If you think popping a pill and going to therapy are the only ways to battle depression and anxiety, think again. A recent analysis of dozens of studies found that exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, one that should be prescribed more often.
Researchers from the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the psychology department at Boston University analyzed population-based studies, clinical studies and meta-analytic reviews related to mental health and exercise. They concluded that exercise can have tremendous benefits for mental health, and that patients will be better off if more therapists are trained in exercise therapy.
The researchers say that cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy don’t reach everybody who needs them, and that exercise can fill the gap for people who can’t afford or don’t have access to those kinds of treatments or aren’t interested in them because of the perceived social stigma associated with them. They say exercise can also be used to supplement traditional treatments by helping patients become more engaged and focused.
According to the researchers, exercise seems to affect particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, just like an antidepressant, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behavior. Exercise is also beneficial for patients with anxiety disorders, as it can reduce their fear of fear and related bodily sensations such as rapid breathing and a racing heart.
The authors of the study suggest mental health care providers should serve as their patients’ exercise guides and motivators, and that patients should work up to the public health dose — 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity — after they have passed a health assessment.
