Anxiety plagues millions of people across the globe day after day and its impact can disrupt daily life and greatly affect overall happiness and well-being. There are various types of traditional anxiety treatment, including therapy and medication yet there are also myriad alternative avenues of managing anxiety. One such effective technique for managing anxiety is exercise. Engaging in consistent physical activity benefits mental health in many ways and has proven incredibly helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms.
How Does Physical Activity Reduce Anxiety and Boost Mental Health?
Exercise is one of the leading methods of reducing the symptoms of anxiety. How does it all work? Endorphins are the “feel-good” hormone that boosts mood and alleviates stress – and the main way to release these positive hormones into your body is through exercise. Similarly, exercise helps balance neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, both of which play important roles in mood regulation. Sleep holds tremendous healing power for your body and mind, and engaging in regular exercise helps with getting a better -and more deep- night’s sleep which also helps reduce anxiety. Plus, physical activity is a healthy distraction from any negative thoughts and breaking anxiety thought patterns. Whether you’re going for a hike, running, doing yoga, or playing your favorite sport, exercise helps occupy your mind and focus on something other than your anxiety.
What Exercises are Best for Reducing Anxiety?
The long and short of it is that any exercise you engage in and enjoy will help improve your mood and decrease your anxiety. Yet, as you just read, releasing feel-good hormones is a large part of why you feel better after exercise and some physical activities perform this task more effectively than others. The number one exercise for anxiety is any aerobic exercise. Running, swimming, cycling, and other highly aerobic activities increase your heart rate to a level which promotes the release of endorphins. On the other hand, activities like yoga, pilates, and any strength training exercise builds mental resilience which helps you successfully manage anxiety. Yoga offers the added bonus of incorporating mindfulness into the practice which fosters relaxation, reduces stress, and teaches you to tap into the power of your mind for managing anxiety. If you’re just starting to add exercise into your repertoire of ways to relieve anxiety symptoms, pick physical activities that you enjoy. Your enjoyment will keep you more motivated, engaged, and encourage you to continue for all the benefits that exercise has to offer. Then simply seek consistency and make physical activity a regular part of your day. At least 30 minutes a day for 3 or 4 days a week can work wonders. Once exercise has become routine for you, change it up to keep it interesting and then enjoy the stress relief and decreased anxiety that come your way.
Best Anxiety Treatment in Jackson, MS
Psycamore is a mental health treatment center offering anxiety treatment for Mississippi residents as well as a wide range of services designed to help you live a happy, healthy life. Our therapists for stress and anxiety in Jackson, MS and surrounding areas are well-versed in traditional methods of anxiety treatment as well as practical, easily applicable strategies to manage anxiety that guide you to a full and healthy life. Take the first step toward freeing yourself from the anxiety that controls your life and call Psycamore today!
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