Exercise presents many advantages, not only for your physical health but also for your mental health. In your brain, physical activity stimulates chemicals that improve your mood and the brain parts responsible for memory and learning.
Advantages of exercise for mental health
Exercise does not only concern aerobic capacity and muscle size. Indeed, exercise can improve your physical and mental health, improve your sexual health, and add years to your life. But this is not what motivates most people to remain active.
Individuals who exercise frequently tend to do it as it provides them with a tremendous feeling of well-being. Besides, they feel more enthusiastic all day, have sharper memories, sleep better at night, and feel more relaxed and positive towards themselves as well as their life. Furthermore, it can be a cure for many mental health challenges.
1. Exercise and depression
Exercise is a powerful depression eliminator for several reasons. More prominently, it encourages all kinds of variations in the brain, comprising neuronal growth, decreased irritation, and new models of activity that encourage feelings of well-being and calmness.
It also releases endorphins, chemicals in your brain that boost your mind and make you feel good. Finally, exercising can also be a distraction, allowing you to find quiet time to prevent the cycle of negative thoughts and imagination that feed depression.
2. Exercise and anxiety
Exercise is an effective natural anti-anxiety treatment. It eliminates tension, stimulates physical as well as mental energy, and improves well-being thanks to the discharge of endorphins. Anything that makes you move can help you, but there is a more significant advantage if you pay attention to the place of zoning.
3. Exercise and stress
Exercise is an effective way to break this cycle. In addition to freeing endorphins into the brain, physical activity supports to ease muscles and eliminate tension in the body. Since your body as well as mind are so closely interconnected, once your body feels well, you will too.
4. Exercise & ADHD
Physical activity immediately stimulates dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin levels in the brain, affecting development and attention. This way, the exercise works like ADHD drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall.
5. Exercise for PTSD and Trauma
The evidence suggests that by really focusing on your body and what it does by exercising, you can help your nervous system become "taken off" and start getting out of the response to immobilization stress which characterizes the SSPT or the trauma.
Outdoor activities such as hiking, sailing, mountain biking, climbing, rafting in lively water, and skiing (descent and cross-country) reduce the symptoms of the SSPT.
Other advantages of exercise for the mental health
Even if you do not suffer from a mental health problem, regular physical activity can constantly offer a welcome boost to your mood, your perspectives, and your mental well-being.
Exercise can help provide:
· Sharp memory and reflection
The endorphins that make you feel better to help you concentrate and feel mentally lively for the tasks. The exercise also stimulates and prevents age-related decline and the growth of new brain cells.
· Higher self-esteem
Daily exercise is an investment in your mind, body, and soul. When it becomes a habit, it can promote your sense of self-esteem and make you feel strong. You will feel better about your physical appearance, and by reaching even small exercise goals, you will feel a feeling of success.
· Stronger resilience
For people facing mental or emotional challenges in life, exercise can help them build resilience and meet a healthy way, instead of using alcohol, drugs, or other negative behaviors which only aggravate your symptoms. Regular exercise can also help stimulate your immune system and reduce the impact of stress.