Mental Health & Exercise

Exercise has been shown to have positive impacts on many facets of Mental Health.

Exercise and depression

There are several different ways in which exercises help combat symptoms of depression. Firstly, exercise promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neural growth, reduced inflammation, and new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being. It also releases endorphins and chemicals in your brain that in turn increase energy levels and make you feel good. Finally, exercise can serve as a distraction, allowing you to find some quiet time to break out of the cycle of negative thoughts that feed depression.

Exercise and anxiety

Exercise has a positive effect in managing anxiety. Again similar to the way the release of endorphins helps relieve symptoms of depression it also helps relieve tension and stress, boosting physical and mental energy. 

By adding a mindfulness element to an exercise regime—really focusing on your body and how it feels as you exercise—you’ll not only improve your physical condition, but you may be able to interrupt the flow of constant worries running through your head.

Other mental health benefits of exercise

Exercise can help provide:

-Memory and thinking. The same endorphins that make you feel better also help you concentrate and feel mentally sharp for tasks at hand. Exercise also stimulates the growth of new brain cells and helps prevent age related decline.

-Concentration. Exercise immediately boosts the brain’s dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels—all of which affect focus and attention. 

-Higher self-esteem. When exercise becomes a habit, it can foster your sense of self-worth and make you feel strong and powerful. Exercise can make you feel better about your appearance and, by meeting even small exercise goals, you will feel a sense of achievement.

-Better sleep. Even short bursts of exercise in the morning or afternoon can help regulate sleep. 

-More energy. Increasing your heart rate several times a week will give you more get-up-and-go.

-Stronger resilience. When faced with mental or emotional challenges in life, exercise can help you build resilience and cope in a healthy way, instead of resorting to alcohol, drugs, or other negative behaviors that ultimately only make your symptoms worse. Regular exercise can help boost your immune system and reduce the impact of stress.

-Confidence to tackle challenges. Adhering to exercise is a good way to create routine and structure in one’s life. For example, if you are able to adhere to exercise 2-3 days per week then this may give you the confidence to adhere to other things in life that were once seen as a difficult challenges. Examples of such challenges could include- regular socialising, committing to studying, acquiring a stable and routine form of work etc. 

Contact us to discuss how an exercise physiologist at Optimus in Richmond can help you!