What Exercise Does To Your Mental Health

How Does Exercise Affect Your Mental Health?

As much as exercise is an investment that most people make to be healthier, better looking and alive for more number of years, the main reason for keeping at it is actually how it makes you feel. The irreplaceable feeling of wellness and energy, better sleep quality, better memory, and the boost in morale are what those who exercise regularly won’t trade for anything in the world. Consequently, regular physical activity also helps reduce a lot of mental health issues. Research has found that regular exercise can help combat depression, ADHD, and anxiety among others.

What Exercise Does To Depression

A research conducted by T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard said that a 15-minute run or an hour’s walk lessens the chances for getting major depression by a degree of 26%. Aside from doing wonders to your brain, exercise can also lower the chances of a relapse. As it also becomes a block to negative thoughts, physical activity makes a person feel calmer and generally feel better.

What Exercise Does To Anxiety

Naturally a medication for anxiety, exercise dismisses stressful feelings and anxiety-provoking strains. As endorphins are produced when one engages in physical activity, feeling good will follow. Mindfulness or being aware of what is happening to your body at the time will give a sense of peace. Once you loan your time to exercising for a few minutes a day, you will be attuned to your body’s experience and worrying will not have a chance to get through.

What Exercise Does To Stress

When you’re stressed out, your body tenses up. Your muscles may feel tighter than usual and your face contorts to a certain degree. This is all involuntary but your body knows that you are in distress. As such, diarrhea, heartburn, insomnia, and pain may be present as well. If you exercise, however, the tension will be released from your body, making you relax. If your body feels more comfortable, it follows that your mind will feel this way, too.

What Exercise Does To ADHD

The nature of people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is to move around a lot. If they engage in organized physical activity, however, such as a sport or an exercise routine, they will release all of these urges into the activity and in turn, the symptoms of their condition will be lessened during the appropriate times and places. Habitual exercise gets credit for being one of the easiest approaches to develop focus, recall, and temperament.

What Exercise Does To PTSD And Trauma

Research has found that when you are mindful of what your body does during exercise, you are aiding your body to release the stress that is caused by trauma. The stress response that prevents those that have PTSD or trauma from moving is characteristic of the condition. When one focuses on the changes and movements that the body is undergoing, they help their nervous system largely. Exercises that require the participation of arms and legs together are the best bets against PTSD.

It’s Not That Hard!

Being physically active is probably not as difficult as you deem it to be. You don’t have to hit the gym seven times a week to get all the mental health benefits of exercise. You can easily be active on your own flooring! Moderate 30-minute routines five times a week, doing 15-minute routines twice, or easy 10-minute routines thrice will give you all the benefits already. Don’t be too intimidated as your body will just adjust to what you can take as you go along. Start with whatever feels easiest and improve as you please.

When you get started, remember to think about when you have the highest degree of energy during the day. This is when you should schedule your workout sessions. You can even start with doing physical work around the house, and not necessarily an exercise circuit. Cleaning the house and gardening will do the trick just as well. You can also bike or walk to work instead of riding a car. This will get your heart pumping well. Finally, remember to have fun! Make exercising a social event with your loved ones and do activities together so you don’t feel like you’re suffering. You will gain the advantages of exercise in no time!

Based on materials from Help Guide

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