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Here is the article that will be published in the Westport Minuteman:

Exorcise Sadness With Exercise

Sadness is a part of the human condition, but “being sad isn’t the same as being depressed,” suggests Dr. John Ratey, noted Harvard professor and clinician whose recent book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain touts the importance of physical activity on both our mental and physical performance.

If you have sad feelings that never go away or recur at particular times despite your best efforts to care for yourself, you might be experiencing something more than a minor personal setback. There are several common symptoms of depression that suggest it may be time for professional help, especially if they occur over several weeks. They are:

•   feeling sad, empty or tearful for the majority of most days; 

•   significant loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable; 

•   significant non-dieting weight loss or weight gain; noticeable decrease or increase in appetite;

•   difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much;

•   fatigue, or slowing down of thoughts and reduction of physical movements;

•   agitation;

•   feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt;

•   poor concentration or decision making; and,

•   thoughts of death or suicide.

Seeking help from a therapist is an important step toward healing; however, an increasing number of mental health professionals recommend consistent exercise as an equally important part of the overall therapeutic process. Why? Depressed moods, sleeping problems and anxiety affect our productivity … and not just productivity in the classic sense of being creative or productive at work, but in the personal sense of maintaining relationships and juggling responsibilities. Feeling unworthy in these areas has an across-the-board impact on our ability to handle basic aspects of modern life: caring for ourselves, caring for others, and actively participating in society.

The brain, like our muscles, grows with use and withers with inactivity.    

Since our brains are ultimately responsible for what our bodies do, it is critical to keep them both in tip-top shape.

Authors Brett J. D’Elia (CPT) and Nicole O’Brien (M.A., LMFT) are the principals of Charged! Strength Training Studios and Fairfield Psychotherapy, respectively. Both are located at 1275 Post Rd., Suite A20 at the Brick Walk. For more information on the mind-body connection, private personal training or personal therapeutic services, visit  Chargedstudios.com or Fairfieldpsychotherapy.com, or contact 203.254.7211, training@chargedstudios.com, or therapy@chargedstudios.com.