ANXIETY —FINDING RELIEF WITH EXERCISE
Like many folks, I have a certain amount of stress in my life. But some people I know are actually experiencing anxiety, which seems a step beyond stress. I wanted to know the difference so I went online and read a few articles.
I found that stress comes in response to external causes, such as an overload of work or having to give a speech in front of a group. Stress subsides once a situation has been resolved, like catching up with your work or after giving the speech. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a reaction to stress and it originates internally. It’s typically characterized by a lasting feeling of apprehension and dread to situations that are not actually threatening. And, unlike stress, anxiety remains even after a situation has passed.
A year ago I wrote a post on lowering stress, Recipe for reducing stress: get up and move. And now I’ve found that exercise can also greatly help in dealing with anxiety. (Ain’t exercise grand!) Here are excerpts from the October 24, 2019 Harvard University online article by John J. Ratey, MD, Can exercise help treat anxiety?
Chances are good that you, or someone you know, is dealing with anxiety. One in five Americans over 18 reported having a chronic anxiety disorder during the past year.
The toll of anxiety can be high: it increases a person’s risk for other psychiatric disorders like depression, and can contribute to diabetes and cardiovascular problems. One sobering study shows that people with anxiety tend to be more sedentary and do less intense forms of physical activity, if any. That’s ironic, because lacing up your sneakers and getting out and moving may be the single best nonmedical solution we have for preventing and treating anxiety. [Italics mine]
As a psychiatrist who studies the effects of exercise on the brain, I’ve not only seen the science, I’ve witnessed firsthand how physical activity affects my patients. Research shows aerobic exercise is especially helpful. A simple bike ride, dance class, or even a brisk walk can be a powerful tool for those suffering from chronic anxiety.
How does exercise help ease anxiety?
- Engaging in exercise diverts you from the very thing you are anxious about.
- Moving your body decreases muscle tension, lowering the body’s contribution to feeling anxious.
- Getting your heart rate up changes brain chemistry, increasing the availability of important anti-anxiety neurochemicals, including serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and endocannabinoids.
- Exercise activates frontal regions of the brain responsible for executive function, which helps control the amygdala, our reacting system to real or imagined threats to our survival.
- Exercising regularly builds up resources that bolster resilience against stormy emotions.
The details
So exactly how much exercise does one need to protect against episodes of anxiety and its disorders? While pinpointing this is not easy, a recent meta analysis in the journal Anxiety-Depression found that people with these disorders who reported high-level physical activity were better protected against developing anxiety symptoms than those who reported low physical activity. Bottom line: when it comes to treating anxiety, more exercise is better.
If you’re just starting out, don’t despair. Some research also shows that just a single bout of exercise can help ease anxiety when it strikes.
Which type of exercise you choose may not matter greatly. Studies point to the effectiveness of everything from tai chi to high-intensity interval training. People experienced improvement no matter which types of activity they tried. Even general physical activity is helpful. The important thing is to try activities and keep doing them.
To maximize the benefits:
- Choose something enjoyable so you will do it repeatedly, building resilience.
- Work toward getting your heart rate up.
- Work out with a friend or in a group to reap the added benefit of social support.
- If possible, exercise in nature or green space, which further lowers stress and anxiety.
While scientific studies are important, you don’t need to consult a chart, statistics, or an expert to know how good you feel after working up a sweat. Remember those feelings and use them as motivation to do something physical every day. Time to get up and get moving!