In a world filled with strife and stress, it’s no surprise that many of us deal with some form of mental health disorder. Various mental illnesses affect our lives, and we want to find some way to mitigate their effects. Exercise is a common method in helping us regulate mental illnesses and will benefit our health in multiple ways.
Anxiety and Exercise
Since there are numerous stressors in the world, just as many things trigger someone’s anxiety. Anxiety comes from our body’s fight or flight response when we encounter a stressful moment or have a string of troubling thoughts. Everyday situations may trigger anxiety, no matter how mundane, making it difficult to manage once it starts up.
Exercise is an effective way to help this mental health disorder by releasing the tension in your muscles and regulating heart health, so the increased heartbeat that comes with anxiety isn’t as strong. Frequent exercise will help you feel stronger and take your mind off of the stressors that come with life, mitigating the effects of anxiety.
Depression and Exercise
Many people struggle with the uphill battle of depression. Depression occurs when the brain’s serotonin levels are low, and you don’t have the “feel good” sensation that you normally feel, causing your body to feel drained.
Exercise will encourage the production of serotonin in the brain and help those in a depressive state feel encouraged to do more and help them crawl out of that feeling. The exercise will also get the blood moving to counteract the fatigue and draining feelings of depression.
Insomnia and Exercise
Living a fulfilling life with insomnia is difficult since your body lacks the rest it needs. Most causes for insomnia come from anxiety and stress, but others may include your sleep environment and the foods you eat.
Partaking in exercise will help you handle this mental health disorder by making the body feel more tired and decreasing the effects of insomnia that cause a person to stay awake.
Mental health disorders are a constant challenge to overcome, but with exercise, these challenges won’t be as difficult to face. Prioritizing mental health has been one of the most effective exercise trends over the past decade, and as more people continue this trend, there may be fewer people struggling with mental illnesses. Take a moment to work out or walk around the room to help yourself feel better.
Dianne Pajo is a Certified Personal Trainer based out of the Chicagoland area with a passion for music, combat sports, and animals. She enjoys competing in amateur boxing and kickboxing, but in her other leisure time, you can find her outdoors and performing music around the city. She is also a dog mom of 2.