Did you know that just one hour of exercise a week has been linked to lower levels of mood, anxiety and substance use disorders? This is just one of the many facts put forth by Mental Health America as part of this year’s Mental Health Month. The year's theme, Fitness #4Mind4Body, is designed to educate people on how both physical and mental health play a big role in preventing and/or managing mental health conditions.
Exercise, for example, not only helps to keep symptoms of mental illness at bay, but it’s also an important part of treatment. Some studies even say that the effects are similar to cognitive behavioral therapy.
This is partly because exercise increases a variety of substances that impact brain function and mood. Here’s a look at a few:
So how much exercise do you need? The MHA recommends breaking up activity into short bursts – 10 minutes, 15 times per week – in order to reach the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity. Another tip: Do your best to incorporate physical activity into things you already do – whether parking further at the grocery store or taking the stairs more often.
Health and Wellness and Addiction TreatmentNorthStar Transitions offers clients general wellness programming so they can develop healthy habits and routines that can be used during and after addiction treatment. To learn more about our programs and services, call today: 303-625-6335.