If you have anxiety that you cannot control then it is wise to see your doctor for medications and therapy advice/referral, as appropriate. But whilst these things will help you, you can’t keep relying on them forever and ever. At some point you’re going to need to take control of your anxiety, and find ways to cope with it.

Some people like to meditate, others attend painting classes, and lots of people find relief from anxiety from physical activity. Now there’s many different types of anxiety, but the principle benefits of physical activity can help most forms of anxiety, and I’ve listed just a few of them below.

Distractions Distractions Distractions

Going out and being active is a great break from your wandering mind. It takes your mind away from your thoughts and anxieties, giving your mind a rest while you enjoy being in the moment of physical activity.

It’s Relaxing

Well i don’t know how to put this any other way, but being active can make us less anxious, both in the short and long term. When we’re active, alongside being distracted, our brain releases lots of good hormones that calm us down and make us feel relaxed. If we continue to be active on a regular basis, then we can keep making use of these hormones, feeling more at ease on a regular basis. Getting a little bit hot and sweaty is also a useful way of calming ourselves down through our body temperature.

It’s Good For Our Body

Having anxiety is some exhausting business, and nobody ever reminds you that using your brain burns calories too. But by being active we can make ourselves fitter and stronger, and this means we’ll wake up each day with more and more energy, and much less exhaustion. A sluggish body equals a sluggish mind, so we’re going to have to do something about our physical health if we want to improve our mental health.

It Makes Us Feel Better About Ourselves

Going out and accomplishing something, as simple as walking to the shops, can give an instant feeling of reward and success. If we’re in a better mood, and feeling relaxed after being active, then we’re also in a better place to think positive thoughts about ourself. Being able to get back outside and to be free from anxiety for a short while can make us feel better about selves, boosting our self-esteem, and the confidence we have in ourselves to overcome anxiety.

So there was a quick four reasons why physical activity is good for relieving anxiety. Make sure that you can find something for yourself that you enjoy, whether that’s training for a 5k or just some regular gardening or walking.

Faye Prior (Researcher)

Sources

Anderson & Shivakumar, (2013). Effects of exercise and physical activity on anxiety. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 4, 27.

Jayakody et al., (2014). Exercise for anxiety disorders. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(3), 187-96.