Everyone experiences anxiety—some more serious than others, but it is still there. Things like meeting new people and crowds are all things that can trigger it for me. I know many other people who have trouble coping with the same things. But instead of dealing with these issues or ignoring them until they go away, I’ve learned the best way to deal with them is by working out.
It makes your body release endorphins, the “feel good” hormones
If you’re feeling anxious, don’t just sit there. Get up and move! Exercise has been proven to help people deal with various mental health issues — including anxiety.
Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers produced in response to stress, strenuous activity, and extreme exercise. They help ease pain and make you feel better overall.
During exercise, your body releases endorphins that travel through your bloodstream. They then bind to receptors in your brain and spinal cord, causing a feeling of euphoria and intense pleasure that can last up to 10 minutes after you finish exercising — or even longer if you have more intense exercise sessions.
It relaxes you
It can be challenging to stay focused or concentrate on anything when feeling anxious. You may feel like your mind is racing, and you want to go home, curl up in bed, and hide from everyone.
But exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health. It can help prevent anxiety attacks, reduce their severity when they do occur, and even help treat depression.
It lowers inflammation
When we’re stressed, our bodies produce excess amounts of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol works to raise our heart rate and blood pressure to respond quickly to danger. But when it’s overproduced, it causes inflammation in the body, resulting in chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
When you work out hard enough to break a sweat, your body releases endorphins — those feel-good chemicals that reduce pain and make us feel good about ourselves. When we exercise regularly, we experience lower cortisol levels because our bodies produce less of it. This means no or less inflammation!
It improves mood and boosts self-confidence
It improves mood and boosts self-confidence. Exercise releases endorphins — neurotransmitters that enhance mood and boost self-esteem. And if you’ve ever been around an energetic child on a playground or at the gym, you know that exercise can also put us in a better mood!
It can help you sleep better at night
Exercise increases the amount of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm the nervous system. Anxious people often have lower levels of GABA in their brains, which can make them feel more stressed out than they should be. Exercising is one way to increase GABA levels in your brain, which can help you relax and sleep better at night. That’s why some people would often opt for a GABA supplement to sleep better.
It improves your brain function and helps you feel more positive
Working out is an excellent way to help you get through your anxiety.
It improves your brain function and helps you feel more positive. Exercise releases endorphins, which your mood. It also encourages the production of dopamine, another brain chemical that makes you feel good.
When you’re anxious, it’s easy to feel trapped in negative thoughts and self-doubt. But exercise can help you see things differently. When you’re working out or just walking around, try to focus on what’s happening around you instead of what’s happening inside your mind.
It reduces cortisol, the “stress hormone” that contributes to anxiety
Exercise reduces cortisol, the “stress hormone” that contributes to anxiety. Cortisol increases when you experience stress, and high levels are linked to depression and anxiety disorders. Exercise helps reduce cortisol levels because it burns fat, which releases endorphins — chemicals in the brain that make us feel happy and relaxed — and triggers the release of hormones called neurotrophins, which promote neuron growth in our brains.
Aerobic exercise also increases blood flow to the brain, which means more oxygen gets delivered throughout your body — including your brain. And since we use oxygen to create energy for our cells, this helps reduce fatigue while increasing our energy levels as well.
Working out can help you get through your anxiety because it relaxes the body, triggers the release of positive emotions, and reminds us that we’re strong enough to handle challenges. But if you don’t already feel that way, it will not happen magically. You have to work out understanding the benefits—and goals—of a healthier lifestyle. For people suffering from anxiety, exercise can be a powerful tool to improve their mental health, both physically and psychologically.
In conclusion, simply getting up and exercising helps you get through your anxiety. It might not be an instant cure, but it can certainly help ease the pain, at least for a while. If you are experiencing severe anxiety, please seek professional medical treatment immediately. These tips are intended only as a mild form of therapy.
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
