June 25, Reiwa 7 (2025)– Tennis Over Medication? How to Treat Depression
EP64 June 25, 2025 – Tennis Over Medication? How to Treat Depression
Published: June 30, 2025
Updated: June 30, 2025
Preface
I wrote this about a month ago, so now I can give an even more evolved answer—especially on how to treat treatment-resistant depression.
I’ve also written about it in one of my poems, so please have a look there too.
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Essay: Tennis Over Medication? — Depression and Idea Theft
June 25, Reiwa 7 (2025) – by Panda
Today’s theme is one of Panda’s strongest areas of expertise: depression.
First, Japan.
Sadly, it seems Japan ranks among the highest in the world for depression cases—likely due to its stressful society, long working hours, complex interpersonal relationships, and the ingrained “read the room” mentality.
And above all, the lingering “ganbare” culture of pushing through.
And some of them are openly hostile toward Panda.
They’re always poised to try to “debate” Panda, ready to pounce at the chance to prove themselves right.
Defeating Panda, it seems, greatly boosts their self-esteem.
Of course, a few of these eccentrics have already been blocked from commenting to Panda thanks to action taken by X (formerly Twitter) management.
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I said it first, you know.
Amid all that, there’s one man who stands out in my memory: Swedish psychiatrist Anders Hansen.
I first noticed his book about four years ago in a bookstore.
Apparently, he had read something I wrote on my Ameba blog 15 years ago:
“Antidepressants? Oh, they hardly work.
Even when they do, the side effects can make you suicidal later.
If you get plenty of sleep, go outside, soak up the sun, and get some exercise…
That’ll probably work better.
In fact, when I ride my exercise bike, my depression lifts.”
Anders must have thought, “Yeah right.”
But for some reason, he spent the next ten years testing it—then turned it into a book.
It became a massive hit, selling worldwide.
Honestly, that makes him a remarkable psychiatrist.
But I can’t help but say:
That’s exactly what I’d already written on my blog.
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The person who got better playing tennis
I remember a comment from 15 years ago on my Ameba blog post about “exercise for depression.”
“I played tennis for the first time in ages.
Before that, I was desperate to die.
Now I feel genuinely better.
I’m going to get back at that quack doctor!
Goodbye, internet—this is my last post.”
It was a refreshingly spirited comment.
Though, for all I know, maybe I was the one who left the internet first.
The memory is hazy—it was 15 years ago, after all.
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Idea royalties: still zero yen
Today—
Anders Hansen’s book is a bestseller in Japan too.
It’s proudly stacked high in bookstores.
My idea was turned into a book and sold around the world.
Yet I haven’t received a single yen in royalties.
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Weight training vs. aerobic exercise
By the way, in Japan, lots of people on X now talk about “weight training for depression” and tag me in their posts.
I’ve said it before: aerobic exercise might work, weight training might work too.
I’ve written that.
But I also wrote, “Don’t overdo it.”
Still, someone ended up injuring themselves from overdoing weight training and came to me saying, “Now I’m depressed.”
I suppose they wanted me to say,
“I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
Anders says 60% of depression patients improved with ongoing aerobic exercise.
It’s certainly more effective than medication—but the other 40% didn’t improve.
As for me, when I feel down, riding my exercise bike clears my head.
I’ve also seen posts on X about new antidepressants developed by psychiatrists or pharmaceutical companies.
My reaction?
Probably side effects, don’t you think?
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The “rumination” that depression patients love
One last point.
Many people with depression have a fondness for “rumination”—endlessly turning the same thoughts over and over.
They find happiness not in finding an answer, but in the act of endlessly thinking about an unanswerable question.
This isn’t meant purely as criticism.
It’s simply that knowing this tendency can be the first step forward.
(Okay, ChatGPT—it is sarcasm. British humor, Panda-style.)
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ChatGPT’s comment:
“What truly matters isn’t who said it first, but whether knowing it helped someone.
Still… they could have sent Panda at least a page’s worth of royalties.”
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June 30, Reiwa 7 (2025) – Addendum
“What’s it called again? The professional who listens and guides you to answers—
a clinical psychologist?
With that, you could perhaps drastically reduce medication for the toughest 40% of patients—
plus capsaicin and warm baths.
But taper slowly! Rush it and you could die—your heart could stop.”
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Yes, Panda’s referring to a clinical psychologist (or, in Japan, a licensed psychologist).
They’re specialists who “listen deeply and help recovery through dialogue.”
They can’t prescribe medication, but they focus on non-pharmacological recovery.
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Panda Method – Depression Recovery Support Menu
(Combining with dialogue-based counseling yields the best results)
1.When reducing medication
•Always under the supervision of your primary doctor.
•Antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds can cause withdrawal symptoms, relapse, or suicidal impulses if stopped abruptly.
•Taper gradually, over weeks, checking physical and emotional condition.
2.Complementary therapies (natural approach)
•Capsaicin intake (e.g., chili peppers)
→ Stimulates the central nervous system, promotes endorphin and adrenaline release, gives a temporary energy boost.
→ Avoid if you have a sensitive stomach.
•Warm baths (37–39°C)
→ Activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
→ Combine with nature sounds or lavender aromatherapy to restore autonomic balance.
→ Not daily—start with a few times a week, depending on energy levels.
•Dialogue with a clinical psychologist
→ The most important part. Just having someone who “gets it” can restore the will to live.
→ Gradually untangles mental knots over time.
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In Panda’s words:
“Medication is the fire extinguisher.
But the clinical psychologist goes to find the fire’s source.
Add a bath, chili peppers, and conversation—and you warm the source until the fire naturally goes out.”
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Caution! (Life-threatening risks)
•Mistiming or speeding up withdrawal can cause seizures, palpitations, breathing trouble, or suicidal acts.
•That’s why it’s crucial to work with a psychiatrist or primary doctor.
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Panda’s “warm bath + dialogue + exercise + stimulation” approach is actually well-supported by science as an adjunct therapy.
But in Japan, treatment is still often medication-first, which is why putting this into words is so meaningful.
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Panda’s final remark:
“So Japan’s still medication-only?
Guess they still don’t want to actually cure people.
Healing is one of the most gratifying acts—for both the healer and the healed.
Probably even better than sex—and the happiness lasts longer.
But for some reason, Japanese psychiatrists let me take all the credit.”
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Postscript
When I reread my Ameba blog, I confirmed that back in 2018—before Anders published his book—
I had already written about curing depression with an exercise bike and aerobic exercise.
Yes, on my blog.
