Be Active
Physical activity is a great way to reduce anxiety. It gets you out of the house or office, and forces you to concentrate on something else other than the problems which are going round and round in your head. It’s also good for your physical wellbeing which, in turn, helps your mental health.
When you exercise you produce ‘happy’ hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Exercise also decreases the levels of cortisol, the hormone which is present when we are anxious or stressed; the hormone which is responsible for our ‘fight or flight’ mode. Being physically active and relatively fit is thought to help our brains cope with psychological challenges. If you find yourself in a stressful situation which is making you anxious, being physically fit allows you to cope with the added stress far more successfully.
You don’t have to become a gym bunny to feel the benefit of exercise and physical activity. The key is to ensure you are physically active on a regular basis. This may be walking the dog daily, dancing in you living room, climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift or just walking around the block a few times. Try and fit in at least three hours of regular exercise a week, divided into bit sized pieces.
