The top 5 ways exercise can help improve your mental health

07 May The top 5 ways exercise can help improve your mental health

Mental health is a huge issue in Australia. Stats from the Black Dog Institute states one in five Australians aged between 16 and 85 years experience a mental illness in any year. The most common mental illnesses being depressive, anxiety and substance use disorder.

Almost half (45%) Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime but 54% of people with mental illness do not access any treatment.

These figures are truly awful considering the huge impact mental issues have on people’s lives – the struggle to engage in work, social and physical activities and the isolation that often results.

But there is some good news – there is mounting evidence that suggests exercise is an effective treatment method for people suffering from acute and chronic mental illness. Some studies suggest that exercise is just as effective, if not more than pharmacological intervention in alleviating depressive symptoms.

So read my top 5 ways exercise can help improve your mental state of mind.

1. Mood Booster

Exercise stimulates positive endorphins, clears your head and lifts your mood. Exercise releases endorphins, which create feelings of happiness and euphoria. Studies have shown that exercise can even alleviate symptoms among the clinically depressed. For this reason, doctors recommend that people suffering from depression or anxiety (or those who are just feeling blue) pencil in time to train. In some cases, exercise can be just as effective as antidepressant pills in treating depression.

2. It can add as a distraction

Many of us are guilty of neglecting breaks at work or trying to power through life when the chips are down, but giving yourself an hour to switch off is a sure-fire way to not only control depression but even potentially to prevent it in the first place.

When you work out, you will focus less on your troubles and focus more on what exercise you are doing. The intensity takes your mind away from negative thoughts and instead you concentrate on getting through the workout.

3. Exercise can help you build new friendships

Whether you use a personal trainer, join a gym or a sports team, social connectivity is incredibly important. When we are struggling we often isolate ourselves but training with other people can motivate us to interact more and make new friends.

4. Reduce your stress and anxiety

If you are having a rough time, a workout will do you wonders. One of the most common mental benefits of exercise is stress relief. Working up a sweat can help manage physical and mental stress. Exercise also increases concentrations of norepinephrine, a chemical that can moderate the brain’s response to stress.

We all struggle with anxiety and the way that we cope with it differs. People who work out have an advantage as exercise is fantastic at helping manage anxiety plus training can actually help improve a person’s anxiety tolerance.

5. Exercise makes you feel happy

Whenever you finish a tough training sessions, there is always that sense of accomplishment. Having a regular fitness routine makes you more accountable and gives you a sense of purpose, which further supports your mental health.

Exercise not only has a positive impact on our physical health, but it can also increase our self-esteem. Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves and how we perceive our self-worth. It is a key indicator of our mental wellbeing and our ability to cope with the challenges of life.