I have family members who have struggles with anxiety and depression. Believe me, it is not only difficult for you, but also difficult for them. They don’t want to see you struggling. If you have not tried it yet, try exercising. I have had people become very upset with me when I mention exercise as a potential way to help treat mental illness. They feel that it is somehow diminishing what they are going through, somehow saying that it isn’t real. Believe me, that is in no way the case. Exercise can cause actual physical changes in your body that can benefit your mental health. This is not theory, it has been tested and proved repeatedly. What I am about to do is cover quickly why I feel it is so important to look for alternatives to medication. If you just want the direct, to the point reasons exercise helps, skip down to where it says Fighting Depression and Anxiety with Exercise. With that being said, here we go.
Mental health is current at epidemic levels. In 2018 13% of Americans reported taking an antidepressant in the last 30 days. It is estimated that there are currently 37,000,000 Americans taking some form of antidepressant. That is truly an alarming number. Here is the important question. Do they need to be?
I am going to come right out and say that yes, there are people who truly benefit from medication. They have anxiety, depression, or some other mental health disorder that truly impacts their quality of life, and medication may help them. With that being said, do I believe that 37,000,000 Americans need to be on antidepressants. No. So why are they?
Why Are So Many Americans on Antidepressants?
This is a multifaceted situation. For starters, depression is seriously misunderstood. People confuse being sad with being depressed. They are not the same thing. Sadness is short term, while depression is long term. Sadness is situational, while depression can occur for no reason. However, many doctors and psychiatrists in this country want to help “fix” their patients. After all, isn’t that their job? So, seeing that our culture thinks the key to most ailments is medication (specifically pharmaceuticals), it does not come as a shock that so many people are prescribed these medications. However, what if there was something else? What if there was something that was natural, free, and did not come with potential side effects that are probably worse than what had you taking the pills in the first place?
Fighting Depression and Anxiety with Exercise
The Mayo Clinic lists 5 key ways that exercise helps fight mental health problems.
- Exercise releases “fell good” chemicals into your body that enhance your sense of well-being. Yes, there are actual chemical processes that occur when you exercise that impact your mood.
- Mental distraction. When you are exercising it is easier to take your mind off of whatever is on your mind. When you are sitting around, it is easier for your mind to wonder. Have you ever heard of Philippians 4:8? It says that an Idle Mind Is the Devil’s Playground. So put your mind to work on other things.
- Gain confidence. Start exercising with small goals. As you meet them, you begin to feel a sense of accomplishment. These small accomplishments add up. In addition to the mental benefits of the small victories, your confidence tends to improve as your physical appearance improves.
- Social interactions. Exercising is a great way to meet people. Whether it is just a walk around the neighborhood and saying hi to neighbors, joining a class, or finding a workout buddy or group, it gives you a great chance to talk to people. For those of you that want some guidance with your exercise, along with access to a massive support group online, you may want to check out Beachbody on Demand. It not only gives you access to thousands of workouts from some of the top trainers in the world, but there is also an incredible online community of Beachbody members who encourage and support each other.
5. Healthy coping. There are other ways that people cope with depression besides exercise, ones that are far less healthy. Drinking, smoking, recreational drug use, eating in unhealthy ways, even sitting around watching too much TV. Those are all things that people think are escapes from depression, but in the end lead to more problems.
Depression is all about the past. Anxiety is all about the future. Part of why exercise helps is because it helps you focus on now. If you have tried everything else, and your are still struggling, what do you have to lose? Maybe a few pounds (get it………exercising……..losing weight………). I really hope that you do not take this article lightly. It can all start with something as simple as going for a walk. Get moving, and I truly hope this helps you.
