Exercise, the Underrated Cure for Depression

If you have been paying attention to social media trends, one thing you must have noted is the rising mental health pandemic. Depression cases have increased so much, and there seems to be no quick cure for this condition. Some people argue that it is being over-diagnosed, while others feel that the increased social and economic stresses are contributing factors. I feel that it is probably both. But that is not my concern. My focus is to help you understand that you can use exercise to go from barely surviving depression to conquering it.

What do research studies say?

Research findings conducted in various settings have shown that exercise is beneficial in relieving depression. In one study, the researchers indicated that involving adolescents in team sport reduces their depression symptoms. Another study involving adults confirms these findings by noting that physical exercise is an effective treatment for major depression. Further research showed that combining antidepressants with exercise was more effective than using only the drugs to treat depression. Interestingly, another research study noted that a reduction in the amount of physical activity one engages in increased their chances of developing anxiety and stress, further predisposing them to depression. All these studies reiterate the same thing that exercise is as good as it gets when treating depression.

So, why is exercise important?

The mechanism by which exercise grants you these desirable benefits for better and improved mental health is its modification of your neuropsychological factors. Exercise induces changes in your brain that improve your regulation of stress. It causes the release of the “happy hormones”- serotonin. Serotonin is a key hormone in the body whose balance is key to ensuring stability in your mood. It increases your feeling of well-being and happiness. Without serotonin, you become depressed and anxious. This is why exercise is key.

You can choose to engage in aerobic exercises, such as jogging and cycling or weightlifting activities. The more regularly you work out, the more the benefits and the higher your chances of beating depression. If you have been exercising already, isn’t it a heavenly feeling you get after completing your workout and taking a shower? If you have not begun exercising, I challenge you to do so. Thank me later!

Besides, exercising consumes a whole load of time you could have spent feeling sorry for yourself about how life is beating the sh*t out of you. It is a good form of escapism that helps you avoid your mental health problems long enough to let time heal them. Join a workout club and see positive things happen for you.