Hello Beautiful Babes,
Over the past few months, I have been working on adjusting my routines and eating habits to better combat my anxiety and stress. Since becoming more aware of my anxiety about a year ago, I have worked on being more proactive in managing it. I’ve done this through self-care, exercise and healthy eating.
I have learned that trying to get “rid” of your anxiety is the worst way to deal with it. Anxiety is a chemical imbalance in your mind; therefore, trying to “get rid” of it is not possible and can just make the symptoms worse. I’ve learned that the best way to reduce your anxiety is by building a relationship with it. By accepting the fact that you have anxiety, you can move forward with proactive methods to live a happier and healthy life.
Today, I am sharing one way I manage my anxiety on a daily basis. Exercise.
Exercise, big or small, has tremendously helped me better manage my anxiety and lower my stress levels on a daily basis. Everyone has a different way of coping and managing anxiety, but I’ve found exercise to be one of the best methods for me.
I wanted to share the exercises that have helped me the most and why they have been beneficial.
Running
Running is my number one exercise for combating my anxiety. Any day that I am feeling super overwhelmed or anxious, I take a run. It helps me clear my mind and focus on my breathing, rather than what’s going on in my head. Running can be challenging but that’s what makes it great for minimizing stress and anxiety because you can focus your energy on the run instead of negative thoughts. Lots of people dislike running but it can be really beneficial for those dealing with mental illness, in my opinion.
Yoga
I tried yoga for awhile, which did help me become more mindful and relaxed in the moment. However, yoga was too calm for me some days. I utilize yoga and stretching on days I need to become aware of my body and its sensations. I stretch on my rest days and take the time to relax my mind. Yoga does work really well for some people who are experiencing anxiety and stress. I saw some benefits from the practice but there are so many people who says it really works for them. As usual, it’s up to you to figure out what works best for your life.
HIIT Workouts
Anything high intensity always releases lots of endorphins and improves my mood. Similar to running, high intensity training allows me to focus a lot of energy into my workout and less on my thoughts, plus the after effect is beneficial to my mind and mood. This type of workout also helps release stress from the day.
Group Class
I don’t do group classes too often, usually due to the fact that I cannot afford them, but the group atmosphere can be really motivating and energizing. I always loved participating in spin classes because it was high energy and high intensity. I was motivated by the instructor and inspired by the others in the class. It’s a great environment for improving your mood and decreasing stress.
Let’s get physical!
Overall, I believe exercise is the answer to managing anxiety because it takes a great deal of energy. This is important because when you suffer from anxiety, you can tend to feel exhausted or mentally tired from the process of overthinking and worrying. By focusing your energy on something like exercise, I believe it takes away from the mental strain and allows room for positive chemicals to be released, such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin.
When you struggle with anxiety or depression, it typically means there is a deficiency of serotonin in the brain. This is your mood chemical. Endorphins release energy, which can boost your productivity and motivation. Dopamine is just a happy chemical and who doesn’t want to be happy!? By engaging in physical activity, you are creating these healthy chemicals that stimulate your mood and energy levels. This can be crucial for anxiety and depression sufferers.
These exercises listed above are also really great for stress relief. So, even if you don’t suffer from a mental illness, these are still super beneficial to your daily life.
Thank you for reading PYM today! I’m not a doctor or health professional, but I am a first-hand sufferer who has experience with the illness. I’ve tried methods that work and some that do not, this one works. This is just my input and opinion but I have found positive results with exercise. Have other tips for managing anxiety? Share them in the comments!