Boost Mental Health

In the morning do you get up and go into the bathroom and take a good look in the mirror? What do you see? You survey your whole body. You turn to the right then to the left eyeing yourself up and down. Are you satisfied with your appearance? Are your clothes fitting you a little snugger than you want them to? How do you react to that? How do you feel?

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) has done research on the benefits of exercise and our mental health and concluded that exercise is a very powerful mechanism in the fight against depression and anxiety. After every exercise or series of exercises we do, our brains will give off something called endorphins. Endorphins are any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and have a number of physiological functions. They are peptides which activate the body’s opiate receptors, causing an analgesic effect. Once these are released into the system you feel great. You feel like you can and have conquered the world.

What does this have to do with Mental Health? Well everything. If you begin a task, see that task through. You will feel as though you accomplished something. This accomplishment will make you feel real good which gives you confidence to take on more challenging things. With proper exercise every day, this will encourage good blood flow throughout the body, give the body the ability to heal itself and give the brain the ability to fuel itself which will lead to better mental health.