Description
From a New York Times–bestselling author and lifelong runner, a groundbreaking guide to fighting depression and anxiety one run at a time
There’s no other book like this. Longtime running writer Scott Douglas marshals expert advice (especially his own, cultivated from more than 110,000 miles of personal experience), and a growing body of scientific research to show how running can make us happier.
How? Everyone knows that running builds stronger muscles and a healthier heart; science now shows it also helps develop a healthier brain. For those struggling with depression and anxiety, a consistent running routine can enhance the mental-health benefits of talk therapy, antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The key to running’s therapeutic power lies in its lasting physiological effects, inducing changes in brain structure and chemistry that other forms of exercise don’t—including the best mood boost in all of sports, thanks to the body’s release of natural pain-relievers.
Running is my therapy is no longer just a mantra for seasoned runners; with science behind him, Douglas presents proven methods so that we can all use running to improve our mental health and live happier—in and out of running shoes.
matthew haskins (verified owner) –
If you have anxiety, depression or anything related to those two this book can provide relief in knowing that we are all figuring it out as we go and some of these tools could be helpful. Easy and enjoyable read!
Jelena Sommer (verified owner) –
Best of the best! A profound jet easy to read book with lots of practical insights on brain and running and how to use running as a powerful tool for your mental wellbeing. Definitely a must read!
Thomas L. Lamb (verified owner) –
Just finished reading this book and it was very insightful!
Scott and Lauren (verified owner) –
i loved this book> I was already convinced of the benefits of running, but this book provided the supporting information, as well as the motivation to run. I really appreciated the transparency with which the author discussed his own personal struggles with depression and his encouragement for others in the same situation.
MoabGirl (verified owner) –
This is a great read. Well written and very informative. Makes me want to run a lot more.
Kevin Beck (verified owner) –
Three critical aspects of this book stand out.
One is that Douglas is not proposing that the core idea — that running is a wonderful tonic for depression – is new, but that it is undervalued and under-prescribed. Exercise competes with the multibillion-dollar drug industry for primacy or even adequate advocacy, and as a result, claims made on its behalf must be proportionally louder than those that favor pharmaceuticals as a primary bulwark against pathological moodiness or surliness.
The second is that Douglas is a realist and a truth-seeker, not a salesman or attention-monger. I’m familiar enough with his work to know that he reports only what the facts compel him to report. Anyone who reads this can therefore be assured that is anything, Scott tends to downplay what others in his position routinely exaggerate.
The third is that in the running world, Douglas is virtually peerless as a writer, especially when the subject at hand is personal. This makes him an invaluable guide in an exploration that has affected a great many of us deeply and to our personal and professional detriment.
This is not a “running book” (if it were, I doubt I would have sought it out), but instead an assortment of ideas and observations runners in particular are privy to. I’ve had first-hand battles with some of the issues Douglas raises, but those who haven’t experienced the wringer of depression or other mood disturbances first-hand are certain to appreciate the possibly unique mental-health benefits Douglas distributes throughout every chapter – not just things like “improved cognition,” but the way this seems to happen. Douglas makes lights go on about how lights go on in runners’ heads.
Douglas may not be a scientist by training, but he thinks like one. He allows his own experience to flavor his presentation while being careful not to overgeneralize, and is emphatic that no magical or one-size-fits all treatments exist for depression and related psychiatric disorders. He presents the state of current research and amplifies it with observations by objective professionals, and he leaves the important decisions on how to proceed in the hands of his readers.
If I have a complaint about the book – and it’s nothing of the sort, more of an inescapable, wry reality – it’s that it was impossible for me to get through the text without repeatedly pausing to burrow into and take stock of my own mental state: Is this me? Have I tried this? Am I anxious right now? But this of course is exactly the noise one’s mind ought to be making when considering running as not a mere adjunct to therapy, but as the primary weapon in one’s mood-improvement arsenal.
Jonathan H Beverly (verified owner) –
Scott Douglas has inspired and informed runners for three decades. This is his most personal and best work to date.
Full disclosure: I worked with Scott at Running Times for five years, and know him to be passionate about the sport and about accuracy and honesty in research and writing. “Running is My Therapy” combines thorough research and clear, hyperbole-free presentation with personal experiences and perspectives to deliver a book that is as enjoyable to read as it is useful.
