Exercise for Mental Health
Exercise for Mental Health
In recent years there has been an explosion of literature around mental health and how to improve it. There are many ways to help your mental health and try to reverse the effects of mental illness. The problem that we walk into is that every person is different and will respond to different techniques. Exercise has been rising in the ranks lately for intervention in mental illness with massive improvements seen in many different domains. The great thing about exercise is it can be individualized to each person, there is no one type that is meant to be used, and it is readily accessible by almost everybody. Thats where we come in…
Accredited exercise physiologists are the highest qualified exercise professionals in Australia. We are in a unique position to be able to assist people through exercise who may have varying barriers towards starting exercise by themselves. Mental Illness is one of the most common barriers towards exercise and can affect many people in different circumstances. AEP’s have knowledge around psychology, mental health interventions and behavior change techniques that can particularly assist those with difficulty starting and keeping up an exercise routine.
What type of exercise should I do?
– The most recent research shows that High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) or Moderate Intensity Interval Training (MIIT) has shown the most significant improvements in mental health outcomes.
– However, the point that matters most is that you are enjoying what you are doing. A majority of people need to try different types of exercise before finding something that they enjoy. Because we are all individuals, what we enjoy doing is going to look very different compared to everybody else. This exercise can be as simple as going for a walk with friends or trying a new recreational sport. Joining a gym isn’t always the answer!
What are the physical benefits of exercise?
– Boosts serotonin – the ‘happy’ brain chemical
– Reduces stress: Short increase in cortisol at time of exercise and then a large decrease – overtime will reduce the base level of cortisol if generally high.
– Enjoyment of exercise increases… capacity for movement increases – makes day to day activity easier.
– Improve insulin resistance and body fat in overweight individuals (Which can be caused by medications used for Mental Illness or consistently high levels of Cortisol)
