Taking part in physical activity releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which are feel good chemicals. These are the same chemicals you get from flicking through Facebook or Instagram, but it’s much healthier and more regulated when it’s done through exercise.
Exercise allows you to connect to the body and for many it’s a form of medication and support that is needed for good health. Being outside with nature allows you to get out of your head and it’s a natural anti-anxiety treatment.
Despite these factors, exercising can be hard due to lack of motivation. Exercise is often seen as boring and something we have to do rather than want to do. The term ‘working out’ automatically creates a connection in our brains that it is work. However, exercise is a vital part of keeping your mental health at ease and there’s plenty of ways to make it fun.
Psychotherapist, Emma Disney said: “Exercise is a really important part of mental health, it’s a foundation of mental health because exercise allows so many positives mentally and physically, so I subscribe exercise as one of the things that every client needs to do.
With a lot of my clients we go out walking as I know if I don’t pick them up and walk with them they won’t do exercise so we actually do walking sessions in order for them to do some exercise and get out of their head. For me it’s one of the most important ways for them to support themselves, it’s really vital.”
Emma has been in the industry for many years and during that time worked with hundreds of teenagers struggling with their mental health. Emma has written a self-help book for parents all about understanding their teens. The book is called Teen-a-pause.
“Exercise is my therapy, it allows me to release pent up feelings that are physical, it allows me to feel energised and it creates whole new levels of different neuro-chemicals in the head. For me, exercise is one of my most important foundational supports that allows me to live the life that I live.”
Some of Emma’s tips for those struggling with their mental health and wanting to start exercising are:
Find someone to walk with.
Listen to music or an interesting podcast.
If going outside feels overwhelming due to anxiety, start small—perhaps begin by walking around the block once, and gradually work your way up to longer walks. The key is to make it manageable and accessible.
Take advantage of every opportunity to walk—whether it's to school, college, or to meet friends. Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise and a great way to build both physical and mental strength.
Emma holds sessions with her clients that are called walking sessions which consist of a therapy session while on a walk. When walking it allows a person to talk a lot better due to it re-calibrating the body. When talking about emotional things, the act of walking allows you to process the thought and feeling much quicker than when you are sitting down.
It’s vital to acknowledge and de-stigmatise that everyone has mental health so when struggling you really aren’t alone, people will be able to relate in one way or another. Everyone has different levels of good and bad days but seeking help when it’s needed is never a negative thing.
For more advice and motivation visit Emma's Instagram via @MyLifeMe1.