Depression cannot hit a moving target.
Since approximately 4000 B.C., people have been using exercise as a distraction from the thoughts and concerns occupying their minds. I go on runs to distract myself from school; people play sports, and recently, many have started attending workout classes.
It is no secret that depression rates in teenagers have reached an all-time high in recent years, and this evidently correlates with lower exercise rates. However, a recent social media trend, “depression can’t hit a moving target,” has surfaced in an attempt to reverse this.
The phrase “depression can’t hit a moving target” implies that depression is harder to maintain when a person stays active and engaged. This trend arose when teenagers expressed wanting a way to suggest that by consistently staying active and involved in some form of movement, whether physical, emotional or mental, you can potentially prevent depressive thoughts.
There is a strong negative correlation between depression and exercise. Hence, less exercise is associated with a higher risk of depression, and more exercise is associated with a lower risk. A lack of physical activity can increase the likelihood of developing depressive symptoms.
Taking action, such as exercising, engaging in social activities or setting and accomplishing small goals, helps to disrupt the cycle of depression and makes it harder for depressive thoughts to overtake someone’s brain.
Extensive research over the years has shown that exercise is as effective as other core treatments like psychotherapy and antidepressants for mild to moderate depression. For example, the National Health Institute has conducted over one thousand trials and concluded that exercise was 1.5 times more effective than both medication and talk therapy for improving symptoms.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends group exercise as an option for people with mild to moderate depression, with the general guideline for adults being to aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. The CDC has also concluded that three to five forty-five-minute exercise sessions per week can lower the risk of depression by 18%.
The phrase is often used to reference those in recovery programs and wellness circles who find staying productive and active beneficial and positive. Regular exercise is considered an effective treatment for depression, sometimes comparable to psychotherapy and antidepressants.
Although no single approach can erase depression, staying active creates room for sanity. The trend’s message encourages teens to build healthy habits that strengthen both body and mind.
