How fitness helps with mental health
Mental health has become an important subject amongst people now a days, Everyone is being aware and even spreading awareness about mental well-being. Mental health was a topic people were often afraid to touch and even now the acceptance rate falls somewhere between 40%, even if people are trying and catching up to it, accepting that going to a psychologist and psychiatrist usually doesn’t mean that you are crazy. However as much as the talk of mental health is going on a hand in hand trend is following it with fitness.
How fitness helps with mental health really? I mean we could ask experts and they would say find a way to get fit that not only makes you fitter but also you enjoying the process is important.
For example: A person who loves to dance, goes to dance classes and uses those dance classes as a medium of staying fit while the person also works on the mental health part
Let us dive deeper in how fitness helps with mental health:
- Let us start with the basic: The feeling good hormone
When we exercise, lift weights, perform cardio, attend a Zumba class, as a matter of fact any kind of workout we perform our body releases chemicals called ENDORPHINS, Yes, that you heard it right also, it is so much similar to morphine because the endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain and also trigger a positive feeling in the body that eventually helps you feel better and happier.
- Its exercise vs. depression/anxiety/stress etc
How you may be wondering right? Studies have definitely shown that exercising may treat. Mild to moderate depression that too side effect free because you are not taking any chemical into your body rather trying to heal it naturally. Exercise may be a powerful depression/anxiety/stress fighter for many reasons because it promotes all kinds of positive changes in the brain like neural growth, decreased inflammation and we all have heard of the fact when you work out your brain gets sharper so it certainly helps with the memory part too. We often look for distractions when under the mental stress or to better our mental health exercising also works as a distraction which gives you a break from your negative thoughts cycle.
- fitness helps with mental health in boosting a lot of thing in your life:
- Sharpens your memory and thinking power
Back to the endorphins, while they make you feel good they also help you in concentrating better and you feel mentally sharp for any challenge ahead of you. Fun fact is this that we read about new brain cells growth through exercise above it also helps in preventing ace-related decline, hence sharper memory.
- Increases your self esteem
When you get yourself out of the bed and make a healthy routine with workout it certainly boosts your self-esteem because a. you start feeling great in your skin, b. you work harder to look better than you did yesterday c. it together makes you feel more boosted and confident about yourself while clearing out the doubts bubble.
- Helps you in sleeping well
While you are spending the energy at the gym during the morning or noon workout, it is making you tired and happy at the same time, you get less time to overthink and hit the bed right away with the soreness, and even if you prefer to work out at night choosing something soothing like yoga or sound bowl therapy could calm your nerves and help you sleep better eventually.
- Provides you with more energy
Cardiovascular strength increases with your workout, running on a treadmill or cycling gets your heart racing and doing it several times a week it gives you a power to yourself for feeling more energetic. Don’t go crazy on the first day, take it slow and you’ll all be good.
