Movement is good for the body. Exercise can reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular events, it can help us maintain a healthy weight and metabolism and it can even be a protective factor against various forms of disease. Movement is also great for anxiety too! This goes to show just how connected our mental and physical health are.
So now you may be wondering at what point do I tell you that stretching or walking will cure your anxiety. Well it’s not quite that simple but walking and staying active can do wonders for anxiety. Imagine one of those wind up car toys, where you pull back on the car and let it go and then boom it’s racing along the floor or table. Well anxiety can be a bit like that. Our anxious thoughts can build up and we can often find ourselves ruminating on them. So when our mind is left to run free like the car on the floor or table, we can often feel out of control and overwhelmed.
So this is the part where you’re probably asking yourself “okay but how does turning myself into a puddle of sweat help?” Well, again you don’t necessarily need to sweat and be hitting new personal records in the gym to reduce your anxiety through exercise and movement. Think of it this way, our bodies and our minds run on energy. So rather than spinning our wheels on the floor or table, we can take that same energy and spend it on movement. Exercise and movement can also help anxiety by reducing body tension. If you struggle with anxiety, how often have you found yourself feeling really tense and on edge? Maybe you notice your shoulders tensing up or you feel your fight or flight response activated. By listening to our body and letting out that energy, we can reduce the anxiety symptoms.
According to Harvard Health “Exercise activates frontal regions of the brain responsible for executive function, which helps control the amygdala, our reacting system to real or imagined threats to our survival.” (Harvard Health, 2019). Basically this means by taxing our brain in other ways, our brain can focus less on the parts that lead to anxiety and fear. Overall, our bodies and mind are more connected than we often realize or give ourselves credit for. So next time you notice yourself feeling anxious or on edge, maybe breaking out a dance or two or going for a jog might be just what you need. If you or a loved one struggles with anxiety, our wonderful therapists here at Niyyah Counseling are here to help! We understand that the mind and body are connected and while we won’t make you run laps, we can help with various aspects of your mental health in ways that shift your perspective on anxiety.