Help your Body & Mind Now – Get Exercising!

Hundreds of research studies show a link between all forms of exercise and better mood. For some people, exercise works as well, or better, as antidepressant medications. I’m sure you’ve felt that terrific high after a great workout haven’t you? I know my clients and I have! As a general rule of thumb, the more you exercise, the better you feel.

Physical exercise can make you happier by:

1. Boosting endorphins: “Exercise can give you a short-term burst of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that block pain and produce a natural” energy rush.
2. Decreasing stress: Physical activity is a great stress buster; it can help get you out of that ‘fight-or-flight pattern’ that is so detrimental to your health. It can get your mind off your problems, allowing you to recharge your brain and thoughts.

3. Supporting neurotransmitters: Exercise may boost the production of serotonin which is a “neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and some cognitive function, and that may be low in depressed people. ”
4. Encouraging happier thoughts and feelings: Physical activity can distract us from negative thoughts; it can offer us a sense of identity, something depression often steals away.

Exercise is an important outlet for me to release my stress and give my never-ending thoughts a rest. The energy and strength I feel from exercising can’t be replaced my anything else I do.

3 Steps to get more active now:

1: Start small. There’s no such thing as starting too small. Aim to walk around your block at first, increasing that to two blocks, then three. Slowly speed up your walking pace and start swinging your arms. Move whatever you can move, you know the saying “Move it or lose it.”
2. Get outside. This is the perfect month to enjoy the sunshine. Fresh air, flowers, green trees, birds singing (and even the whoosh of traffic) may make you feel better. If you live in Toronto, get out to a park, High Park is a beautiful place to walk around in.
3. Get into a routine. Figure out what time of day works for you to get active and block off this time for yourself. Write your schedule down and try sticking with it at least 80% of the time.
4. Get help. Tell those close to you, friends, family or therapists, that you want to start becoming more active. Ask for their help and support; some of them may want to join you in your new routine. Team sports and groups can be a great option, personal training may also help you. Put together the right support system for you.

You may feel better after your first exercise session, or it may take a little while for your mood to improve and for your depression to evaporate. Just get out there and keep moving as often as you can, in any way that feels right for you.

Author: Lindsay Atkinson

Source: Can exercise really defeat depression? By Camille DePutter