What are the mental health benefits of exercise?
Exercise is not just about aerobic capacity and muscle size.
Indeed, exercising can improve your physical health and fitness, shrink your
waistline, improve your sex life, and even add years to your life. But that's
not what motivates most people to stay active.
People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives
them a great sense of well-being. They feel more energized during the day,
sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and
positive about themselves and their lives. It is also a powerful medicine for
many common mental health problems.
Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive effect on
depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps
you sleep better, and improves your overall mood. And you don't have to be a
fitness fanatic to reap the benefits. Research shows that even modest amounts
of exercise can make a real difference. No matter your age or fitness level,
you can learn to use exercise as a powerful tool for dealing with mental health
issues, improving your energy and outlook, and getting more out of life. @smarttechpros
exercise and depression
Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate
depression just as effectively as antidepressant medication but without side
effects. For example, a recent study by Harvard University T.H. The Chan School
of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour
reduced the risk of major depression by 26%. In addition to relieving symptoms
of depression, research also shows that adhering to an exercise program can
prevent relapse.
Exercise is a powerful fighter against depression for several
reasons. Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain,
including neurodevelopment, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns
that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins, powerful
chemicals in your brain that energize your spirit and make you feel good.
Finally, exercise can act as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet
time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that fuel depression.
exercise and anxiety
Exercise is a natural and effective anxiolytic treatment.
Relieves tension and stress, increases physical and mental energy, and improves
well-being by releasing endorphins. Anything that gets you moving can help, but
you'll benefit more if you pay attention rather than get distracted.
Try to notice the sensation of your feet hitting the ground,
for example, the rhythm of your breathing or the feeling of wind on your skin.
By adding this element of mindfulness and focusing on your body and how you
feel while exercising, you will improve your fitness faster and be able to
interrupt the flow of constant worries running through your head.
Exercise and stress
Have you ever noticed how your body feels when you are under
stress? Your muscles may be tense, especially in your face, neck, and
shoulders, leaving you with back or neck pain or an excruciating headache. You
may feel tightness in your chest, a racing pulse, or muscle spasms. You may
also experience problems such as insomnia, heartburn, stomach pain, diarrhoea,
or frequent urination. The anxiety and discomfort of all of these physical
symptoms can lead to more stress, creating a vicious cycle between mind and
body.
Exercise is an effective way to break this cycle. In
addition to releasing endorphins in the brain, physical activity helps relax
muscles and relieve tension in the body. Since body and mind are so closely
linked, when your body feels better, so will your mind.
Exercise and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Exercising regularly is one of the easiest and most
effective ways to reduce symptoms of ADHD and improve focus, motivation,
memory, and mood. Physical activity immediately increases levels of dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin in the brain, all of which affect focus and
attention. In this way, exercise works the same way as ADHD medications such as
Ritalin and Adderall.
Exercise, posttraumatic stress disorder and trauma
Evidence suggests that focusing on your body and what it
feels like to exercise can help your nervous system "untie" and start
to get out of the freeze stress response that is so characteristic of PTSD or
PTSD. Instead of letting your mind wander, pay close attention to the
sensations. @techgeeksblogger
