Many who have struggled with mental health will know the suggestion to exercise all too well. Exercise is known to produce endorphins and boost confidence as a tool to combat mental health. Although exercise has been found to help with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, it shouldn’t be the catchall solution. Sometimes, exercise might make you feel worse.
The Struggle to Move
One of the major side effects of having depression is having a lack of motivation. Often times, it’s hard for people struggling with their mental health to pick themselves up and get moving. Although exercise can be a helpful antidepressant, it’s hard to find the motivation to go to the gym or head out for a run. Even though someone with depression or anxiety will want to go to the gym to help with their mental health, their mood or state of mind is keeping them from doing just that.
Motivation Issues
When someone is dealing with mental health issues, they often will go through mood swings. This will mean that some days they will motivated and ready to exercise, while other times they will want to lay on the couch all day. Although some days they want to exercise and get the endorphins following, it’s easy to revert back to old habitats. This is why making exercise a major solution can present some issues.
Starting Off Slow
It sounds easy enough to put on workout clothes and just head out, but that can be a really big step for someone struggling with mental health. This is why it’s important to start of slow before jumping in. Just by doing the bare minimum like taking a stroll around the block or five minutes on the elliptical can help move you in the right direction. Eventually, it’ll be easier to make exercise a habit and finally reap the antidepressant benefits.
Creating a Support Group
Although exercise cannot be the biggest solution for mental health issues, it still helps for anyone struggling. In order to stay motivated and combat depression or anxiety, find friends or family who want to work out with you. On the days you are feeling unmotivated and unwilling to move, you will have someone there to push you. Spending more time with friends and family is also another great way to help with mental health.
Exercise can be a great solution for bettering mental health, but it can also have its downsides. Be sure to have other resources and ways to aid in mental health struggles.