Tag Archives: depression

Exercise and Mental Health

Posted on March 4, 2019 by | 2 comments

An Overview

Physical activity may play an important function in the control of mild-to-moderate mental health illnesses, specially depression and anxiety. Despite the fact that human with depression tend to be less physically active than non- depressed individuals, improved cardio exercise or strength training has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms significantly. However, habitual physical activity has not been shown to prevent the onset of depression.

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Effects of Exercise on Anxiety

Anxiety signs and panic disorder also improve with everyday exercise, and beneficial outcomes appear to equal meditation or relaxation. In general, acute anxiety responds better to exercise than chronic anxiety. Research on older adults and adolescents with depression or anxiety have been restricted; however, physical activity appears beneficial to those populations as well. Immoderate physical activity may lead to overtraining and generate psychological signs that mimic depression.

The following video demonstrates the brain-changing benefits of exercise.

Video taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHY0FxzoKZE

Improvement of Mental Health

Physical activity is one of the most effective ways to improve your mental health. Regular exercise relieves stress, helps you sleep better, improves memory, and boosts your overall mood. Research indicates the advantages of exercise on mental health. You can learn to use exercise as a powerful tool to feel better in any age or fitness level.

Physical exercise is increasingly being encouraged as a method to keep and enhance excellent intellectual health. In general, findings from studies suggest that exercise is related to improvements in mental health which include mood state and self-esteem, although a causal link has not been established. Studies on acute exercise shows that 20 to 40 minutes of cardio activity outcomes in improvement of mood that persist for several hours. These transitory adjustments in mood occur in each people with ordinary or multiplied ranges of anxiety; however, appear to be restricted to aerobic exercise.

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Exercising may also result in adverse modifications in mental health. Some individuals can grow to be overly depending on physical activity and exercising to an immoderate degree. This abuse of exercise can result in disturbances in mood and worsened physical health. In the case of athletes the acute training, or overtraining, vital for endurance sports activities continually effects in increased mood disturbance. Severe cases of overtraining may result in the staleness syndrome; a circumstance associated with deteriorating overall performance and behavioral disturbances including clinical depression.

Effects of Exercise on Children’s Mental Health

Physical activity can increase self-esteem and decrease depression and anxiety in children. We also know that physical activity performed in an outside area can improve cognitive performance, self-esteem and decrease anxiety and symptoms associated with interest deficit disorder. Organizations that promote physical activity in children with mental health issues have to have targeted safeguarding staff and referral pathways to greater professional services. This consists of the control of acute mental health conditions.

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– Setareh Moazen

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Posted in Biological Sciences, Issues in Science, Science Communication

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On the Climate Change Doom and Gloom

Posted on March 4, 2019 by | 11 comments

I was insomniac for the last three months.

See, if the world is inevitably inhospitable for the humans in the next decade, why should I put so much effort on my college studies? I kept on being reminded in my class about how the doomsday is going to happen during my lifetime. No matter what I do, I probably can’t save my country in South East Asia from sinking due to the global sea level rise. Also, the future generation is going to suffer more, so why should I give birth to new ones? Why add to the population if the world can’t handle it? I felt so alone because I don’t think people close to me understand my concerns. I’m overwhelmed and depressed – and it’s all because of climate change.

What if we lose all of this? (Image: Syakirah Zainal)

Many people are actually familiar with this feeling. There is even a scientific term being widely used to describe these blues.

It’s called eco-anxiety.

What is eco-anxiety?

Robert Gifford,  a professor of Psychology in the University of Victoria described eco-anxiety as “a kind of fear what’s next.”

“The fear that nature is changing permanently or at least permanently within the lifetime of the people who are alive,” he said. “Fear for children.”

People who are experiencing this often feel alienated because we are not used to blaming climate change for our mental health problems. We have seen unfortunate individuals fleeing from civil wars caused by scarcity of natural resources in their areas. They lost their homes, families, and the ability to work. We can imagine them being stressed out and depressed. But what we don’t usually understand is, eco-anxiety affects fortunate people too, i.e., people in first-world countries with no war.

This is because the world is a complex network of systems. Whatever affects one system would definitely affect another; news of extinction of floras and faunas, and sufferings all over the world will reach us at least once in our lifetime. With more understanding of what it really is and personally experiencing it, we can’t help but worry if this problem is bigger than we thought.

Does that mean we should stop spreading climate news?

This is a worse option. Everyone needs to be educated to make an effective change. We must accept the reality of climate change, and we should also acknowledge the fear that comes with it. Kim Knowlton, a senior scientist from National Resources Defense Council perfectly summarised this in the video below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=91&v=gd4465GfAf4

I also started to find hope when I talk to others about this. Some may listen, some may take it with a grain a salt. But hey, at least they are hearing about it. We should always focus on hope. When the network for change is strong, we’ll have more impact on a cleaner environment. Getting involved is great because I can see that people care and I’m not doing this alone.

I know this. Because I sleep better now.

– Syakirah Zainal

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Posted in Issues in Science, Science Communication

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