675 Exercise and the Brain (Archive 5/2/09)

My 83 year old mom woke me up a minute ago to hear your radio on the air this morning!!! THANKS MOM!!! I have just finished reading the book DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION and it has totally changed my life!!! I could not put the book down, I read it and underlined scores of sentences, checked off sections and could not believe how excited I was to read a book that detailed totally how I have been feeling my WHOLE life....I am a 51 year old white female...I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, depression and seen

Dr.'s my whole life. This book finally hit the nail on the head and answered many questions I had about "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME????"...or better yet "WHY DO I FEEL SO BADLY?"

I took the book in with me to my Dr.'s office this Monday, explained my feelings, took a written test and was given a RX for STRATTERA....I have been taking it this week and feel better already!!! Thank you so much for this book, I have told everyone I know about it and my mom and I are going out to the bookstore today to get his new book....I can not believe how happy and relieved I am. I am only looking forward to my continued success. My advice is to everyone is to READ THIS BOOK!!!! By the way...thanks again!!!

I am 54 years old and recently experienced awaking to what I believe is Transverse Myelitis. I went from walking for 45 minutes-2 miles a day for over a decade to an inability to walk without support.

I was hospitalized for 5 days with transfer of my treatment to an expert neurologist for outpatient treatment after many diagnostic procedures. After 5 weeks I still had been provided no diagnosis nor a treatment plan while I slipped into grief and depression.

Though I started the experience compliant and polite I have had to be insistant that I be referred for physical therapy, and personally organize my own treatment plan that can help me gradually recover a fitness routine. I had just started a gentle yoga class (for stretching and strength) so easily returned to that activity. Only this week, as I experience my nerves slowly reacitivating as my muscles have greatly weakened was my request for physical therapy fulfilled.

I also have hired a physical trainer who will help me develop an aerobic routine I can do until I can again walk. What I wish to ask is that you encourage physicians who don't recognize how loss of physical activity with sudden illness is tandemount to being suddenly withdrawn from an antidepressant while experiencing a traumatic loss.

We listen to the show every Saturday morning. This was a good one, especially when one caller said his kid's teacher lets them chew gum in class because it's exercise!

I am a 59 yr old woman who has suffered from clinical depression since I was 16, diagnosed by a nun at my high school in Chicago who was getting an advanced psychology degree. My father was an alcoholic and had one hospitalization when he was diagnosed Ti manic depression. Childhood sexual abuse is part of my expedience.

I've had therapy on and off since then and have been on three medications for last five years - Effexor, Trazadone, & Provigil. Unfortunately, I spent years wishing I didn't have a body. And I never stick with any type of exercise I start - even walking, and I live near a beautiful lake with lovely walkways.

Your program on this is great. Does the dr have any suggestions for how I might MAKE myself exercise? I am a lawyer and have been disciplined in other areas of my life. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

I wanted to add a comment in regards to the women who called in about gum-chewing in the classroom. I feel that her question was dismissed rather abruptly without a look at the possible link between physical/movement memory and mental learning/memorization.

There are definite benefits to the practice of gum-chewing in the class-room (more so for certain students than others), and as a teacher that works with often squirmy and over-energetic elementary students I have witnessed them myself.

The hosts were correct that gum-chewing definitely does not constitute exercise in the sense that your guest was referring to. However-- repetitive movement (even very slight repetitive movement) can be extremely helpful as a memorization technique.

If you have ever witnessed Brahmins in India reciting Vedic texts this becomes exceedingly clear. The small head nods and tiny head gestures help their actual physical bodies to "learn" and remember the massive volumes of text and help to remind them where they are in their recitations. Its a sort of parallel learning process that can serve as a system of checks and balences. Just think of "blocking" in terms of script memorization in Theater. It is easy to forget your lines in a play if you wind up on the wrong side of the stage... Often all you will need to remember is simply to go back to where you were when you forgot your lines.

I think that gum-chewing can work like this on a slightly lesser scale. Keeping your body active (even slightly) while concentration the mind can have very positive results.

A second example of how I've seen the gum-chewing method help in the class-room is when working ADHD and other easily distracted children. The slight movement that the chewing allows serves as a physical outlet for these children so their mind can be more free to focus on their school work. Instead of constantly needing to get out of their seats and move around the class room, throw things etc. they can simply chew. It doesn't work perfectly but I do think it helps.

I happened to turn on the radio this morning (5/2) to catch the last part of Dr. John Ratey's interview.

I am a 67 1/2 year old woman who struggled with depression from childhood. I have learned over time that exercise is a great way to deal with anxiety, stress, and depression and have utilized the concept when I allow the above to interfere with my life.

I too find exercise to be beneficial, not only actual physical exercise but other means of obtaining oxygen to my body and brain. The middle of April, I attended a Laughing Yoga Instructor seminar and obtained additional information as to the value and benefits of laughing and how the exercise of fake laughter - Ho Ho, Ha Ha Ha - affect the immune system and increase endorphins to the brain providing additional oxygen through breath, muscles used to smile and the movement involved in the laughing yoga exercises.

On Thursday, I completed a month long exercising “Boot Camp” that provided the motivation to get back to the habitual daily exercise to enhance my physical, emotional and spiritual well being. I was given a couple comments by the couple who did the boot camp, “…you don’t look 67…you are an inspiration to us…,” that in itself is enough to keep my spirits up and maintain all aspects of what meditation (breathing exercises and use of positive affirmations), mental (cognitive therapy – positive attitude) and natural and fake laughter to promote a more spiritual, physical, mental and emotional well being.

Thanks for providing Dr. John Ratey the interview and enhancing the knowledge that is sometimes overlooked.

I'm listening to the last half of this talk with Dr Ratey. I heard his comment regarding exercise and Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (now called CFS/ME). I was disappointed to hear him lump FMS in with CFS/ME, as if they are the same and to be treated the same. Exercise is great for body and mind - I totally agree. But for those of us with Moderate to Severe CFS/ME, exercise is a major challenge, because it makes us worse - not better! Part of the definition of the illness is "delayed malaise" in response to mental or physical exercise! I have been ill for 20 years with both FMS and CFS/ME. I don't lay around all day - I walk 5,000 to 7,000 steps (as per pedometer) a day. but my cognitive function continues to be terrible, preventing me from being able to work (which I would love to be able to do again), and my "fatigue" levels are still too high and unpredictable.

Yet I know for people who "just" have FMS, exercise is very helpful. It's hard enough to live with this illness without more misinformation being spread with statements like this one. I have a great deal of respect for Dr Ratey - have read his books - my ex-husband, 2 daughters and myself all have ADHD - and he's provided much valuable information. But please, read the recent research on CFS/ME before making such a broad, inaccurate statement. Thanks. KM