Anxiety
Treatments:
Is Exercise an Effective Anxiety Treatment?
 Is
exercise better than conventional anxiety treatments?
It’s hard to say for sure that exercise works better
than all other anxiety treatments, but it definitely works.
According to Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist with
the American Council on Exercise: “Exercise, particularly
aerobic exercise, has consistently shown to be effective in
helping individuals manage psychological stress,”
So
how does exercise work to reduce anxiety? One of the reasons
why exercise reduces anxiety is because of the chemicals in
the brain. Physical activity releases endorphins and other
chemicals that make us feel good. A second reason for why
we feel relaxed after exercise is that our muscles, after
working hard during exercise, have less electrical impulses
and therefore are less tense. This in turn, makes us feel
less tense and jittery.
A
third reason why exercise helps with anxiety is that we tend
to feel better about yourself during and after vigorous physical
activities. Bette self image and self esteem seems to lower
the levels of stress and anxiety.
Not
only does exercise help improve our mood while we are working
out and immediately afterwards. According to Medical News
Today, a UK Study shows that men who engaged in heavy intensity
leisure activities were less likely to have anxiety for the
next five years!
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More About the EasyCalm Anxiety Method
You
might think that because you work a job that has you moving
a lot, you don’t need to exercise, but this seems to
not be the case. The UK study found that vigorous physical
activity at work did not have the same effect as the leisure
time activity. Making time in your schedule to go to the gym
or attend exercise classes will increase the calming effect,
and be well worth the effort.
So
what kind of exercises reduce anxiety?
Not
only can exercise be one of the best anxiety treatments out
there, more good new is that you don’t have to run marathons
to get the desired effect. It is advised that you try to get
at least 20 minutes of cardio vascular exercise 5 to 6 days
a week, but it doesn’t have to bee too strenuous. Even
if you only have a few minutes here and there, remember that
four shorter ten minute workouts get about the same results
as one 40 minute one.
Try
walking to work. If you live too far away to walk, park 10
minutes from your workplace and walk to and from your car.
Try walking during your lunch breaks or put on an exercise
tape at home and get sweating. You can even walk inside your
building if it is big enough. Try the stairs, they are great
for getting your heart pumping.
Try
yoga or a similar type of workout. According to the American
Council of Exercise, studies show that repeated contraction
and relaxation of large muscle groups lead to the release
of specific neurotransmitters in the brain which will make
you feel more relaxed. Yoga also focuses on being present
in the moment and keeping your attention on our breathing
and the movements you are doing. This kind of practice gradually
relaxes our mind and clears away worries and fears. You might
just find that this is one of the most enjoyable anxiety treatments
you’ve ever tried.
Elisabeth
Ramsberg Larsen
Sources:
http://www.acefitness.org/media/media_display.aspx?NewsID=142
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/67624.php
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