It’s almost too simple!
Happiness isn’t always easy to come by. Some people struggle with emotional disorders and low mood their entire lives. No matter what they do, their brain chemistry floods them with feelings of sadness. It’s a problem that is becoming more and more common in the Western world. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, nearly 15 million Americans suffer from depression–that’s nearly 7% of the U.S. population feeling blue!
But what if there was a simple way to feel happier? According to one study, there is! It has nothing to do with medication or comfort food, but it involves a very simple activity: more exercise.
In 2016, Science Daily published the results of a study that examined how exercise could affect the emotional state. 80 participants of both genders were divided into two groups: the control group (with no exercise), and the exercise group. The exercise group completed just 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per session, while the control group only stretched for 30 minutes. They were then shown a sad and a funny movie scene and asked to describe their emotions.
The researchers discovered that those who performed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise reported less sadness by the time the study was complete. They had no other changes to their lifestyle or habits, but they simply performed a few minutes of aerobic exercise. By the time the study was completed, they were significantly happier than their non-exercise counterparts.
We all know that exercise is great for our muscles, our hearts, and our minds, but now it turns out exercise is great for your emotions as well! With just a few minutes of exercise per day, you can improve your mood drastically. Who knows, it may even be a long-term aid to help you get your depression or emotional disorder under control.
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Emotional disorders are often greatly misunderstood. Many people don’t seem to understand that these disorders have nothing to do with the quality of life. In fact, a large number of emotional disorders are simply the result of brain chemistry gone haywire. Insufficiencies of certain neurochemicals can cause depression, bipolar disorder, and the list goes on.
Exercise helps to stimulate the production of neurochemicals, promoting a healthy balance between all of the chemicals your brain needs. By encouraging a better, more “normal” balance of neurochemicals, exercise can help to stabilize your mood and reduce your risk of emotional disorders. If you are already suffering from an emotional disorder, exercise may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms, as well as minimize the frequency of the onsets of the disorders.
But make no mistake, exercise alone isn’t the key! There are many ways to combat emotional disorders, including medication and therapy. There is no simple “one size fits all” approach when it comes to dealing with depression and other emotional disorders. Adding exercise into a healthy, balanced lifestyle can make it easier for you to get a grip on your emotions and promote healthy brain chemistry, but it may not be the ONLY thing you need to do. It’s always best to talk with a psychologist or psychiatrist if you find yourself suffering emotional problems.
However, it’s always a good idea to add more exercise to your life, and it becomes even more imperative for those with emotional disorders. As this study proved, it can help you to manage your feelings and make you feel less sad in your everyday life. That is something no doubt everyone with emotional disorders is looking for!
