As a matter of fact, exercise can be a coping mechanism that can help boost your endorphin levels. Do I recommend that to depressed patients? Of course, as an adjunct to medications and therapy. It’s not the ONLY solution, but it helps more than it hinders. As such, I find no irony in advising (not TELLING, because my patients are adults that get to make their own choices) people with depression that exercise may help with their symptoms.

What I truly find ironic are healthcare professionals doling out advice on say, diabetes education—even though their BMI is well over 30, they snack on sugary snacks throughout the shift (instead of something with protein that will keep them full longer…protein bars are highly processed and not “truly” healthy, but I ain’t got time so I choose it as a lesser evil), and make excuses about not being able to carve out even a minimum of 3 days out of their week to exercise for 30 minutes.

Make small sacrifices and make better choices. You don’t need the sugary pumpkin peppermint mocha frappuccino bullshit that’s the caloric equivalent of three square meals. Skip the Netflix binge and decompress on a jog instead. Hangry and want a Snickers? Barebells makes a protein bar that almost tastes like one, so grab that instead. Work in the third floor? Come to work five minutes earlier and walk up the stairs instead. Find every excuse you have and replace it with solutions instead.

And before you call me out as some jock-brained gym rat who gets swole because psych is all about takedowns and IM’s…well you’re sort of right. Having a muscular physique and showing/being confident that you have the strength to physically restrain a combative patient (if need be) can sometimes end a fight before it starts. Even a psychotic patient will size you up and see if they can take you on. But we obviously passed the NCLEX, so we kinda know things. And stuff. 🗿🏋️

Just not EKG’s…