How Exercise Can Help with Depression

How Exercise Can Help with Depression

Do you incorporate exercise into your daily routine? Doctors and researchers are unanimous in observing that exercising can be very beneficial to your health, so give it a try next time you’re feeling persistently blue! Read on to learn about how exercising on a regular basis can ease those symptoms of depression.

Exercise Eases Symptoms


Exercising can be very beneficial to your mental health since it has been known to interrupt the depressive mental spiral in most individuals who suffer from it. Exercising can also help people who suffer from depression since it can take your mind off your problems when you are focusing on activities like kayaking or hiking through the woods. These types of physical activities can help with depression by keeping your mind busy. Hiking and kayaking are perfect exercises that make you take more notice of your environment and keep your body in shape when you are climbing a mountain or rowing a boat. Even a simple walk around your neighborhood can help you enjoy the simple beauty of nature and help calm nerves and stress levels.

Release of Endorphins.


How exactly does exercising help with your depression? When you do high-intensity exercises like running, you can release endorphins that can help with the depression you’ve been feeling. This means you will feel better since endorphins are a natural chemical that’s similar to the effects of cannabis. The release of these endorphins will make you feel less depressed and also help with any anxiety you might have from other challenges in your life. This is why we all hear the phrase “a runner’s high,” because a runner can release those endorphins after a run and it makes them feel excellent afterward.

How Do I get started?


You might be wondering: how do I start exercising enough to reduce those depression symptoms? Well, it’s actually not that hard since exercising for at least 30 minutes a day, 3 to 4 times a week is all it takes for some people to see some results in their mood. Of course, even if you do 10-15 minutes of some kind of physical activity, it can be beneficial. As long as you are active to some degree such as riding your bike down the block, doing some yoga, swimming in the local pool, or taking up gardening. However, having a partner come with you to the local yoga studio or be by your side can help you stay with it. Either way, these types of exercises can make a significant impact on your mental state as well as help with other health problems that could come your way in the future such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

If you decide your depression is getting too out of hand or want a professional therapist to talk out your problems, call East-West Therapy Hawaii today! Dr. Conti can help you get through your depression and give you a safe and confidential environment to share your life story. Take advantage of Dr. Conti’s expertise as a therapist and teletherapy specialis: call us today to schedule an appointment or have a free 15-minute phone consultation!