When in the depths of a depressive episode or battling against attacks of anxiety, the thought of simply getting out of bed can be too much to bear, let alone thinking of exercise. However, as Thomas Cothren of Maryland explains, even the slightest physical movement and exercise can go a long way toward improving mental health.
Regulating the Stress Response
Scientists still do not fully understand why it is that exercise eases depression and anxiety symptoms, but it’s thought that not only does the body release feel-good hormones called endorphins, but it actually regulates the extent to which it reacts to stress.
When exercising in conjunction with taking anti-anxiety medications, the combination can go a long way to equipping the body with what it needs to ward off stressful attacks.
Keeping the Mind Active
There’s no end to the literature that tells us how important exercise is for the body, but it’s also incredibly valuable for the mind. For one, it keeps the brain focused on something other than the problems and issues derived from the current mental health concern.
Taking the time to exercise, whether that involves leaving the house and going for a walk around the park, or simply lifting weights at home, means that for a little while, the mind takes a break and concentrates on the task at hand.
For those in recovery, exercise is a powerful and inexpensive way to keep the mind from dwelling on and being tempted by potentially harmful behaviors. Filling the brain with naturally occurring feel-good hormones is also a way to deal with symptoms of withdrawal, in addition to providing a distraction.
Meeting New People
Exercise is all too often portrayed as a solo activity. Videos of people working out at the gym alone fill social media timelines. Lone joggers wearing earphones are a common sight on the street. But exercise can be an amazing way to expand social circles and make new friends.
Joining walking groups, yoga classes, and even dancing clubs are all excellent ways to give mental health a huge boost. At the same time, for the days when social interaction isn’t top of the list, simply going for a walk around the neighborhood and offering a smile to someone can boost feelings of wellbeing.
Like all parts of recovery, exercise is a personal journey that very often is improved when interacting with other like-minded people who have positive, healthy goals.
Showing the Mind Who’s Boss
Depression and anxiety would have us believe that we’re helpless and that we should give up. But exercise provides the small victories in the day that remind us that we ultimately have more control than we realize over our health.
Hitting personal goals, from walking a set number of steps in a day, to swimming a preset number of laps, to working through a programed number of reps, goes a long way toward proving to ourselves that winning the battle is possible.
What’s most important is making exercise an enjoyable activity, so that the motivation to continue remains consistent and rewarding.
