Psychological Benefits Of Physical Activities On Mental Health

But how? How can we be that strong to deal with any such situation in our life? No, we do not need to have superpowers but we need to have some physical strength which will, in turn, keep us in a good mood and enhance our mindedness.

Psychological Benefit of Physical Activity

Physical activity can have a positive effect on aspects of mental health and psychological well-being, such as depression, mood and cognitive function.

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Exercise can prevent or reduce the extent of mental illnesses such as depression and it is also believed to have a positive effect on self-esteem in adults. It can also enhance mood and reduce stress levels, thus allowing us to tackle daily challenges in a more positive, optimistic and constructive way.

It has been suggested that one in six adults in Great Britain suffers from a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety (Cooper and Bebbington, 2006), which makes the effective treatment of these conditions an issue of great importance. Also, because people differ greatly, explanations for improvements to mental health may vary according to the person concerned.

In summary, the potential psychological benefits of being actively involved in regular vigorous physical activity programs are as follows:

• Exercise is associated with reduced state anxiety
• Exercise has been associated with a decreased level of mild to moderate depression;
• Long-term exercise is usually associated with reductions in traits such as neuroticism and anxiety;
• Exercise may be an adjunct to the professional treatment of severe depression;
• Exercise results in the reduction of various stress indices;
• Exercise has beneficial emotional effects across all ages and in both sexes

• Exercise as a dose could help measure the current and past state of an individual

If we go by the evidence and supporting scholarly articles we can believe in this method of overcoming stress and fighting any Mental Illness but to justify it on a universal level the accumulation of scientific evidence is vital in research.

The more the evidence there is a more positive link between physical activity and Mental Health. The more likely it is that the healthcare services will be directed towards providing exercise as a treatment for Mental Health Conditions instead of drug or medication, to combat the long-term side effects.

The more the people will adopt a healthy lifestyle and get into physical exercise the government and institutions will take steps in investing in exercise as a means of treatment for such condition in an individual otherwise the hospital bills and the side effects of the prolonged illness is no less than a cause of stress to the individual and the family members supporting him in his treatment.

We can improve our quality of life by adopting physical activities in our daily life. Say yes to life. 

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