Physical Activity Effective Prevention Strategy for Depression

Yes, exercise can help us lose weight. But it's long been known that exercise is good for us for so many more reasons. Have you ever finished a work out and you just feel great? Sure, the endorphins have kicked in and you may be feeling those, but that feel-good feeling can last quite a while afterwards. Exercise can boost your mood, your confidence, clearly having an impact on your mental and emotional health. Now a recent study has concluded that physical activity can also help reduce the risk of developing depression. If you're trying to adjust to your life after depression, click here

An article published on Healio details the study, which concluded that exercise can be used as an effective prevention strategy against depression. Promoting physical activity could be helpful for the population at large, but specifically for those at risk of developing depression. Adolescents or people that are exposed to high-stress or violence on a regular basis, such as in their job, could adhere to an exercise routine to help protect their mental health and minimize their risk of developing depression.

Adolescents were mentioned above, but older adults often face life-events and changes that can lead to depression. Loss of friends and loved ones, debilitating medical conditions, physical changes that cause inability to do once-loved activities, financial stress...all these things can lead to lower self-esteem, anxiety, sadness or loneliness. Or it can lead to chronic depression.

According to an article from the American Psychological Association, natural body changes that come with aging can actually increase a person's risk for developing depression. Failing eyesight and loss of hearing are great examples. Adults experiencing these things sometimes experience negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, loneliness and lowered self-esteem. These negative emotions can then lead to social withdrawal and apathy. So as we age, we should be aware of this increased risk and not be afraid to seek help if we need it. Exercising could be an easy thing to add to our lives to help mitigate that risk as we age.

If it's been a while since you've regularly exercised, it's always smart to take it slow and to consult a physician if you have any medical conditions or issues. There are many different ways to exercise and many different forms, so choose something you enjoy at first to up your chances of sticking with it. If you have bad knees, you obviously don't want to take up running, so be smart with what you're doing so you don't end up with an injury.

Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment are key to helping prevent the effects of depression. Of course, exercise alone may not be enough for some individuals, but it's a free, drug-free method that could be easily added into a treatment plan, along with other methods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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