Exercising Your Way through the Gloom
This might sound a little surprising, but it is actually very true. Exercising helps regulate mood and helps dispel negative feelings. Research suggests that self-esteem is also boosted with regular exercise. What happens is that when you exercise, your body releases hormones known as endorphins, which act something like morphine, dulling the sense of pain and bringing on euphoria.
You must have heard people saying that they had been feeling euphoric after going on a run? Also known as runner’s high, this feeling comes from the release of endorphins in the body. What’s more, these endorphins also act as analgesics and sedatives. Not only do they make you feel better, they also reduce pain allowing the body to relax. This means they act as a kind of barrier between physical, as well as mental pain and you. If you are going through a difficult time, exercise will not only keep you busy, it will also make sure that your body releases endorphins that keep your body sedated.
There is one research shows that people who are used to exercising daily are less likely to develop any kind of depressive episode. Similarly, another study shows that people who already have depression then asked to start exercising regularly not only get better quickly, compared to the people who are on antidepressants, but they also are at a lesser risk of falling in depression again. Even when people are taking medications and keep up the exercise routine too, they will remain more at peace than those who only take medicines.
Another research conducted in 2005 shows that people who walked 35 minutes a day, five times a week would see significant reduction in their mind to moderate depression signs. Likewise, people who walked fast 60 minutes a day, 3 times a week would see similar results. This proves that exercising is inversely proportional to depression; the more you exercise, the more the symptoms remain at bay.
“Exercise stimulates the release of many of the brain chemicals thought to be in low supply when someone is battling depression.” - David Muzina, MD, the founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Mood Disorders Treatment and Research
Keeping depression away from you is not the only thing that is staved off. Some other benefits of exercise include:
• Reduces stress, anxiety, and panic attacks
• Increases self esteem
• Reduces insomnia and improves sleep conditions
• Helps lose weight and become fitter
• Improves heart health, energy levels, and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
• Also helps in development of string bones and muscles
All of the above mentioned information does not assert the fact that exercise is the cure for depression, but it does help enhance the