I admit I’ve become a statistic… Again, I am not alone in this, as researchers have found that higher social media usage is often linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety.

When I was in college, I used to break up with people when I needed more time to run. It would build up over time and I would get frustrated and stressed with all my school work, and training for track or cross country, and trying to see someone regularly, and, well, let’s just say running and school always came out on top.

For combatting anxiety, there is no simple magic remedy but the great news is running helps a lot!

Yet I ran. Very slowly, and less miles than my old self, but still something. And I felt that crippling veil of depression lifting, slowly, steadily, with each step. I’d return from my run and feel stronger, a little more capable of handling life’s challenges.

For me, and most runners, the challenge with running is mental. The same overactive mind that landed me in honors courses in school also served to undermine my confidence, especially before races.