10 Nov How Exercise Can Benefit Our Mental Health
People often ask me what I do for my mental health and happiness.
And in responding, I always emphasise how there’s not just one thing and that different things will work for different people.
That being said, what works for me typically works for many others too and one of the most important components of my health and wellbeing “program”, of my happiness habits, is exercise!
For me, exercise is the best stress buster and a potent antidepressant; and this is supported by much research …
via Psychology Today by Susan Trachman
KEY POINTS
- Exercise is good for your overall health.
- Exercise can positively affect your mood.
- Exercise is a natural antidepressant.
Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood. —Unknown
The unknown author of the quote clearly knew what he/she was talking about. Last week, Newswire posted an article citing the results of a study conducted at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and published in Psychosomatic Medicine.
Study of Patients With Heart Disease and Depression
The study investigated three treatment options for patients with heart disease who suffered from depression. The options included psychotherapy, antidepressants, exercise, and combined psychotherapy, and medication. The lead author, Dr. Frank Doyle, concluded, “exercise is likely to be the best treatment for depression following coronary artery disease. Our findings further highlight the clinical importance of exercise as a treatment as we see that it improves not only depression, but also other important aspects of heart disease, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, in these patients.”
As a psychiatrist who treats many patients with co-existing physical and mental health issues, I recommend regular exercise as part of a multi-faceted approach to treating depression and anxiety. Not only good for weight control, management of sleep issues, and a host of physical disorders, it is also good for your brain—the computer in your head where psychiatric symptoms arise. I not only recommend this, but I practice what I preach, and was one of many who purchased a Peloton at the onset of the pandemic. Unlike those who now use it as an expensive clothes hanger, I continue to use mine regularly.
According to the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25 percent during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders. Earlier this month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended anxiety screening for adults under the age of 65. The draft recommendations are designed to help primary care clinicians identify early signs of anxiety during routine care.
How Exercise Treats Depression and Anxiety
How does exercise treat depression and anxiety? In my review of multiple clinical studies, exercise treats depression and anxiety in the following ways…
… keep reading the full & original article HERE