Exercise: Natures Antidepressant
Exercise is great for our bodies. Our bodies relish being physically challenged on a regular basis. A regular exercise regime helps to lower stress and anxiety levels. It is also proven to relieve the symptoms of depression. The mind and body are not separate entities. Having a healthy mind and body gives us all the power to have a positive relationship with our selves and world around us.
The NHS recommends people “with mild to moderate depression take part in about three sessions a week, lasting about 45mins to an hour”. Other tools to combat mental health include medication and talking therapies. Exercise is the only tool with added advantages and side effects.
“The neurobiological effects of physical exercise are numerous and involve a wide range of interrelated effects on brain structure, brain function, and cognition. A large body of research in humans has demonstrated that consistent aerobic exercise induces persistent improvements in certain cognitive functions, healthy alterations in gene expression in the brain, and beneficial forms of neuroplasticity and behavioral plasticity; some of these long-term effects include: increased neuron growth, increased neurological activity, improved stress coping, enhanced cognitive control of behavior, improved declarative, spatial, and working memory, and structural and functional improvements in brain structures and pathways associated with cognitive control and memory. The effects of exercise on cognition have important implications for improving academic performance in children and college students, improving adult productivity, preserving cognitive function in old age, preventing or treating certain neurological disorders, and improving overall quality of life.”
Wikipedia
The only way to improve on using exercise to treat depression is to conduct it outside! The combination of having to get up, get dressed and leave the house will already have you heading in the right direction. Add this to a breath of fresh air and a dose of vitamin D, you have the power to put the “black dog” on a time out.
Once you make the decision to start, your mood will already be lifted by making a positive step forward. Having a route for the road to recovery gives us hope and eventually, strength. Each time you reach a goal or improve your personal best, you will receive the motivation to continue and reap the benefits that exercise offers. Those suffering from mental health should always seek medical advice, but as we know there are no down sides to lacing up your trainers, joining a group of like minded people and chasing your own happiness in the healthiest way possible.
Comments