You will find much of interest here even if you’ve never considered yourself a candidate for therapy. Scott details the myriad ways running improves the brain and how it helps us deal with life’s challenges. He explores questions like why running improves your mood (in ways swimming, for example doesn’t), what types of runs are best for making you feel better, why conversations on runs are so comfortable (and useful), why focusing on pace can be detrimental while focusing on form can enhance your running experience, why meaningful running goals are more than distractions, why running and drinking often go together, for better or worse. And, yes, he also details how running affects depression and can work together with other therapies to help you cope and thrive. (Note, after reading, you may, like me, learn that you’ve been using running as therapy for depressive symptoms even if you didn’t know it, and will benefit from that new knowledge).
Besides the depth of research and variety of interesting topics, what sets this book apart are Scott’s personal revelations, detailing periods of his running life, his struggles, and his evolving attitudes and perspectives with candor and rich insight. I finished the book thinking that if I didn’t know Scott I would like to meet him, and, thankful that I do know him, wishing that we could spend more time together–ideally on long runs.
If running is more than a sport or a way to fitness for you, if it is one of the ways you deal with and more fully engage in life–or if you’d like it to be–Scott’s book will help you understand that role and enable you to utilize and appreciate it better.
Rick (verified owner) –
Definitely worth reading, though I personally didn’t learn anything new about running and mood control. One point: The author seems to believe that running is superior to all other forms of exercise in this respect and I agree with that, always felt it to be true for me…except for something I recently discovered for myself. I recently started doing open-water swimming in the ocean and lakes and this is what I found: the colder the water, the better I feel afterwards. In fact, I get the best response if the temperature is painfully cold, even if I have only been in for a short time. I suspect this might have something to do with the analgesic effect the brain triggers in response to the pain. For me, swimming in a warm pool, even a long swim, is not nearly as good. I wonder if anyone else has noticed this effect from open-water swimming.
jojo (verified owner) –
Good read. Anecdotal and factual. Liked the stories and honesty. Easy reading. Insightful for those suffering and using exercise as therapy.
Nancy K. (verified owner) –
Love this book. Full of lots of anecdotes and actual studies!!
Joyce E.S. (verified owner) –
I learned more than I ever wanted to know about brain chemistry but loved getting so much support for running. No guilt for taking the time when I now know how much it helps me be a better human and a better partner.
Earl Jackson (verified owner) –
Very good book! This book validated many feelings I’ve had about the correlation between running and mood levels and depression.
Beavo63 (verified owner) –
Very inspiring and well written. I like the mixture of science and anecdotal material. The writer is speaking from his own experience, and that adds to the power of his insights.
Sterling (verified owner) –
I love this book. It really was a guide with my running for therapy. I highly recommend this book.
Chelsea Jackson (verified owner) –
The detail and references that Scott used in this book were fantastic. As I started to realize I was dealing with Depression it was hard to imagine how I would cope. There are passages in this book that detail the exact thinking mechanisms I had and gave me labels for them and also hope that there were ways to cope. I love that Scott is so thorough in his references and so vulnerable with sharing details of his life. Awesome book. Love it!
junyamint (verified owner) –
This was a fantastic book on the benefits of running: things you suspected, but found there is evidence behind your job of running! It also solidies running’s importance to a calmer, more balanced mind. I’m going to recommend it to all my friends!
Holli (verified owner) –
I used to be a runner, & I’m just starting to run again. It definitely is good for not only your physical health, but also your mental health.
John M (verified owner) –
An excellent book, well worth a read. Explains what a lot of us know intuitively, running is good for the mood
Blondie (verified owner) –
Great discussion of cardio and mental health. Love all of the studies cited. Mindfulness discussed too.
Keyla (verified owner) –
Good read for anyone who loves running, is interested in running, or just needs reminding of all its benefits- some less obvious
Catchstevemo (verified owner) –
As a lifelong runner and someone who has dealt with mental health issues for most of my life, I found this book fantastic. Scott was so personal in his writing and he also had the science to back up all his points. I took so much away from this book and am so appreciative of Scott’s willingness to share his story with the reader.
Heart of Ohio (verified owner) –
I’m sad to see a few reviewers claimed they learned nothing new from this book. Of course a runner (or anyone who exercises enough to raise the heart rate) already knows that running is about much more than pace or physical health. Of course we know we “just feel better” after a run. What Douglas did in this book, however, is take us beyond that shared experience and offer the science behind why this is true. That’s what makes this book so powerful. And he does it in a way that feels as if he’s talking directly to me. We could be sharing a cup of coffee across the table from one another as he recounts anecdotes then adds facts and figures to explain them. I so appreciate the amount of work this book took and the skill he uses to tell the story. Thanks Mr. Douglas for adding an important text to canon.
