Is Exercise Training the Natural Cure for Anxiety?
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 40 million American adults suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. Many of these people require some form of treatment for the condition. Anxiety, which in general terms is a mood reaction to situations a person feels is stressful or out of their control, is a condition that will often occur without an easily identified cause. Far from being a problem that affects only the mental state, anxiety can result in physical reactions that could include nausea, stomach pains, chest pains, heart palpitations, muscle tension or muscle weakness, trouble breathing, or headaches.
If you suffer from anxiety, the following is for you:
Increasingly, medical professionals are recommending exercise training as a form of treatment for anxiety. There have been a large number of studies on anxiety and treatment for the condition, and an analysis of the most well-read of this research shows that most do share a common conclusion: across all of the studies examined, over 150 studies in all, exercise training was shown to be a significant contributor in reducing anxiety. Learning that exercise can produce a reduction in anxiety is important, since exercise training has many other physical benefits. That’s good news for anxiety sufferers, because it offers them a natural and healthy way to deal with their condition.
So what is the best type of exercise for someone who has a problem with anxiety? The answer really depends, but generally speaking, aerobic activity seems to be the best all-around exercise when it comes to beating anxiety. According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, studies have shown that regular participation in aerobic exercise can aid in elevating and stabilizing mood, is helpful in decreasing overall levels of tension, can improve self-esteem, and help one to sleep better. And it doesn’t take much aerobic exercise to create positive results — the ADAA says that about five minutes of aerobic exercise is all that is required to begin to stimulate anti-anxiety effects.
With exercise training, like all forms of therapy, the effect can vary from person to person. Some individuals may experience a positive response, while others may find that it doesn’t really improve their mood much. Still, it is well known that there are a multitude of benefits from exercise on physical health, and people of all types are encouraged to stay physically active. So if you suffer from anxiety, consider an exercise training program as one way to help you improve not only your state of mind, but also your physical well-being.
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