There are a lot of activities out there that people say can improve your mental health and make you feel better. Things like meditation, yoga, and writing are all things that some people have had success with and have used these activities to boost their mental state.
However, the activity that gets heralded the most as being most beneficial for your mental health is exercise. We all know how helpful exercise can be for your physical health, but this article will examine how and why exercise can improve mental health.
It Releases Chemicals
Our emotions are chemical reactions in our brain, and different chemicals can make us feel different things. For example, adrenaline may make people feel panicked, and dopamine makes us feel satisfied.
When we exercise and get our heart rate going, another chemical is released, called endorphins. When they’re released, they can make us feel far more positive and happy, which can help improve people’s mental health.
Of course, it’s important to state that an increase in endorphins isn’t going to cure mental health problems like depression. It can improve how you feel, but to truly get past any mental health problems you may have, seeking professional help from a service like changefutures.org.au may benefit you.
Exercise Relieves Tension
What many people don’t know is that mental health problems can have some physical symptoms and side effects. For example, anxiety can cause stomach aches, and stress can cause headaches, etc. That’s why the physical benefits of exercise can be helpful.
When you exercise, you burn energy and relieve yourself of any tension that you may feel. This can help you feel more relaxed and a bit more calm, which can be helpful. Plus, being a bit more tired can make it easier to get to sleep. Sleep is essential for good mental function, so doing what you can to get more can be beneficial for your mind.
Exercise Can Be Social
Sometimes, when people are suffering mentally, one of the best ways to help them is to be social and engage with their friends. A lot of exercises and sports are team-based, meaning that when you partake in them, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people.
Being social can help you beat loneliness and isolation, which are common mental problems. If you’re intimidated by the idea of working out and exercising around many people, you can look to exercise with a single friend that you trust or try internet workouts that are led through a webcam.
Conclusion
Exercise is great for the body and mind and will likely be one of the first things doctors prescribe when supporting mental health issues.
When you’re not feeling up to it, it can be really hard to get into exercising. However, you will feel a lot better if you push yourself to get yourself moving. Not only will you have a sense of accomplishment, but you’ll also feel more relaxed and content, which can help improve your mood and make you feel a lot better mentally.