SoCal Pete (verified owner) –
Having suffered from some combination of depression, substance abuse, and obsessive running for at least 50 of my 58 years on earth, reading this book was like, well, going for a long run in the hills with a valued, trusted friend and opening up about every aspect of a topic that’s defined our lives. Scott has been there–is there–and knows what he’s writing about. I can’t recommend this book enough to anyone else who’s on the same path. It won’t fix your depression, substance abuse, or running, but for 269 pages it’ll let you be you–and maybe discover a few things about yourself along the way that you didn’t know.
Brandy (verified owner) –
This helped so much get through my training for my Marathon! Highly suggest this for anyone dealing with Anxiety and Depression!
matt lloyd (verified owner) –
I discovered the link between my own mental health and running 12 months ago but to read a book on it is very helpful too. The scientific information appears more up to date than what I’ve read elsewhere.
Jesse (verified owner) –
Enjoyed reading about how running has made an impact on others, and ways we can improve our mental health. Thank you.
marsha saylor (verified owner) –
Loved this book!
Eve Hall (verified owner) –
Great boom with honest, helpful I sights. I highly recommend!
Taking the Long Way Home (verified owner) –
In his new book, Running is My Therapy, author and Runner’s World editor Scott Douglas shares his battle with depression and anxiety and how running has helped him manage his symptoms. He also reviews the physiology of how running helps people who struggle with mental health issues. Most of what he shares is about the mind-body connection. He also talks about how running “makes us smarter”, citing plenty of evidence to back that up.
Douglas also cites the growing body of evidence that exercise can be a viable treatment or at least an adjunct to treatment for depression and anxiety. Along with the evidence he presents, he shares his own story. As a teenager, he found sex, drugs, and rock and roll as a way to cope with his depression. During that time, he also started running and found it to provide the same kind of symptom relief as the less healthy pursuits. He also discovered other running-related benefits, like self-confidence and self-efficacy–something he cites often throughout the book. Douglas became a pretty impressive runner, racking up some nice PRs throughout his life. He provides examples of world-class runners who also fight depression and anxiety.
There’s plenty of science here for the nerd in all of us. But Douglas breaks it down so that the information is easy to digest. I found this book to be very interesting and not at all complicated or boring. In fact, I felt as if I was reading an extended article from Runner’s World. For me, a runner whose mental toughness has been a work in progress for what seems like forever, there wasn’t a lot of new information here. But it was really nice to have it all in one place. Douglas really did his homework on this topic and it shows.
Balkan Sencan (verified owner) –
This is by far one of the most sincere books that I have read on running. Kudos to the writer for sharing his life secrets with us which makes the book more affective with real life experience. Besides I have taken good notes for other sides of the life as well. Well written, joyful read.
spinfanseattle (verified owner) –
Well written. Enjoyed each chapter! The writing motivated me to lace up my running shoes and get out the door!
Abigail Thomson (verified owner) –
I marked 4 stars only because the cover is smudged or marred, but the book and its content are sure easy to read and very helpful. Thanks!
Mrs. C. (verified owner) –
I always knew how good running was for my headspace as well as my physical fitness but held a lot of self doubts and also experienced great anxiety when it came to participating in races. This book has completely changed the way I approach both the training and the event (when we get to compete again) I cannot thank you enough and will recommend to all my running friends, my running times and style has improved no end as a result of my new thought processes. Would totally recommend.
Rachel (verified owner) –
Running is a powerful tool the more books and information about it the better. I would definitely recommend this book.
russell lende (verified owner) –
Before digging into the book I thought it would be more about 1 man’s journey with running. Grant it the book was about how running has helped the author deal with anxiety and depression , the book actually provides science backed studies and real life scenarios to how running helps depression and anxiety
Lauraf19 (verified owner) –
I’m five weeks into running after surgery forced me to sit out for three months. I’ve had lifelong depression and GAD, so just about everything in this book spoke directly to me. Its chocked full of scientific studies that back up the fabled “Runner’s High.” Running is keeping me on an even keel these days, and I loved getting an in depth explanation of the process.
abeegle (verified owner) –
THE AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT RELIVING STRESS AND ANXIETY. HE BRINGS UP SEVERAL GOOD POINTS ON BOTH SUBJECTS. HE BROUGHT SEVERAL WAYS TO FIGHT DEPRESSION, I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST SUBJECRS THAT BE COVERED.
OVERALL AN EXCELLENT BOOK!
MDowell (verified owner) –
A well-written, easy-to-read book on the topic. Not too heavy on the science but not too shallow or wishy washy either.