Exercise your Way to Better Mental Health

We are in the midst of a mental health crisis. The number of people that are suffering with mental health issues is devastating. But could something as simple as exercise help to combat this debilitating condition? Often times when someone is suffering from depression or anxiety the first thing they will do is go to visit their physician. You would hope that the physician would discuss possible explanations for this condition such as what is your home life like, how are your relationships, have you had a significant life change that could be causing this sudden angst. But unfortunately, that is not how our modern medical system functions. Instead they are prescribed medication to help numb them of the situation so they can carry on with their lives. While I obviously recognize the need for this in dire circumstances, to help get someone out of a really dark time, I don’t think that we should be prescribing these to everyone that is suffering from depression and anxiety. Especially when there is scientific evidence that exercise can dramatically reduce depression and anxiety. I think that anxiety and depression can sometimes be the way that our body is trying to tell us to make a change. Maybe you are working at a job you despise, and it is causing you illness and stress. Maybe you are eating a horrible diet, and your body is struggling to handle the inflammation that the diet is causing. Maybe you are surrounded by toxic people or those that want to bring you harm. I feel like depression and anxiety at least in my experience was my body’s way of getting me to make a change with something that I was doing. It is not always easy to figure out what is causing it but I feel like when I start eating better and start moving my body I am able to think my way out of my problem.