Quote Originally Posted by BionicBetty View Post
I can only speak from my own experience but I have to agree. Women will often talk about their depression but I find men not as much? I have taken meds in the past & at the time they helped but I'm not going down that road if I can help it. Kicking myself up the butt & making myself get out there doing something is the best thing for me. If I can feel mood going the wrong way or if life's dealt me a nasty blow, pushing myself up a bloody steep hill & then standing at the top looking at a complete panoramic view seems work better than any drug & often puts mundane crap into perspective.

Of course that's not for everyone
Quite agree BB, I think that's why a lot of us have taken to the hills. I've never been diagnosed with clinical depression but have had some bleak episodes in my life and over time (although I'm classed as a junior member I'm over 50) have learnt that a good balance of physical and mental activity helps you avoid 'mulling' over everything, your life, your relationships etc, which for me is when the depression takes a hold. I know this is overly simplistic but for me running, particularly on trails and fells, helps to keep me in balance as a person and regulates my daily pattern by keeping stress at bay, helping me sleep better at nights, eating with an appetite and so on.