Hello Warriors! I’m coming at you today with the fourth installment of my Value Add Series. Throughout this series, I am trying to highlight how exercise and movement positively impact other areas of wellness. Other than Physical Health benefits, regular movement can play a huge part in Mental and Emotional Health. So let’s dive right in.
Mental and Emotional Health benefits are actually some of the most cited reasons that people choose to start and continue with exercise. Regular movement calms and clears the mind, increases our ability to focus, increases creativity and problem solving abilities, and alleviates mental stress. I’ve blathered on many times that these are factors that are prized for many of us in our job roles. These are also qualities that help us through everyday life.
Getting through the day to day calmly, clearly, and focused is something that most of us continue to search for. The majority of what Wellness Culture sells as self care are tools we are convinced we need to achieve this. And why do we keep looking to hacks if not to help take stress away or lighten the mental load? The idea is that we can buy something or cheat our way around as a way to save time. But truth be told, 90% of these things don’t work and we are back at square one. Now out money and time. What if we had invested that time in movement instead?
But beyond just the day to day struggles, which are very real and valid, what about the deeper challenges of life? Anxiety disorders affect 40 million Americans and 20 million more will suffer from depression in their lifetime. That’s roughly 20% of the US population. One in five.
Sometimes these conditions are brought about by genetic predispositions. And due to the persistence of taboos, you may not know that you have this genetic makeup because many of us are not talking about it. Study after study has shown that exercise can be just as effective as counseling or medication at alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Anxiety wasn’t something I was aware of in my teens, of course that was the late 90s and we know a lot more now. What I did know, was that my regular walks (at least when the weather was good) helped me feel better. Calmer, kinder, less re-active. Something I started as a way to maybe lose a few pounds became something I have continued for more than 25 years because spending regular time outside with my headphones is deeply therapeutic.
Sometimes these conditions are brought about by life triggers. Everything from childhood traumas to PTSD to postpartum hormones can bring on episodes of anxiety or depression. And while I can only speak from my own experiences, I can say without a doubt that one of my worst episodes was postpartum. In fact, the thing that helped the most was my good old standard, walking. Literally brought the light back.
As a trainer, I can attest that what brings most people to the gym is a Physical Health desire. Weight loss, alleviating pain in the body, controlling blood sugar/pressure/cholesterol levels. But I can also tell you that those are the surface level reasons. Helping blood sugar remain steady means less loss of peripheral nerve function, which affects how the brain processes sensations especially in the hands and feet. An actual brain impact beyond just the constant worry of loss of function.
Alleviating pain in the body may translate into regaining an ability to play with grandkids. Or to return to another activity that brings happiness and joy. What is depression in its essence if not an inability to see happiness? Makes sense that those who suffer from chronic pain are also much more likely to deal with depressive symptoms, too.
Weight loss can be code for a lot of things. “Lose weight and tone up,” is the classic phrase. Reading between the lines, toning up means getting stronger. When you are postpartum and feel like you’ve been hit by a truck and also have to take care of the tiniest human, you’ll take strength any way you can get it. Samesies for the overweight kid who is being bullied.
My point with all of this is that there is a much more interdependent relationship between exercise and Mental and Emotional Health than there may be with some of the other Dimensions of Wellness. Incorporating movement can have a beneficial ripple effect before you even realize you need it. Failing to move regularly can negatively impact Mental Health.
The value add to Mental and Emotional Health should be obvious. Again, even if you personally don’t suffer from depression or anxiety, the boost to clarity, focus, and creativity is a pretty big incentive. So the next time you walk in gym, instead of seeing a super muscled guy vanity bench pressing, see the guy with crippling anxiety in his safe place. Instead of seeing a scrawny, uncoordinated kid, see the kid trying to better themselves. Instead of seeing the harried mom, see a woman taking care of her own needs so she can better care for her family. And then ask yourself how could movement help your Mental Health?
Until next time, be well friends!
