There is a fascinating discussion on the forums at wrongplanet. A question was asked about compulsion to exercise:
While I would never say I am an exercise nut exactly, I don’t feel right if I fail to exercise at all over the course of my average day. I even shadow box as one of my stims. Is this unusual?
Now, that’s not a usual concern about exercise. Much more common are people who are trying to figure out a way to avoid exercise altogether. And yet this person doesn’t feel right when they don’t exercise.
There were a number of interesting responses, and each of the following quotes is from a different person commenting on their own experiences:
For many years I was a “compulsive” walker. Every few hours, I would just have to get out of the house and go for a brisk walk for at least half and hour. Somehow this would straighten my head out.
This person has discovered what scientists are really just finding out about. And that is that exercise, and particularly walking, has a great mental health benefit.
If I don’t do it for a long time, I don’t feel right. If I go for more than a week without doing something I get headaches that go away when I start up again.
This is a common experience. Exercise improves the circulation, and circulation of blood brings nutrients to all the cells of the body.
Without exercise there are areas that will not get proper blood flow, and this means those areas will not get proper cellular nutrition.
One example of this is the back. Many people feel they can’t exercise because of back problems, when in fact it is the lack of exercise that is causing them to continue in pain.
I have to walk a lot too. The first few years it had to be every single day (if I couldn’t, I was a mess). Now I don’t stress as much if I can’t fit it in.
A brisk walk is one of the best stress relievers there is. If you are feeling stressed, turn off the television, throw out the newspapers and take a nice long walk. The world will look like a better place when you get back.
Going to the gym used to keep my routine organized so I went everyday for a while. Now I’m depressed and can’t do it anymore.
Research has shown that exercise relieves depression. In fact exercise alone is more effective than antidepressant medication. And that has been shown in some very well done research on the subject of depression.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt115435.html
