http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18335173

As mentioned before, I'm usually depressed walking to work

I could tell you that first hand, played rugby and cycled loads, think I got worse :S

Exercise is helpful for mild depression. Professionally, I've found counselling to be more effective than medication as it allows people to recognise and respond to symptoms of depression.

I will want to look at the paper. I might do it the next time my insomnia kicks in.

surely it depends what the depression is due to.
If it's hormone based, exercise controls hormone levels so would lower depression risks?

I'm sure exercise helps, being running 10k or taking a walk in the park. However I don't think it wise to suggest that only taking exercise is a guaranteed cure. See a councillor, eat a better diet, take up or focus on a hobby or past-time, and exercise.

I used to be a councilling skeptic, but not any more. It works.

For some it does for others it entrenched the issues that caused the need for the councelling in the first place

I think that depends on the counsellor and your relationship with them. It's about seeing the right counsellor.
For me, I've seen a total of three in my life, and the most recent was the most successful.

Please enlighten me on this. Which hormones? I know of over thirty. Which one would cause depression?

PM to follow.

Isn't it a lack of serotonin (or something similar) that can cause depression?

But in depression, the low levels of serotonin are within the synapses and not elsewhere in the body. Hence the antidepressants work (theoretically) by raising the level of serotonin within the synapses. This is different to the serotonin produced elsewhere in the body. Small point but I feel it needs to be clarified. There'S a fundamental difference between neurotransmitters and hormones.

Neurotransmitters act locally (think your next door neighbours) and hormones act over distances (think countries). That's why I asked about hormones causing depression.


Frenchun - will read and reply to your PM tomorrow.

I must be messed up somewhere then,

exercise and counselling didnt work for me. seen 4 counsellors,
saying that, my 2 sisters and both parents have had depression
sound like a sceptic when im only 19

saying that, the medication im on now seems to be working fairly well.

As I mentioned above, you need to find the right counsellor. They're not like switching on a tap to get water if you're thirsty - you need to find the right one who works for you.
And of course, it depends on the root of the depression, which could be a myriad number of factors.

If you can get past the doctor whom only wants to push you out the door with drugs to "help" and if there are any counselling services available nearby worthy of the description...