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The past decades have seen research conducted to show a link between physical activities and exercises in the retention and treatment of a number of disorders. Studies have also shown that some of the lifestyle factors such as smoking drinking, unbalanced diets with minimal to no physical activity or exercise being incorporated have been the cause of up to 50% of deaths in the country. Persons who have a tendency to exercise have been seen to have lesser episodes of depression, anxiety and were optimistic in their on-goings (De Mello et al., 2013).
While these effects may be minimal to the general population as relationship does exist between mood and exercise. Other factors that may be involved other than physical activity and exercise will include; general health of the individual, the character of the individual, social environment, the general habits that a person engages in. Recreational exercise may indeed influence the mood of the individual. Therapeutic exercise also has been seen to have a positive effect especially to those individuals who suffer from health issues.
Research is still being carried out to determine the amount of exercise one needs to be involved in and what the exact mechanisms will be used to boost the mood of an individual. One of the questions raised during this research is why it is so difficult for each person to engage in physical activity and any form of exercise despite all the health benefits associated with it. But even while all this is going on it is becoming increasing difficult to deny or overlook the relation between mood and exercise. A good example of this relation is an individual who takes a jog or some form of temperate exercises after a long stressful day. After about five minutes of the exercises, they are bound to feel a change in their mood to a more relaxed one.
The effects of exercise on mood improvement will go beyond the short term effects felt at the exact moment but it will be helpful in improving the disposition of persons who suffer from long term depression. It is important for these people to incorporate some form of exercise as part of their treatment. Taking walks in serene places will aid in getting their minds away from that which brings them unhappy thoughts. Persons who are active tend be more positive and exhibit fewer episodes associated with depression or stress ns compared to those who are inactive. The same applies to persons who had started an active routine whether moderate or more demanding and stopped; they are more likely to be depressed than those who maintained an active lifestyle (Dunn, 2005).
Newton’s law of motion suggests that an object that is at rest will remain so unless a force acts upon it. An object in motion will remain so unless or until the pressure is applied to it to stop it and bring to rest. The same goes for the human body. Inactive persons will remain so unless they adopt an active lifestyle; they will also have less energy as compared to persons who have an active lifestyle. But then which will come first? Is it that active persons have too much energy that they cannot stop their active lifestyle or is it that the inactive persons have little energy? All in all over an extended period of time, consistent exercise will see a steady improvement in individuals’ mood, their sleep patterns will also be better, it will contribute to them having lesser stress levels and in the end their motivation to maintain and even increase this lifestyle will be enhanced.
Psychologists who have patients with mood disorders and anxiety are encouraged to have regular exercise regiments. This can and should be incorporated into their regular therapy as well as their medication. There is a need to maintain physical and mental health for individuals. Our minds are the result of the functions that the brain carries out; the brain is a vital part of the body. Mental and physical health is one and the same thing. When the physical body is exercised, the mind is also exercised (Mead et al., 2009).
Physical activity and exercise unlike medication and other forms of therapy that require financial sustenance most forms of exercise are free and can be done in the comfort of one’s home. Taking walks and jogs around the park do not require any payment. In Most medication has harmful side effects to the persons taking them. Adopting an active lifestyle is cheaper and mostly harmful when done in moderation and a sensible manner. One may need to consult a physical therapist or their doctor to ascertain the best form of exercise for them.
A good way to improve the mood is engaged in an exercise with family or friends or with someone who is bound to make you feel better at the end of the exercise. Therapy for those persons who suffer from mood disorders may not yield much as they may not feel comfortable opening up but when they are subjected to some form of activity that has them involve their mental and physical self they are bound to have better results (Jorm et al, 2005). Depression in most cases will see these people left with no energy to engage in the activities that they once enjoyed. They will not feel motivated to participate in any activity and will retreat into themselves which is a dangerous situation. Clinically depressed persons are bound to engage in harmful habits such as alcoholism and drug users even entertain suicidal thoughts
Such persons find it a task to engage in any activity such as waking up and going to school or work to even to the grocery store let alone having the energy to have the thought of engaging in any activity. The best way to handle these persons is to have them carve out a simple routine that they can learn to adapt to. It may involve getting out of the house and walking for ten minutes a few days of the week. It will not work if one is bombarded with a heavy routine when they have never had any form of exercise before. The timing should be one they feel comfortable with (Daley & Welch, 2004).
Loners and persons who tend to keep to themselves will more likely develop higher stress levels as compared to those who engage in group exercises. They are encouraged to attend a social class and even a group exercise class. By making this part of their routine that will eventually come out of their shells and become more stable persons who are positive and better adjusted (Mead, 2008). This is a gradual process; Rome wasn’t built in a day. Having small attainable goals as far as their mood improvement goes will aid in them achieving these goals.
Motivation of the continuation of this regiment will occur when the patients or the persons involved achieves the initial goals set. That feeling they get of satisfaction and personal success will build up their esteem and prompt them to continue to stronger activities. It is this boost of energy they get that will encourage them to further their quest in maintain a healthy lifestyle. Once they have the proper motivation as they achieve the goals they set for themselves they were bound to increase their frequency for the activities they are engaged in.
Conclusion
Exercise is considered essential in the improvement of moods, mental health and physical health. Fouls moods brought on by fatigue, and other levels of stress can be improved by incorporating exercise into one’s lifestyle. Exercise will improve concentration in school, work or nay task one is engaged in, it is vital in improving the overall cognitive functions. When the levels of stress affect the workings of the brain, the entire body will feel it. A healthy body will equal a healthy mind. Bad moods will be easily alleviated when one engages in an activity that is bound to get them out of the funk they find themselves in. The chemicals released when one is engage in exercise are endorphins that act as natural pain relievers to the body. Not only is it healthy but it will reduce the stress one is experiencing and enable one to have restful nights that are also important to a well-balanced body (Silveira, 2013).
References
Daley, A., Welch A (2004). The effects of 15 min and 30 min of exercise on affective responses both during and after exercise. J. Sports Science
De Mello M.T., Lemos V.de A, Antunes H.K. et al (2013).Relationship between physical activity and depression and anxiety symptoms: a population study.
Dunn A.L., Trivedi M.H., Kampert J.B., Clark C.G., Chambliss H.O. (2005)Exercise treatment for depression: efficacy and response
Jorm A.F., Morgan A.J., Hetrick S.E.(2008). Relaxation for depression. Cochrane Database systems
Mead G.E., Morley W, Campbell P. (2008). Exercise for depression. Cochrane Database System review
Mead GE, Morley W, Campbell P, Greig CA. McMurdo M, Lawlor DA. (2009) Exercise for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Review
Silveira H, Moraes H, Oliveira N et al (2O13). Physical exercise and clinically depressed patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wipfli B, Landers D, Nagoshi C, Ringenbach S. (2011) A examination of serotonin and psychological variables in the relationship between exercise and mental health.
