Exercise is great for your body, but it’s also great for your mental health. A study by the American Psychological Association found that people who participated in some type of physical activity saw reduced rates of anxiety and depression similar to results from antidepressant medication.
But how could something as rudimentary as getting your heart pumping truly affect your psyche? Find out all of the wonderful things that exercise can do for your brain.
Releases “Feel Good” Chemicals
Exercise is found to increase concentrations of norepinephrine, which
is the chemical responsible for the brain’s stress response. It also releases those “feel good” happy endorphins, alleviating symptoms such as low self-esteem and depression. Those warm, fuzzy feelings help calm anxiety and reduce social stressors.
Helps Dampen Cravings
Exercise is also credited with helping control addictions. By releasing dopamine, the “reward chemical,” exercise can truly be beneficial in addiction recovery. Short exercise sessions serve as a distraction, making cravings for things such as food, alcohol or drugs less appealing.
Furthermore, exercise can greatly reduce immune system chemicals that can worsen depression, effectively helping to break the cycle of abuse. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which can produce high levels of stress that could potentially aggravate underlying mental health conditions, including addiction.
Builds Your Confidence
Regular exercise has many positive emotional effects that help build your confidence. This includes reducing worries, improving social interactions and helping people cope with negative feelings in a healthy, positive way. Some studies have also shown that exercise can boost your self-esteem and body image.
Keeps Your Brain Healthy
As an added bonus, many studies also indicate working out is good for your brain. Consistent exercise can reduce inflammation and release chemicals that help improve the health of brain cells and encourage the growth of new blood vessels in the brain. Some studies have also linked frequent exercise to higher brain volume overall, particularly in the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning.
Indirectly, exercise can also help you sleep better and experience less anxiety, improving your ability to make good decisions, think deeply and learn more easily. Some studies have even shown exercise to be key in keeping your brain healthy as you age by reducing risk factors for dementia.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Started
Taking the first step (literally) is hard. If you are already dealing with physical and psychological issues, adding one more thing to your day can cause you to feel as if you are standing at the bottom of the tallest mountain.
Stop thinking of exercise as another chore, or worse, as something that requires many hours, a gym membership or expensive equipment. Anything that gets your body moving will work! There are so many fun ways to fit exercise into your life, from playing laser tag to shooting hoops to walking around a zoo—it all counts.
With all that great positive energy, you’ll be amazed at the things you can do!
