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  • How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and are all too common. If you have been wise enough to see a councilor and talk about the issues you deal with, oftentimes this can help to alleviate the symptoms. Nowadays antidepressant and antianxiety medication is prescribed rapidly—some need this, but others may want to look into other ways of dampening their anxiety levels. One sure-fire way that helps combat these things, is getting enough exercise. Never a bad thing to do, exercise holds special powers for those who struggle with depression. All you need is to work up enough motivation to begin. Oftentimes, this is the hardest part—but the more times you exercise, the easier it will be to work up that motivation.

    Chemical changes

    Neurotransmitters, endorphins and cannabinoids are all feel-good brain chemicals that exercise helps to release. These reduce immune system chemicals that make depression worse. Furthermore, increasing your body temperature through exercise will have calming effects on you. Expect less thoughts racing through your head at any given moment.

    Distraction

    Exercise blocks the cycle of negative thoughts and takes you away from your worries. Maybe the distraction is that you are struggling physically or are focusing on the activity itself—either way, this is a focus on something other than stress or sadness, and that is a win. You can see exercise as medicine rather than a chore.

    Gain confidence

    Achieving goals that you have made for yourself and overcoming challenges builds up a sense of self-worth. Oftentimes depression and anxiety are derived from insecurity and self-hatred. Pushing yourself to meet your goals will prove something to the person who matters most…YOU. Also, being in shape can make you feel better about your appearance. While appearance should not be the focus when seeking to overcome depression and anxiety, it can be a side effect of the physical activity.

    Social Interaction

    If you find that a lot of your depression comes from being solitary, join a group exercise program. Being in a social setting can also calm anxiety if it is linked with a goal. Here is a tip: begin your venture into exercise as a means to cope with problems in a healthy way on your own. When you have done it for a few weeks and have experienced its distractive qualities, introduce yourself to a social setting. You may find that your anxiety has begun to deplete, even if only a little.

    Have a plan

    Deciding to exercise is one thing, but those who struggle with depression and anxiety require a plan—a personal expectation—to help the motivation process. Find out what normally stops you from exercising and find an alternative. Speaking to a mental health provider about developing a plan may give you some solid ideas, as they will be able to give some insightful pointers. Also, be prepared for setbacks and DO NOT punish yourself. Understand that setbacks happen because you are imperfect, and there is always the next try.

    Improved sleep

    Physical activity provides you with energy later on, but also wears you out. When you do not exercise, there is a lot of unused energy and that can cause restlessness that leads to depression and anxiety. Using up that energy will clear your mind and relax your body, leading to restful and deep sleeps. Sleep is desperately important to strong mental health.

  • Fresh Air Is Good For You

    Fresh Air Is Good For You

    Fresh air is good for you; it’s as simple as that. High school, college, university, academia or whatever path you choose to follow can be tiring and stressful. Long hours combing through forgotten history textbooks, memorizing flow charts and questioning minute details of your latest assignment can, and often will, be central to your formal education. So take a break – get outside!

    This isn’t a new concept. Many of us were fortunate enough to have parents push us out the backdoor when we were younger despite how much we wanted to watch just five more minutes of television or play one last level of our video games. Apparently they were right after all.

    With our technological era, the roles, responsibilities and resources of and for students are increasingly found behind the warm glow of a computer screen. Though such advances allow access to information and creates communication possibilities that our parent’s generation could never have dreamed of, it’s important not to forget the world beyond online academic databases, social networks and online video.

    Whether it’s a walk to the grocery store, a jog or finding a spot in a nice piece of shade, the outdoors can prove to be a welcome change from the fluorescent lighting, long lectures and minuscule texts typically found on campus.

    If you’re having trouble concentrating, how about a walk? If you’re experiencing a mental block, try working in a different environment (maybe your back porch?). Getting fresh air doesn’t necessarily mean excessive physical strain or avoiding your academic responsibilities. It can be as simple as sitting on a lawn chair or taking the scenic route back from your classes. It can be a welcome break, a stress reliever or just plain fun.

    Being outside, and physical activity, has its obvious benefits as well. One issue that many students face, particularly when beginning their post-secondary studies, is malnutrition and the dreaded weight gain of the “freshman 15”.

    For the first time, especially if going away for school, you will be in charge of your own physical fitness and for many this can be difficult. Sometimes there are too many temptations in the school cafeteria, or the ease of fast food during exam time is far too alluring. Physical fitness and personal well-being is an important part of student life and one that is often understated.

    So get outside! Whether for your physical well being, to help cope with academic stress and emotions or just for some fresh air, don’t forget there’s a world outside of the school’s facilities.

    You won’t regret it, I promise.