Exercise has long been coveted as an effective way to boost your physical state and keep your body in top shape. Over the years, researchers have discovered that exercise is also beneficial to mental health. Engaging in regular exercise can help battle symptoms of depression and may be an effective, natural way to prevent depression from occurring. When you are depressed, it may take some time to get motivated, but exercise can lead to a significant improvement in symptoms of depression.
About Depression
Depression is a common mental illness that affects close to 19 million adults every year. People suffering from depression often have feelings of hopelessness. They may feel down even when there seems no reason to feel that way. Depressed people typically have the “blues” and have an overwhelming sense of self-defeat. These feelings tend to last for an extended period of time and can often begin to interfere with daily life and activities. When this happens, the person may be diagnosed as clinically depressed.
Effects Of Exercise On Depression
Research studies suggest that exercise may be a good alternative to antidepressant drugs in treating depression. Exercise can benefit mental health, but a depressed person may have some difficulty remaining motivated to continue an exercise regimen. The mental health benefits of exercise when related to depression are at optimum levels when the depressed person:
Engages in several weeks of regular exercise
performs the exercise more than a few times per week
Engages in more brisk, active exercise
Exercise can benefit mental health in similar ways to that of traditional treatment, producing the following outcomes:
Improved mood
Improved self- esteem
Improved sleep patterns
More positive responses to stress
How Exercise Can Help Depression
It is believed that exercise can help treat depression. Researchers have found that exercise can lessen anxiety and elevate mood. The correlation between exercise and depression is not completely clear, but depression may be positively affected by exercise for any of the following reasons:
Exercise boosts the body’s production of endorphins, which are responsible for elevating mood in a natural way. Neurotransmitters in the brain release these feel-good substances that help battle depression.
Exercise reduces the body’s production of immune system chemicals that can make depression symptoms worse.
Exercise elevates body temperature, which may have a soothing effect on the body.
The benefits of exercise also extend to psychological and emotional well-being. Exercise can have many positive effects including:
A boost in self-confidence
Distracting you from stressful thoughts
Promoting positive social interactions
Promoting a positive way to cope with stress and anxiety
What exercises do you do?
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