https://astraightarrow.net/empowered-archery-using-the-bow-and-arrow-to-help-deal-with-depression/ Everything on Archery, Hunting, Outdoors Tue, 18 Apr 2017 08:59:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://astraightarrow.net/empowered-archery-using-the-bow-and-arrow-to-help-deal-with-depression/#comment-17105 Sun, 22 May 2016 21:32:44 +0000 https://nqo.psw.mybluehost.me/?p=1527#comment-17105 I am a 63 year old totally disabled Veteran with major back & other health issues. For several years my heath has declined to a point where I no longer want to go thru the pain to do anything except sit in my lazy boy & watch tv. In college I shot for the University of Florida, was ranked 26 in the nation & qualified for the 1976 Olympic trials. I have 2 sons ages 20 & 22. I can remember the first time my oldest shot his first arrows & at age 4 years old consistently placed arrows in a paper plate. Since 2005 I’ve been unable to shoot with them & we all have forgotten how good it feels to shoot a bow. With a lot of hope I am investing in three used but good compounds & looking forward to spending time with my sons. It is also my prayer archery will help me loose the grip depression has on me. With God’s help I hope to begin living again.

]]> https://astraightarrow.net/empowered-archery-using-the-bow-and-arrow-to-help-deal-with-depression/#comment-15247 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 17:41:00 +0000 https://nqo.psw.mybluehost.me/?p=1527#comment-15247 I’m a 44 year old man who is diagnosed with BiPolar II . All my life I have carried this illness with me,for most of my life undiagnosed. When I sought help I was given the option of taking medication,anti depressants,which I took. I soon began thinking more rationally,clearly and quietly. After about 2 years of medication and a good therapist I made a decision. That decision has changed my life. As a boy I was introduced to archery through scouting and I loved it. I have no idea why I stoppr shooting but I put my bow down for about 25 years or so. The decision I made was that I was going to get into archery again. I went to an amazing range in Manchester Connecticut and bought my first recurve. I took lessons and joined and archery club. I found a place to belong. I found a sport and a competitive outlet that doesn’t require me to be an athlete. Literally anyone can participate in archery. I now shoot competitively and find many benefits from participating in archery too numerous to list but the article sums them up. For minor depression this may be an alternative to conventional treatment however I don’t have a mild case of it. I have found that medication,therapy visits about once every three months and archery make a strong prpogram that produces a tremendous cumulative effect for me that eases my symptoms. I also found a place to be someone not just someone in the background.

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