We recommend not only betting on sports, but also practicing them. Undoubtedly, sports affect the mental state, there is a lot of scientific evidence to support that. In general, sports have a positive effect on mental health, but there is also a negative effect, which we will also talk about.
Physical activity allows you to increase your energy levels, you feel more resilient and healthier. Also, exercise helps those who have weak willpower – it allows you to develop this quality. What are the positive effects of sports? Let’s look into it.
Increases happiness hormone levels
A study by the Mayo Clinic (one of the largest private research organizations in the world) showed that physical activity increases endorphins and reduces the symptoms of depression. Even three half-hour workouts a week is enough.
Teaches you to set specific goals and achieve them
Doing sports helps to develop qualities that are useful in life, such as determination and self-confidence. Sports is the sum total of a constant effort at oneself.
At some point, doing sports turns from a hobby into setting specific goals for oneself. For example, to gain a specific body mass. And this helps one to learn to set oneself goals in ordinary life as well and to achieve them successfully.
It helps to fight anxiety and stress.
There is such a stress hormone as adrenaline. It gives the feeling of fear, anxiety, increased heart rate. Constant physical activity creates a deficit of glucose in the blood by converting it into energy. As a consequence, adrenaline travels to the liver, where it is processed to release glucose.
Dr. David Berzelie developed his own method of dealing with stress and post-traumatic stress. Areas of chronic tension can form in muscles after trauma, and Bertzelie created a system of exercises that help defuse the agitation accumulated by the body as a result of tension.
Reduces the risk of depression
It’s important to note that sports are a great way to combat and prevent depression. The British Department of Health found in 2010 that those who exercise every day are 30% less likely to be depressed than those who don’t exercise at all.
How can sports be dangerous to mental health?
Athletes who have been involved in sports since early childhood have a slightly different perception of achievement and their own bodies in general. They relate to them differently than the average person. More often than not, it’s a pragmatic attitude toward the body as a tool. Something that is important to train constantly.
An athlete’s physical condition also determines his or her results in life, as well as his or her mental state. For an athlete, any injury is a real drama, it’s very hard to deal with. At times, failures on the sports field can lead to psychological trauma or depression. Perhaps in this case one of the mental health startup can help.
Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that sport has a mostly positive effect on the state of the psyche. It improves sleep and memory due to endorphins and more efficient functioning of the nervous system. Regular exercise, as paradoxical as it may sound, helps to relieve fatigue, because achieving even small sports goals brings satisfaction and self-confidence.
