EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE ON DEPRESSION
Introduction
Depression is a major mental illness which is classified as a mood disorder that negatively affects how one feels, the way one acts and also affects how one thinks. One should be able to understand feeling down at times is a normal part of life which happens to everyone but if one feels down or hopeless regularly that could be termed as depression. Depression leads to a feeling of sadness and these results to a loss in interest in activities one once enjoyed. Depression causes various changes from the daily life of humans, for example, leads to decrease in a person’s ability to function at work and home and also influence relationships and can also lead to some chronic health conditions. Depression is a serious medical condition that can worsen without proper treatment. Depression can be managed through various ways like physical exercising of the body or a combination of medication and talk therapy (psychotherapy).
Physical exercise in the management of depression
Physical exercise is cognitive-behavioural therapies that involve body activity to develop or maintain physical fitness and overall health. Physical exercise has shown much help in alleviating symptoms of depression and the results are a happier mood. Research has shown that most depressed patients less active and rarely involve themselves in physical exercises. Research also suggests that the benefits of exercise may be long-lasting (Dinoff et al., 2018). Remember physical exercise is not a cure to depression but it’s a method of management and way of alleviation of depression symptoms. Several experimental and observational studies have been conducted using samples to determine this theory of physical exercise that included depressive patients and the general population. The studies show that physical exercise is generally beneficial to human since after exercise it is noted that the mood of the involved improves and also the depressed were noted to be getting calmer. Physical exercise works in various ways to ease depression and anxiety for example when running some feel-good chemicals (endorphins) is released in the brain which helps depressed patients feel calmer. Running is also an example of anaerobic cardiovascular exercise and by such activity, it sends more nourishing blood to the brain and brings a calming mood and also helps one think clearly (Zollinger, 2017). Physical exercise is also noted to combat negative emotions and thoughts kike suicidal thoughts (Franklin et al., 2017). Physical exercise, however, has other many psychological benefits as well which include increased mental flexibility, confidence and emotional boost.
Conclusion
Physical exercise is an essence of life and that’s what defines living beings, from amoebae to primates and it stands as a fundamental core to healthy living. Physical exercise makes us happier and more productive. When one encounters a depressive state one should consider physical exercises since it’s an advisable way to calm down as noted by the experts.
References
Dinoff, A., Herrmann, N., Swardfager, W., Gallagher, D., & Lanctot, K. L. (2018). The effect of exercise on resting concentrations of peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis. Journal of psychiatric research, 105, 123-131.
Zollinger, S. K. (2017). Aerobic Exercise and its Effect on Students’ Readiness to Learn. research. Psychological bulletin,
Franklin, J. C., Ribeiro, J. D., Fox, K. R., Bentley, K. H., Kleiman, E. M., Huang, X., … & Nock, M. K. (2017). Risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviours: a meta-analysis of 50 years of 143(2), 187.