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Fit in some fitness to help alleviate anxiety

By Brittany Doohan 

You know exercise is good for your body, but it can have a big impact on your mind, as well. Physical activity that gets your heart pumping and your body moving can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Here’s how:

• It increases the production of feel-good brain chemicals (neurotransmitters, endorphins and endocannabinoids).
• It boosts your confidence. Meeting exercise goals (and seeing the positive body changes that often follow) can improve your self-image.
• It melts away worries. Exercise is a great distraction that can help halt the cycle of negative thoughts.
• It rids your body of immune system chemicals that may be worsening any depression you already have.
• It can help you cope. Doing something positive for yourself, like working out, can help you deal positively with stressors in your life, too.

Ready to get started? Connect your wearable device or phone’s step counter to the Sugar Sense app (for iOS and Android) to track your fitness progress (select Settings from the menu and click on Connect Apps & Devices).  

Published on April 22, 2016. 

Brittany Doohan is a health and lifestyle writer and editor living in San Francisco.