How Weightlifting can Help with Anxiety

weightlifting

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting a significant number of adults in the last few years.

Medication and therapy are often used in combination when it comes to treating anxiety and panic disorders.

Still, many people may not realize that weightlifting can be one of their best allies in getting on top of their anxiety disorder.

Here’s how weightlifting can help ease anxiety.

Overcoming Stress Through Strength

Yoga is one of many activities that improve your mental health and well-being. There are a variety of psychological advantages to working out.

Feel-good endorphins will flood your body, elevating your mood and reducing anxiety.

Strength training also uses the yogic mindfulness approach since the intensity and attention of functional exercises make it challenging to let your mind wander from the here and now—less anxiety with more repetitions.

You’ll also be able to feel the change in your muscles after only one session because weight training produces benefits very immediately. This development is a huge confidence builder if you often avoid using weight machines because they appear daunting.

Weight lifting makes you happier because you can see your body getting more sculpted in the mirror, not because of weight on the scale. Empowerment like that is priceless.

Bid Farewell to Back Pain

Avoid engaging in any vigorous activity if you have chronic back discomfort. Building up your back muscles with Weightlifting and strengthening workouts will maintain your spine functioning usually.

Your risk of developing back strain may increase if you have weak back muscles, weak abdominal muscles, or bad posture. Long-term back discomfort can be reduced by concentrating on core strength.

Research published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science reveals that targeting the deep trunk muscles, which are used to stabilize the spine, will impact your capacity to treat persistent low back pain most.

In What Ways Does Exercising Reduce Stress?

Understanding how exercise helps with stress management is a good starting point. The intricate relationships between the body’s systems are the subject of an entire branch of sports science.

For example, exercise improves your body’s oxygen usage, enhances blood flow, and produces endorphins. These endorphins, also called “feel-good” chemicals, give cardio junkies the “runner’s high.”

This exercise program helps people feel good and offers a sense of stress release that weightlifters far less frequently experience.

The Benefits That Come With Weightlifting

Strength training has several recognized advantages that go above and beyond what you may anticipate. For instance, weight training frequently can increase strength and develop larger muscles.

However, it also assists in lowering cholesterol, easing anxiety symptoms, and maintaining better posture.

Anaerobic activity, such as weight training, uses shorter but more forceful motions than cardio. Anaerobic workouts break down glucose in the body without requiring oxygen, as the word “aerobic” literally translates as “without oxygen.”

It explains why you don’t hear about a “weightlifter’s high” since it differs from aerobic activities like running and swimming, which consume oxygen.

As a great way to channel anger and resentment into pushing oneself to lift greater weights and perform more repetitions, weightlifters may still find stress-relieving.

It does not, however, provide the same endorphin surge that exercise does. The capacity to channel tension into lifting greater weight is a critical component of the stress reduction offered by weight training, yet, only some can do it.

This is crucial in preventing the loss of muscle that comes with becoming older. Strength exercise can help you recover from injuries by extending your range of motion, enhancing your bone density, and exercising your muscles.

In addition, it can make routine functional tasks much more straightforward, such as lifting, crouching, or ascending stairs.

Its Effects on Mental Health

A subjective and one-of-a-kind experience can be had in how strength training improves you.

Numerous strategies exist for strength training to elevate your mood. Your mood may be improved by committing to a goal, forming good habits, and following a schedule.

Research demonstrates that for many people, strength exercise can help lessen other depressive symptoms. But, of course, you must consult with a mental health expert if you suffer signs of depression or any other mental health condition.

However, there are no drawbacks to engaging in strength training or other forms of exercise to alleviate symptoms. First, speak with your doctor to ensure that you can engage in the workout you want.

Even though several studies have demonstrated the advantages of exercise, especially strength training, for treating some mental health issues, it is crucial that you get therapy if you are having symptoms.

In addition, it would help if you never stopped taking any medicine or other recommended treatments without first talking to your healthcare professional.

Boosts the Mind-Body Connection

Strength training necessitates a solid mind-body connection since using big weights might be risky. Therefore, it’s vital to be conscious of how your body reacts.

If you exercise, let your body direct you—for example, by paying attention to your body’s cues regarding how much weight to lift and what actions feel good and what don’t.

Reduces Anxiety And Stress

By lowering your cortisol levels, strength exercise helps lessen stress and anxiety. Endorphins, the body’s “feel-good” chemicals, are released when we strength train, and they can assist in lowering cortisol levels and make you feel good after a workout.

A decreased anxiety can result from improved confidence and self-esteem brought on by enhanced talents. To make firm conclusions, further research is required.

Researchers also hypothesize that physiologic changes to the muscles and brain acted in concert to reduce anxiety sensations.

Enhances Connection to Your Body

Some may view exercise as a means to make up for bad eating habits or as a technique to mould your body to fit a specific ideal.

This sometimes entails attempting to seem thinner or reduce weight for some people.

In addition, an unhealthy connection with your body and exercise might result from concentrating on your looks.

Conclusion

Weightlifting can help with anxiety in numerous ways. First, it can help to release tension and build muscle, which can help to protect against anxiety-inducing injuries.

It can also help to improve confidence and self-esteem, which can be beneficial in reducing anxiety.

Additionally, weightlifting can help to reduce stress levels, which can also help to reduce anxiety.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, we strongly recommend you seek the expert help of a psychologist. We trust you’ve found this post helpful.

Author: Charles R. Davenport, Psy. D.

Dr. Charles R. Davenport, Licensed Psychologist in Sarasota and Venice, FL Dr. Charles R. Davenport is a highly respected Licensed Psychologist based in Sarasota and Venice, FL. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Davenport specializes in providing comprehensive counseling and therapy services to individuals of all ages. His areas of expertise include career stress, depression, anxiety, communication, and relationship issues. Dr. Davenport has a particular interest in working with gifted and learning-disabled individuals, helping them navigate their unique challenges. Dr. Davenport’s therapeutic approach integrates psychodynamic and interpersonal theories, aiming to facilitate meaningful change and relief for his patients. He has been dedicated to supporting at-risk students in Sarasota since 2000, beginning with his work at Sarasota High School’s Drop-out Prevention Program. Additionally, Dr. Davenport has contributed his expertise to the University of South Florida’s counseling centers in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, FL. For more information about Dr. Davenport’s services, visit Davenport Psychology.