Health experts routinely advise that regular exercise is beneficial for not only physical health, but mental health too, but is there really any truth in it?
Get moving
Not only GPs, but psychologists and mental health experts believe that taking part in exercise is good for boosting our mental wellbeing, but it isn’t always easy for someone to get out if they are struggling to get out of bed. Physical activity can be difficult to start and you may feel self-conscious. Take time to find what sort of exercise is right for you and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t enjoy it or feel that you can’t continue. It’s important to find the right activity for you, your body and your mind.
New research carried out by the University of Georgia has shown that the benefits of physical exercise on mental health depends on the motivation, setting and social context of the activity. While studies have shown that recreational exercise such as cycling, yoga or running are linked to improved mental health, now researchers are questioning this one-size-fits-all approach and emphasising that factors such as your location, who you are with and your motivating reasons for exercising all play a part.
Why does exercise help?
Those who take part in regular exercise during leisure time usually report lower amounts of depression and anxiety. Exercise helps to manage stress, improves mood, sleep and confidence. If you exercise outside, it helps connect with nature and if you’re in a group, it means you are socialising and getting those all important mood-enhancing feelings.
As well as medication, regular exercise is often prescribed by health experts to help someone who is struggling with their mental health. It can even help with PTSD and is used in trauma informed practice training as part of an overall package of support. Mental health training is available from many suppliers, such as tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/trauma-informed-practice-training/, and can help both individuals and companies think about how to manage stress and trauma.
Whatever exercise is undertaken, movement is important, but so is the overall experience, setting and company.