I know this feel as I’ve been in a persistent depressive state for going on 20 years now.
At some point I realized that I was the only one stopping me from getting into shape, and what I needed to do was not give myself the option to not exercise. I knew I was physically capable of doing it, and the lack of energy and motivation were in my head.
The secret to getting into exercising is that very few people are actually super motivated and energetic about it at first. Exercise sucks if you’re not used to it. It takes time, it can be boring, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s a lot of hard work. But, if you stick with it, it becomes something you look forward to. I now can see a noticeable decline in my mood if I skip it for even a week.
My therapist is fond of saying, “You drive your brain, not the other way around.” This might initially sound dismissive of the struggle that is anxiety and depression, but what it’s really saying is that you do have the ability to take control and be Mindful of your mood and emotions. It’s not easy at all, but it’s within your power if you work on it. It’s fighting the self fulfilling prophecy of, “this is just the way I am.”
Of course, I’m saying all of this while I’m actively convincing myself to go workout today.
Edit: I did exercise today, for the record. Today was upper body pull, and I upped most exercises by 5lb
I think a lot of the sarcastic comments about “have you tried not being depressed” (there’s one in this comment section) are actually making things worse because I think that trying to get over it is one of the required parts of functioning despite it. Sure, it’s easier said than done, but if you just accept that you’re depressed and that means it’s not worth it to try to get out of bed because you don’t feel motivated, it starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Your attitude about your mental health issues can IMO drastically affect the outcome (or outcomes, since each day, each activity done, delayed, or abandoned, is an outcome).
Though nutrition can also play a huge role, which can compound because mental health issues can make it harder to get proper nutrition. Supplements have made a big difference in my life, just taking them on an “as needed” basis (and combined with a bunch of research on symptoms of various nutrient deficiencies). For me personally, I’ve been able to get out of “I don’t feel like doing anything right now” funks with vitamin b-complex and sometimes magnesium. This obviously won’t work for anyone whose issues aren’t related to nutrient deficiencies, but if you find yourself struggling with motivation, it’s worth a try, at least. Those two also seemed to help with my (mild) long covid, or at least the exhaustion part. There’s a lot of overlap between mental health symptoms and vitamin b deficiencies symptoms.
The first statement shouldn’t imply exercising is easy, but that the therapeutic benefits are well established. The response that you find it hard is true but not a sufficient excuse. Physical therapy is hard in the exact same way with the same benefits.
A better excuse might be a lack of safe space to exercise or no access to green spaces. If your main hangup is entirely mental then try viewing it like taking a medication. Go for a walk with the same begrudging obligation you might have for taking a new pill.
