If you are one that suffers from high levels of stress, anxiety, panic, insomnia, depression, etc., then please continue reading. The things I am about to share with you, might just help you to begin your journey to truly healing yourself and your life. This information will not rid you of all your issues, but it will be a stepping stone in the right direction, the direction that you need to take to get your life back and to stop living in a dark world full of fear and stress.
Did you know that fitness, or exercise, could change how you feel? It doesn’t just alter your mood; it actually helps to fight off a mental health diagnosis. There are actually physical things happening in your body that cause this reaction. When we work out, or exercise, our body releases chemicals in the brain that boosts our mood, self-esteem, concentration, and our sleep patterns. It has been proven that exercise increases our blood circulation to the brain via influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and therefore on the physiologic reactivity to stress. This influence is most likely due to the communication of the HPA axis with several regions of the brain, including the limbic system, which is what controls our motivation and moods; the amygdala, which is what generates fear in the response to stress; and the hippocampus, which plays a very important part in the formation of our memories as well as our moods and motivation.
Basically what I’m saying is that exercise improves mental health by helping to reduce anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. It has been proven that exercise helps to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Exercise is VERY important for patients with schizophrenia, mostly because these patients are already vulnerable to obesity and also because of the additional risk of weight gain associated with antipsychotic treatment, especially the atypical antipsychotics.
There are many health benefits associated with regular exercise that should be emphasized and reinforced by every mental health professional to their patients which includes the following:
1. Improved sleep
2. Increased interest in sex
3. Better endurance
4. Stress relief
5. Improvement in mood
6. Increased energy and stamina
7. Reduced tiredness that can increase mental alertness
8. Weight reduction
9. Reduced cholesterol and improved cardiovascular fitness
In order to get the full benefits from your exercise you should workout at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week. Moderate exercise means that you have been energetic enough to cause heavier breathing than normal and feeling warmer, without being hot and sweaty. It is recommended to build up slowly at a pace that is best for you. It is also not necessary to work out for a solid 30 minutes; it is okay to break up into three 10 minute workouts. Make sure to set a time for your workouts, try to keep it the same time every day so that you get into the routine of it. It is also helpful to have a support group. If you don’t have friends or family members that support you, you can always find online fitness coaches to help you. Many times there are challenge groups going on that help with support and accountability.
As someone that is going to school to become a mental health professional, I feel that it would be my job to provide my clients with the information of what physical activity can do for them. It not only helps with physical ailments and diseases, but it is also a great help in one’s mental health. For those on the journey of ultimate happiness in their lives, whether you need assistance with mental health, fitness, spirituality, or career guidance, please feel free to contact me. You can either leave a comment below or click on the “contact me” link to send me your question or needs.