How RUNNING Helped My Depression (Mark West)

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My guest this week, Mark West says he believes that we “all have a runner in us”. Mark is a long distance runner and mental health advocate who is using his platform to not only encourage everyone to adapt a running routine into their life but do so to improve their mental health.

Today we learn about a tragic accident that sparked Mark’s passion for running and how fitness was later used to help him when he started struggling with depression and anxiety.

We talk about the metaphor that running represents in mental health, allowing us to literally (and figuratively) put “one foot in front of the other” and view the “hills” in our lives as opportunities for growth. We also talk about what it has been like to be a high achieving male and be so vocal about his mental health when the stigma around men and mental illness is very real.

Mark also shares a POWERFUL insight on why walking and running might be a better option to talk to people who are struggling than “going for a coffee”. He shares about how this journey has opened his eyes to the importance of empathy and the need for us to discover “what works for us”.

This was such a profound episode with many insights about mental health and opens the conversation about the variety of ways that we can find healing. However we want to hear from YOU! Do you use running or fitness as a way to cope with your mental health struggles? Find us on Facebook (Hope to Recharge) and let us know! Because as always…together is BETTER!

Connect with Mark: https://www.instagram.com/run4mh/

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Resources mentioned:

Run Talk Run: https://www.runtalkrun.com/

Topics Discussed: