Does Working Out Really Help Anxiety?

Yes. Working out can help your anxiety. It may not seem like it and for some it may feel counterintuitive, but a consistent and tailored workout regimen can be very beneficial to anxiety management.

Anxiety and Hormones

Anxiety is deeply interconnected with your hormones. The balance of hormones in your body can significantly influence whether you feel anxious, stressed and depressed. Two of the hormones closely related to anxiety and fitness are cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol Explained

Nicknamed "the Stress Hormone", cortisol helps your body respond to stress. In anxiety, chronic stress leads to high cortisol which leads to anxiety symptoms. Anxiety symptoms that you may experience as a result of heightened cortisol include: restlessness, irritability and insomnia.

Adrenaline Explained

When you hear "fight or flight", we are talking about adrenaline. Adrenaline becomes present as part of the body's immediate stress response. It results in increased heart rate, blood pressure and uneven or increased breathing.

How Does Fitness and Working Out Help?

Exercise helps to regulate cortisol and adrenaline. When you work out, your body can process and "burn through" the excess more effectively. Exercise is also known to boost serotonin and dopamine, which can combat the mood destabilizing effects of anxiety and depression.

Where do I start?

You should always start small. Going all in, balls to the wall with fitness can be unsustainable and cause burn out.

If you already have a fitness routine, tailor it to something that will help you more effectively manage your stress levels. This can be different for everyone, but generally you'll want to find a routine that keeps you in the fat burn heart rate zone. Examples of workouts include weight lifting, swimming, stair master, step classes and dance classes.

If you are new to fitness, start with a daily walk and yoga. Walking is a great low-impact workout that will train your body to get used to continuous movement. Yoga helps with breathing, concentration and relaxation. It's OK if you're starting slow and small. Build on your routine over time and make sure you're staying consistent.

Check out some of my fitness blogs for workout ideas!