Is exercise more effective than medication for depression and anxiety?

[crimycarny]

15. Interesting personal experience with running effects compared to Xanax

I lost my son to suicide in January 2022. I have always struggled with anxiety (GAD), which unfortunately my son inherited.

Before losing my son I had never taken anything for my anxiety. (Trying an antidepressant years ago was disastrous! Didn't work and I started having seizures too).

After my son's death my anxiety went to full blow PTSD panic attacks. My doctor prescribed Xanax (.5 mg). I know benzos get a bad rap but I was very careful with my usage.

I have been a runner since I was 19 (I'm now in my 60's). I even ran 6 miles on my treadmill the day before I delivered my son.

For the first two weeks after my son died I couldn't do anything at all. I'd try to hang on by my fingernails and then allow myself one .5 mg Xanax at 6 pm. The Xanax temporarily turned my constant panicked ruminations from a 10 to maybe a 7. Just enough to give my brain a slight rest.

After about two weeks I finally attempted a run. After my run, I realized my brain felt very similar to have it feels after taking a Xanax. A slight lowering of anxiety to the point my brain wasn't screaming.

It was an eye-opener of the positive effect of exercise since, prior to this, I'd never taken an anti-anxiety med so had nothing to compare exercise to. I'm about 2.5 years out and there are still days when the pain is unbearable. There is no "getting over" losing a child to suicide. But I've been able to reduce any use of Xanax to 2x a week max, and usually just those mornings when I wake up with that elephant on my chest or if I have to be in a tough social situation (like a friend's son getting married). I've kept up my regular running and it's definitely been a lifesaver.

Sorry for such a long post.