Note: Lily Rose specially wrote the article.

Exercise will improve your mental health.

The USA is experiencing a mental health crisis. 

As reported on CNN, ongoing public health threats, including racism and gun violence, have only exacerbated numerous social stressors. It has increased the risk of mental illness and substance abuse. 

In 2021, nearly 22% of adults got mental health treatment, up from around 19% in 2019. Adolescents recorded a high number of those with psychological concerns, a jump to 31% for mental health-related visits to emergency rooms.

With this widespread problem, there is a surge in demand for mental health treatment. Community and social professionals have been rising to provide these services and aid. 

Professor and sociology expert Kent Bausman, the head of Maryville University’s online sociology program, outlines how this demand stemmed from the recent pandemic.

The decline in mental health exacerbated the problems of families and the labor market, leading to more significant social and economic inequalities.

No wonder people are experiencing increasingly negative experiences. Although challenging situations persist, the increasing availability of counselors and social workers has alleviated some of these problems.

Beyond professional help, many people are seeking self-help remedies to improve their mental health. Exercise is one scientifically proven way to benefit a person’s physical and psychological health— with much evidence pointing to exercise’s influence over neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms.

Below will cover the link between exercise and mental health.

Exercise Relieves Stress and Anxiety

Rather than relying on short-term pleasures to relieve stress and anxiety, as outlined in How’s Your State of Mental Health?” emphasizes how proper self-care is the best way to overcome challenges.

In particular, exercise can go a long way in improving a person’s mental health.

A Frontiers in Public Health review found that chronic stress is linked to high corticotrophin-releasing hormones and cortisol levels. Chronic stress causes dysregulation of critical brain structures that generate and regulate emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses. 

Regular physical exercise increases the neurotransmitter system’s modulation, which can balance out stress hormones.

Exercise Builds Resilience

People with poor resiliency often suffer an inferior quality of life, leading to a decline in mental health. Challenging situations often lead to stress and anxiety, but exercise can significantly improve an individual’s resilience. 

The University Of Arizona, College of Medicine, suggested people who exercised and prayed showed greater resiliency during the COVID-19; lockdown.

This boosted their ability to cope effectively with hardship, uncertainty, and change— serving as positive coping strategies that prevented a further decline in mental health.

Exercise Can Develop Confidence

Exercise improves mental health in a few ways.

It increases the delivery of oxygen and other nutrients throughout your body and releases “feel good” hormones, like dopamine.

Fitness researcher Mosima Mabunda observed that women who added a 30-minute workout or walked 5,000 steps a day each week could reduce the likelihood of depression by 19%.

Given these benefits, it’s no wonder why exercise can increase self-esteem and confidence— providing strength and happiness in multiple ways.

Wrapping Up

The connection between exercise and mental health is clear. Being physically active can bring about many benefits, including relief from stress and anxiety, improved resilience, and much better self-esteem. Staying consistent in exercise and building positive habits is essential to reap these rewards.

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