an overload of AXE fragrance from the jr high kids walking to school and the smog from rush hour traffic. :-P

Then you can try powerwalking in addition to walking. I know, it looks really cheezy when you see old ladies do it in packs, but it really helps get your heartrate going without feeling exhausted. Also, try setting mini goals, like making it to the big oak tree at the end of the block in 30 seconds, or passing the junior high kids in only 10 paces! Before you know it, you've established a regular morning jog routine that only takes up a small portion of your day!

I hope this helps. Feel free to email me for whatever reason.