Why do experts keep telling you to get off the couch when they know you are suffering from depression? Why do they keep imploring you to go outside, walk the dog, join a gym, to go out dancing? Don’t they know that moving anything or going anywhere is the last thing you want to do?
Of course! That’s exactly why they are begging you to do it anyway… it works by helping to reduce symptoms of depression!
Your mind and body were never meant to exist independent of each other. It only makes sense that treating the mind means addressing the care of the body that houses it.
Depression slows everything down in your head and succeeds in lowering everything: your mood, your cognitive ability, your desire to do anything.
Physical activity has been shown to help turn mental decline around. Moving your body is powerful. It circulates blood, stimulates your brain, and boosts positivity in a host of ways.
How? Let’s take a look:
Research indicates that physical activity helps ease depression in a few key ways biologically:
- Exercise and movement stimulate the release of “feel-good” brain chemicals. Neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin all combine to fight off lack of motivation, loneliness, or fatigue.
- Endorphins are also released as an answer to stress and pain. The runner’s high or second wind burst of energy you might experience after activity is actually a surge of mood-boosting endorphins. Exercise is one of the best ways to keep your endorphins flowing as you participate in activity and for hours afterward.
Routine activity has many mental and emotional benefits that ease depression too. Exercise helps:
- Promote confidence. The sense of pointlessness often associated with depression is combated by the feeling of success that comes with meeting exercise challenges. Goals achieved as you improve appearance, health, and fitness may go a long way in boosting your self-confidence or low self-esteem.
- Ease worry and anxiety. Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand. Helplessness and hopelessness are often alleviated as exercise provides a welcome distraction from the rumination and cyclical negative thinking that fuel persistent anxiety and depression.
- Increase face time. Physical activity, especially outdoors, may potentially provide opportunities to gather, meet, or socialize with more people. You may notice that the tendency to withdraw or hold back from others is mitigated by the regular mood boost that comes with a daily, friendly wave to your neighbors as you walk through your town or neighborhood.
- Bouncing back well from disappointment or unexpected events productively is necessary for good mental, emotional, and physical health. Depression can take a heavy toll on all three if you don’t have strong coping skills. Substance use, negative thinking, and ignoring or denying your depression just makes symptoms worse.
Exercise is a positive, healthy way to manage your anxiety or depression. So, lace up those shoes and get going!
Denise Kautzer is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Certified Public Accountant whose practice is located in St. Paul, MN. You can view her website at www.denisekautzer.com or contact her at denise@denisekautzer.com