Sprinting Your Way to Mental Well-Being
- queenshealthadvoca
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
By: Taleen Sahakian
Everyone knows that exercise is beneficial to our physical health, but how does it affect student mental health and overall well-being?
Improves Mood:
Depression is among one of the most common mental illnesses university students face. While medications have proved to be useful and effective, they are coupled with side effects that can impact the student’s quality of life, and are usually not permanent solutions to the issue at hand.
Common side effects and symptoms from antidepressant medications include:
Nausea
Fatigue
Loss of libido
Indigestion
Agitation or anxiety
Exercise is a great way to combat symptoms of depression and improve overall mood, as it improves neural connections and promotes new activity in the brain that support positive emotions. This is accomplished through the release of a protein known as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which encourages the growth of new brain cells. In fact, many antidepressant drugs target the release of this molecule to help with depressive symptoms. Exercising also releases endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that connect with receptors in the pleasure centres of the brain to improve positive sensations and decrease pain. These chemicals help athletes feel a sort of “high” after a workout or sports game.
Reduces anxiety:
Studies show that individuals with anxiety tend to lead more sedentary lives, as they rarely engage in physical activity. Exercise has been known to act as an extremely effective natural resource to reduce anxiety levels, as it changes brain chemistry to help reduce anxious thoughts. For example, increased heart rate during exercise increases the prevalence of anti-anxiety neurochemicals such as serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and endocannabinoids, which are natural chemicals that target receptors in the body to ensure proper functioning. Exercise also allows for executive functioning by activating the frontal lobe of the brain, and helps students build resilience against distress.
Reduces stress:
Feelings of stress are often accompanied by tightness in the muscles such as the neck, shoulders, and back. Exercise helps loosen the stiffness of muscles and improve circulation around the body. Increased oxygen transport in the body leads to many cognitive benefits such as improved memory, focus, and thinking. This helps reduce stress about school and lead to academic success. Furthermore, taking a break from studying and spending time around others helps take students’ minds off their work and promotes social connections, which are vital for reducing stress and improving overall well-being.
Improves Self esteem:
Exercise helps to unify the body and minds, which improves students’ sleep quality and allows them to feel more energetic throughout the day. It also supports problem-based coping, which involves actively seeking information on how to solve a problem in a positive way to reduce its impact instead of using defence mechanisms such as blame or avoidance. This improves students’ self-efficacy, supports a positive personal outlook, and overall confidence.
Overall, it is clear that there is a lot to gain by engaging in regular exercise, so strap on your running shoes and sprint your way to mental well-being!
Sources:
Comments