Waldman: Take your meds, see your shrink, then put on your running shoes

Depression and anxiety are, by far, the most common mental health problems.

Nearly 20% of the U.S. population struggles with or will struggle with one or both of these problems.

The most common treatment today for these issues is medication — typically prescribed by the primary care physician (not a psychiatrist). This treatment is considered a biological intervention, as the medication is designed to alter the individual’s brain chemistry.

Another fairly well understood intervention for the treatment of depression and/or anxiety is psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is the process in which a trained clinician assists the client/patient to change their negative self-defeating thinking — a cognitive approach — or, alternatively, helps the patient understand how their childhood experiences ultimately affected them — an analytic/Freudian method.

Recently, many studies have shown that depressed or anxious individuals who manage their sleep and diet and, most importantly, exercise improve as fast, or in some cases even faster, than patients who receive only medication or psychotherapy. This is considered a behavioral approach.

For many individuals, getting into a regular exercise routine could become an essential component in the treatment of their depression and/or anxiety.

According to current research, the best way to treat depression and/or anxiety is to take your medication (if indicated), see your therapist, and get a workout.

Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week will make a difference.