Mental Health in Fitness - The "Happy" Chemicals
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and here at Troy Barbell & Fitness we are dedicating the time to talk about it. Troy Barbell & Fitness has been manufacturing premium fitness equipment for over 30 years, offering over 1,500 products. In the last year and a half, we have all experienced similar feelings about the state of the world. Anxiety, loneliness, and a decline in mental health has affected millions across the globe. As a member of the fitness community, it is our duty to give insight into the benefits fitness can have on mental health.
Exercising has proven benefits that when you do it, you actually feel happier. The “happy” chemicals are dopamine and endorphins, which are released into your brain while you are exercising. If you have ever gone into a workout feeling worried and stressed and left feeling calm and relaxed, this is why. Not only does your body release good chemicals into your brain while you work out, but as your heart rate increases, so does the blood flow to your brain, which means your brain gets more oxygen and nutrients, leaving you with clearer thoughts. Physical activity has been proven to be just as effective as depression and anxiety medication without all of the side effects. Going for a thirty minute to one hour walk outside every day can boost your mood by almost 100%.
"Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body" -Arnold Schwarzenenegger
At Troy we are aware of the stigma around gyms and the courage and strength it takes to put yourself in a place to use one. We want to encourage you, if you are reading this and have struggled with mental health to start today. Go for a walk. Do a 10-minute workout in your room. Go for a jog. Choose you.
Resources
Mental Health is Health: https://bit.ly/3wkxaOk
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
Source
Robinson, L. (2021, April 19). The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise. HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/the-mental-health-benefits-of-exercise.htm.
