If you exercise regularly, you know that a good workout can help you feel less stressed and better able to cope with problems. But can exercise help relieve anxiety disorders?
Some research shows that physical activity can modestly decrease anxiety symptoms. Exercise also boosts self-esteem slightly and improves social interaction skills, both of which can help reduce anxiety. Just how exercise helps isn’t known, but researchers believe a combination of factors probably come into play. Exercise increases endorphins, natural chemicals that act like painkillers. And when done with a friend or in a class, it can promote social interaction.
While it’s fair to say that exercise is beneficial for both mind and body, studies reporting that it reduces anxiety should be viewed with caution. For one thing, few of these studies used subjects diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Instead, they relied on participants’ self-reports of anxiety symptoms. It’s unclear whether the reported benefits would hold true for people with anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the studies didn’t differentiate among types of exercise, intensity, or duration, so it’s impossible to recommend a specific regimen. Despite the unknowns, the authors of a recent review article in The Physician and Sportsmedicine recommended that clinicians strongly encourage people with anxiety to exercise regularly in addition to adhering to proven treatment programs.
Besides boosting your mood, regular exercise offers a host of other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, protecting against heart disease and cancer, and helping prevent diabetes.
-from Everyday Health
Some research shows that physical activity can modestly decrease anxiety symptoms. Exercise also boosts self-esteem slightly and improves social interaction skills, both of which can help reduce anxiety. Just how exercise helps isn’t known, but researchers believe a combination of factors probably come into play. Exercise increases endorphins, natural chemicals that act like painkillers. And when done with a friend or in a class, it can promote social interaction.
While it’s fair to say that exercise is beneficial for both mind and body, studies reporting that it reduces anxiety should be viewed with caution. For one thing, few of these studies used subjects diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Instead, they relied on participants’ self-reports of anxiety symptoms. It’s unclear whether the reported benefits would hold true for people with anxiety disorders. Furthermore, the studies didn’t differentiate among types of exercise, intensity, or duration, so it’s impossible to recommend a specific regimen. Despite the unknowns, the authors of a recent review article in The Physician and Sportsmedicine recommended that clinicians strongly encourage people with anxiety to exercise regularly in addition to adhering to proven treatment programs.
Besides boosting your mood, regular exercise offers a host of other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, protecting against heart disease and cancer, and helping prevent diabetes.
-from Everyday Health
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