A person’s mental health should never be overlooked during their fitness and health journey. It is essential to be aware of exercise’s positive impact on mental health. Exercises have been scientifically proven to be mood boosters, thereby decreasing the symptoms of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
Exercises also positively impact a person’s health, and all fitness professionals should be aware of their advantages. Regular exercise improves muscle strength, and insulin sensitivity, decreases cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and enables the cardiovascular system to work efficiently.
Since we are aware of the benefits of exercise on a person’s physical health, let us look at the mental health benefits of exercising.
It is essential to know that mental health is linked to physical health, as people with poor mental health issues may end up suffering from chronic physical conditions such as arthritis and asthma.
Exercises are considered to be one of the big three healthy lifestyle factors, and these factors are highly vital in improving a person’s mental health. You should access the best online fitness coaching software to achieve these lifestyle factors.
Depression and anxiety
As written above, exercises are scientifically proven to be mood boosters, thereby decreasing the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that exercises can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressants, and this is why it is usually recommended before resorting to medication.
Exercises release endorphins, a powerful chemical in the brain that produces feelings of happiness and energizes your spirit. This is why it is called a ‘feel-good chemical. Maintaining a regular exercise schedule is also a great way to prevent relapsing.
Lastly, it promotes many changes in a person’s brain, such as neural growth and new activity patterns that make you feel calm and boosts your self-esteem. You’d find yourself paying less attention to constant thoughts running in and out of your head through constant movement.
Relieves stress
We often find ourselves stressing over little too big things, leaving us with tense muscles, a pounding pulse, painful headaches, and even frequent urination or diarrhea. Nobody likes to be under stress, and the best way to relieve your stress is through regular exercise.
Exercise helps relieve tension inside the body while reducing stress-induced brain damage by stimulating the production of neurohormones. This improves a person’s mood, cognition, and clouded thinking.
Better sleep
If you are having trouble sleeping, exercise is a great way to regulate your sleep pattern. Regular exercise and physical activity help to increase body temperature, which helps to calm our minds while regulating our circadian rhythm. It is not advisable to exercise close to bedtime, but you can try some gentle stretching or yoga.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
It has been proven that regular exercise helps reduce the symptoms of ADHD by improving a person’s concentration and memory. Moderate and vigorous activities may lead to better results and are said to be a great alternative to medications such as Adderall.
When you exercise, your brain’s serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels increase, affecting attention and concentration. So, the more you exercise, the better results you should have.
Panic disorders
Regular exercises and physical activities are effective ways to help people with panic disorder. They are known to release tension in the body while reducing feelings of fear and how a person’s body reacts to anxiety.
In some cases, consistent physical activity of about three workouts a week reduces the symptoms of panic disorder and the intensity of panic attacks.
- Exercises help build a person’s resilience, and this helps them handle mental challenges better.
- Regular exercise helps build intelligence, strengthen a person’s memory and boost overall brain performance.
- Exercises strengthen the hippocampus, a part of our brain responsible for memory strength. This helps to prevent memory loss and cognitive decline.
- Physical activity improves a person’s self-confidence by reducing symptoms of low self-esteem and social withdrawal.
- Exercises that engage a person’s arms and legs, such as hiking and mountain climbing, reduce the symptoms of PTSD and trauma.
Takeaway
An online fitness coaching software is the best way to achieve your exercise goals, as you get the support you need without spending long hours at the gym.
Remember that your body is linked closely with your mind; if you allow your body to feel good, your mind will feel good too.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
