I want to feel strong and energetic enough to enjoy my life. But I do not think the only worthwhile starting point is a demanding programme or the heaviest weight you can lift.
If you are feeling low, “Where could I begin?” may be a much more useful question.
What did the study compare?
A University of Limerick team article published on 17 July 2026 describes a study of 55 young women with elevated anxiety symptoms. That description does not mean all of them had a diagnosed anxiety disorder. [1]
They took part in either resistance training or a low-intensity comparison programme. Both involved supervision, time to get familiar with the activities and an eight-week programme. Depressive symptoms improved in both groups, without a clear statistical difference between them. [1]
The July date belongs to the team’s summary, not necessarily when the trial happened or the original paper appeared. This article draws on that summary.
What can I take from that?
The study did not prove the programmes were equally effective. It was small, so there is uncertainty. Both groups also had supervision and participated in a programme; there was no inactive group to help separate those shared experiences from the exercise itself.
It does not show that lifting weights cures depression or tell women of every age exactly how hard to train.
A less intimidating place to begin
What I like is the question it opens up: what would make participation feel manageable? You might want privacy, company, reassurance or someone to show you what to do. Those preferences matter.
The study cannot promise that a session will change your mood. It can help us question the idea that exercise only counts if it leaves you exhausted.
Getting the support you need
You could ask how a programme would fit your energy and symptoms, what adaptations might help and how to notice progress without judging every session.
Persistent low mood deserves care in its own right. Movement does not have to carry the whole responsibility for helping you feel better.
Read the original source
- University of Limerick PESS: resistance training compared with a low-intensity programme ↗Research-team summary · 17 July 2026 · This article draws on the team’s account; it is not an independent full-paper appraisal.