[fapjacks]

I like the suggestion here that one of the ways running could help is by the eye tracking back and forth. Going for a run works, full stop. You can search my comment history and see that I recommend four specific things to help immediately alleviate PTSD symptoms like depression and anxiety (take a shower and do some laundry, do some exercise and run, hydrate and eat some leafy greens, and make an appointment with your doc), in which "going for a run" is a central ingredient. I've helped a pretty big group of people over the last ten years (myself, former members of my unit, friends and family, etc), and it works. Incidentally, people always seem to have an opinion about this, even when they've never experienced the problems themselves. It's a bit surprising actually how many people rush to get a word in edgewise, when it concerns someone else's feelings. Anyway, this is a very interesting theory.

[zeroer]

What would you recommend for someone who used to love running but can't anymore because of knee and ankle problems?

[musha68k]

Swimming - hated it back in school, started to love it five years ago during a very stressful time in my life.

Peace and meditation is what it mostly does for me.

If you are interested do yourself a favor and check out the book "Total Immersion" by Terry Laughlin.

I wish had started to read it earlier - a total game changer for me, none of the "no-pain-no-gain" bullshit. I swear I've been having almost instant results, passing by most "better trained" swimmers with blissful ease, it really is unfair ;) Essentially it's about hacking swimming by seriously getting into the physics of the sport.

Highly recommended!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Immersion

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/936958.Total_Immersion

[fapjacks]

Swimming is a fantastic suggestion and I wholeheartedly agree with it. I'd also recommend weightlifting as a great companion regimen.