One of the most common questions I encounter, especially with prospective new clients, is how exactly does exercise improve mental health? Exercise actually affects mental health in several ways.
Improves Overall Body Functioning
Exercise improves overall body composition, cardiovascular function, muscle strength, neurological functioning, and higher energy levels. Generally, the better one looks, the better they will feel, and the more self-confidence one will have. A stronger body equals a much lesser risk of injury, an obvious plus. A lot of people also find pleasure and a sense of accomplishment in looking and feeling stronger, especially for those who started with quite a lot of excess weight. People who exercise often comment on having better memory than when they started. The main thing people tell me they like about getting into an exercise routine is the higher energy levels they have.
Elevates Mood
One of the main things people notice after they exercise is that they feel less depressed as soon as they leave the gym. I even had someone tell me that after their exercise, they felt like they had just been in a therapy session. Exercising produces endorphins, making one feel enjoyment from exercise, thus more likely to exercise again the next day. Exercise also produces the hormone dopamine, which elevates mood, and can sometimes leave a person feeling like they’re on an emotional high.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Exercise has been proven to reduce both stress and anxiety. In therapy, many are told that what you don’t work out, you act out, so exercising is a must for anyone with anxiety disorder. For this reason, exercise has also proven a key factor with people who are trying to give up the crutch of medication or substance addiction of any kind. Exercise also produces a chemical called serotonin, which improves sleep and reduces nausea, which plays a big part in aiding with a person’s anxiety. Because anxiety is often accompanied by bouts of nausea, many people find that their nausea isn’t as bad after exercising. Not only will they sleep better because of the reduced stress and increased levels of serotonin, but they are expending more energy, wearing themselves out more, and increasing their ability to feel tired for a good night’s sleep.
Reduces Pain
Exercising raises endorphins, thus making pain hurt less, or in some cases, not hurt at all, depending of course upon the severity. This is another reason why doctors of arthritic patients recommend exercise to their patients, who then usually report less pain and easier movement than they experienced prior to exercising.
Exercise for Longevity
Exercise has several proven benefits, and more and more people are discovering why fitness and the fitness industry is on the rise. With the United States facing an obesity epidemic, I hope this article sheds some light on why we should all focus on our fitness and overall health. We live only one life, and it often goes by in the blink of an eye, so why aren’t we all working toward the goal of longevity? We all want more time with our loved ones, and fitness is the proven way to achieve that.
Tambryn Crimson-Dahn is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and fitness and wellness coach with 4 years of experience. After having worked in the gym industry, she now owns and operates her own company, Crimson Wholistic Fitness. She specializes in depression, anxiety, and overall mental health and wellness.
