People who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional well-being, and lower rates of mental illness. Exercise is important for people with mental illnesses, as it not only improves mood, concentration and alertness, but it also improves our overall cardiovascular and physical health. Physical activity has many well-established benefits for mental health. These are published in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and include improved brain health and cognitive function (the ability to think, so to speak), a reduction in the risk of anxiety and depression, and improved sleep and overall quality of life.
Although not a panacea, increasing physical activity directly contributes to improving mental health and improving overall health and well-being. Exercise helps prevent and improve a number of health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. Research on depression, anxiety and exercise shows that the psychological and physical benefits of exercise can also help improve mood and reduce anxiety. Exercise releases chemicals such as endorphins and serotonin that improve mood.
It can also help you get out into the world, help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, and connect you with other people. It may take less time for you to exercise to improve your mood when you do more strenuous activities, such as running or cycling. Regular physical activity is a good way to help prevent or control mild anxiety and depression, and to keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. If you need more information and support, visit Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) for resources, helplines, applications, online programs and forums.
And if you have private health insurance, you could get help joining a gym as part of a mental health treatment plan. Exercise and physical activity are great ways to relieve symptoms of depression or anxiety, but they are not a substitute for psychotherapy or medications. In addition, participating in team sports during adolescence can lead to better mental health outcomes in adulthood (for example, if you have a mental health condition, there may be factors that affect the amount or type of physical activity you can do). The NHS website has different examples of activities you can try, as well as free online exercise videos.
On this page Go to the overview of the benefits of the tips. It may surprise you, but regular exercise helps give you energy. Compounding all of this, mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, can affect people's ability to engage in health-promoting behaviors, including physical activity. Research shows that people who exercise regularly have better mental health and emotional well-being, and lower rates of mental illness.
