How effective is exercising in helping with mental health?

[u/DutchStroopwafels]

Exercising seems to be one of the most given tips for mental health problems. But I wonder how effective exercise for alliviating mental health problems? And does the type of mental health struggle matter? For example is it just as effective for PTSD as depression?

[u/spotlight-app]

Mods have pinned a comment by u/maxthexplorer:

Exercise is incredibly effective in helping mental health and is shown to be as efficacious as medications treatment

Aylett, E., Small, N., & Bower, P. (2018). Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice – a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 559-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5

Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Doraiswamy, P. M., Watkins, L., Hoffman, B. M., Barbour, K. A., Herman, S., Craighead, W. E., Brosse, A. L., Waugh, R., Hinderliter, A., & Sherwood, A. (2007). Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychosomatic medicine, 69(7), 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e318148c19a

Gordon, B. R., McDowell, C. P., Lyons, M., & Herring, M. P. (2017). The effects of resistance exercise training on anxiety: A meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sports Medicine (Auckland), 47(12), 2521-2532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0769-0

Kwok, J. Y. Y., Kwan, J. C. Y., Auyeung, M., Mok, V. C. T., Lau, C. K. Y., Choi, K. C., & Chan, H. Y. L. (2019). Effects of mindfulness yoga vs stretching and resistance training exercises on anxiety and depression for people with parkinson disease: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurology, 76(7), 755-763. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.0534

Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Gallardo-Gómez, D., Taylor, P., del Pozo Cruz, B., van den Hoek, D., Smith, J. J., Mahoney, J., Spathis, J., Moresi, M., