Importance of Exercise in Mental Health

The mind and body are intrinsically linked. Unfortunately in the Western world, there is often a separation drawn between them. Studies show that exercise can treat mild to moderate depression as effectively as antidepressant medication—but without the side-effects, of course. In addition to relieving depression symptoms, research also shows that maintaining an exercise schedule can prevent you from relapsing. Some psychologists will only treat people who suffer from depression if they agree to an exercise routine.

Exercise fights depression for many reasons: it increases neural growth, reduces inflamation, releases endorphins- chemicals that help people feel good, and allows for quiet time. We can use our exercise time to focus on the feeling of exercise, using mindfulness practice while exercising, to help escape our obsessive thoughts. Exercising can also relieve tension and stress.

Regular exercising can have other benefits such as improving concentration, memory by boosting the dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin levels.