Exercising Your Mental Health
Mental health is often overlooked when gauging a persons healthiness, but is a very important part of being healthy. Studies have shown that along with improving physical health, exercise can actually improve your mental health as well. Researchers have determined that exercise is a great medicine for anxiety, depression, stress, and ADHD.
In the study The Relation of Physical Activity and Exercise to Mental Health, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Sallis, and Dr. Needle declare that physical activity and exercise are associated with mental health benefits such as improved self confidence, better social skills, reduction of anxiety and improved mood.
For some parents, the decision of whether or not to medicate your child is a daunting one; but what if you didn’t have to? Exercise has been proven to be a great way to both prevent and treat adverse mental health conditions.
Exercise and Depression
When you exercise, chemicals called endorphins are released into your brain. These chemicals are what make you feel calm, happy and energized. Researchers have determined that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression just as effectively as anti-depressant medications, with none of the bad side effects! As a parent, this should be music to your ears.
Exercise and Anxiety
For the reasons mentioned above, the release of endorphins is also an excellent anti-anxiety treatment. During exercise, as your muscles loosen up and tension is relieved, you’ll find yourself feeling more calm and relaxed, and the focus on your workout will help you to not worry about outside stresses. When your body feels better, so will your mind.
Take a more in depth look at how exercise can help your mental health in the accompanying article
