How Does Exercise Help With Anxiety?
Anxiety is something that affects millions of people all around the world. It can take a toll on a person’s mental and physical health, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with daily life. Fortunately, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and can help to improve overall wellbeing and quality of life.
Importance of Exercise For Mental and Physical Health
It’s well known that leading a sedentary lifestyle is bad for both our physical and mental health, and regular exercise should therefore be an important factor in any individual’s lifestyle. In addition to improving physical health, exercise has numerous benefits for our psychological wellbeing. It can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mental well-being, focus, and attention, and positively impact work or school performance.
How Exercise Can Help Reduce Anxiety
Although exercises effects on reducing anxiety may vary from person to person, research has shown that physical activity can be highly beneficial for those struggling with anxiety. It does this by:
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Increasing Serotonin and Endorphin Levels: Exercise triggers the release of chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and endorphins that help to sooth emotional turmoil and make you feel good.
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Increasing Focus and Mental Clarity: Exercise helps to reduce stress and anxiety by providing a sense of control and boosting mental clarity. This helps you to focus on the things you can do and control, rather than worrying about what you can’t.
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Helping You Sleep Better: Anxiety can have an impact on a person’s sleeping habits. Exercising in the morning or afternoon can make it easier to fall asleep, increasing the amount of quality sleep you get each night.
Exercising Regularly to Benefit Mental Health
In order to reap its benefits, exercising should become a regular habit. This can be done in many different ways, such as going for a walk or jog, enrolling in a gym, taking up yoga or joining a sports team. The best thing to do is to find an exercise that works for you and meets your individual needs, both physically and mentally. Not only will you become more physically active, but you’ll also see fewer symptoms of anxiety as well.
What Types of Exercise To Do
Aerobic activities, such as jogging, biking and swimming, are a great choice for reducing anxiety. These activities can help people channel their negative energy into something positive, giving them a sense of control.
Strength training is also a great option. Not only does it help to keep you healthy and reduce stress, it also gives you a sense of confidence. Working out can have a great positive impact on mental health, allowing you to feel more in control of your body and yourself.
Yoga and Mediation
For those looking for a more gentle form of exercise, yoga and meditation are both excellent options. Both yoga and meditation help to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as providing a sense of inner peace. For example, yoga combines breathing, stretching and physical exercises to help you find calmness and clarity. Meditation allows you to relax, bringing your focus and attention to yourself and your feelings, helping you to become more aware and understanding of your psychological and emotional state.
Exercise is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle and is one of the best ways to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and improve overall wellbeing. Any form of regular physical activity, from yoga and meditation to aerobic and strength training, can help release endorphins and improve mental clarity, mood, and focus. Regular exercise should be part of everyone’s routine, but especially those dealing with anxiety, in order to help minimize symptoms, and increase physical and mental health levels.
