Exercise reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms
By Andriana K
@AndrianK (15)
March 5, 2017 8:18am CST
Recent reviews bring scientific evidence that exercise has been proved to have protective benefits for many aspects of an individual’s physical and mental health and in particular for depression, which combines physical and psychological complaints. Most of the studies so far suggest that exercise in general can alleviate depressive symptoms by enhancing ones self-esteem, reducing anxiety symptoms and through the release of substances responsible for the experience of positive emotions. In order to investigate the mechanisms that underlie the relationship between exercise and depression, scientists focused on many different aspects that might interfere with the effects of exercise on depression, such as the emotional state that an individual is in while exercising. A few recent studies suggest that PA and NA play an important role in this relationship. White et al., (2009) and Mata et al., (2012) examined the possible mediating role of PA and NA with the former suggesting that PA might be a stronger mediator than NA for the association between exercise and depression and the latter suggesting that PA is found to be the only mediator for this relationship, while NA is not found to mediate this relationship.
8 people like this
11 responses
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
5 Mar 17
I use daily exercise as a stress relief. It really helps me with anxiety and I feel much healthier. Yoga is great as well! After the first couple of months that were exhausting for me, I started freling the benefits and it is very beneficial in every aspect.
2 people like this
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
5 Mar 17
Exercise definitely has a positive effect on all aspects of our health. However, I feel it is necessary to point out that clinical depression and extreme anxiety are different than having feelings of depression and anxiety. The former might benefit from exercise as part of the treatment process, but they also need more in-depth treatment, while the latter might be alleviated from daily exercise.
2 people like this
@AndrianK (15)
•
5 Mar 17
Great observation!!! I should have mentioned that the targeted population was not clinical; none of the participants was diagnosed with anxiety or depressive disorder.
I am a clinical psychologist myself and I surely agree with a therapeutic approach for people that suffer from emotional dysfunctions.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22091)
• United States
5 Mar 17
@AndrianK Thank you. Most people do not realize that there is a difference between feeling depressed or anxious and being clinically depressed or having anxiety disorder. They believe that you can just change your thinking or that things will be better the next day, but that is not really how it works.
@Friendlypink (3805)
•
6 Mar 17
I agree with this based on my own experience. Whenever i am just at home infront of the tv or just browsing the net or just using my phone. My mood and energy is not good. But when i go oit and jog or do some cardio andnyoga at home, i feel different. I am energetic and i feel light and in a good mood.
Have you experienced this as well?
1 person likes this
@AndrianK (15)
•
6 Mar 17
It happens to me, too!! It is also time dedicated to myself and I love it!!
@yanzalong (18988)
• Indonesia
6 Mar 17
I experienced anxiety while studying at Uni. It happened when I suddenly felt like I was going to lose my balance. Since then on my anxiety grew and I was not brave enough to ride my bike. The more I thought about it, the more anxious I was. You are right. Working out helped me a lot.
@LeaPea2417 (37353)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 Mar 17
I do agree it helps. My husband thinks so too, he exercises when he feels stressed and it really helps.
@manavchandnani (1)
•
6 Mar 17
I do not think so at all. I was 96 kilos in April and lost over 24 kilos by hitting the gym. You do feel a little bit better after exercise but honestly, I think I was a bit happier being fat. I look much better now but I just do not like it. I was reading a study online that said that Fat people are happier as they have a 'fat gene' tha doubles as a 'happy gene'.
I suffer from clinical depression as my mind has a lack of serotonin. I ave observed that my serotonin levels have dropped since i was obese.
Hence, I really do not think that exercise reduces depressive symptoms as I suffer frok depression
@AndrianK (15)
•
6 Mar 17
Emotional changes get influenced by a plethora of parameters; weight and good looks are some of them. Exercise has been proved to increase serotonin but surely it is not enough when you suffer from depression. This research was based on general population. I hope you will find ways to cope with the lack of serotonin and not gain weight, at the same time! I haven´t heard about this research you are talking about but eating disorders are highly correlated with depression.
