Anxiety and depression are two of the most debilitating illnesses, which go further than just the mind and affect the physical health of sufferers. It can be extremely hard to maintain physical fitness when suffering from mental health issues, but exercise and running in particular have been found to promote good mental health. Alongside counselling and cognitive behavior therapy, the United Kingdom’s National Health Service has listed exercise as a proven effective alternative to antidepressant medication.
Even stepping outside can be a massive hurdle for those suffering from illness. Simply getting started by jogging down the street or round your block for 30 seconds to a minute is a great place to start. Wear something you’ll feel comfortable in and try not to worry about what others think. It may help to put your earphones in but stay alert if you’re running near roads and other pedestrians.
Create a habit of running at the same time every day and encourage yourself to push a little further each time but remember not to over-do it. To help you with this, you can download apps for your phone which coach you through your jog and can be adapted to your level, aiding in your goals. You could also encourage a friend of yours to join you on your runs, especially when you’re just getting started.
You’ll soon start to see changes in your health, studies have proven that a 30-minute run can boost a person’s mood. It goes beyond the elusive “runners high” which many runners experience temporarily, running regularly protects against anxiety and depression even when the run is over. It encourages better concentration during the day, improved quality of sleep and a general improvement in mood.
You can start setting small goals, for example run for 2 minutes without stopping and increase your running time as you grow fitter. It will boost your confidence and self-esteem, setting goals and achieving them will give you a sense of an empowerment leading to you feeling overall happier.
It is also an excellent way to improve your physical health. It can raise your levels of good cholesterol, increase your lung function, boost your immune system and reduce your chances of contracting a blot clot. For women, it can reduce the risk of breast cancer and for both men and women it lowers chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.
Running will benefit you physically and mentally increasing your happiness and confidence. Although some days, simply putting your feet in front of each other may be a challenge, but always celebrate your accomplishments no matter how small they may be.
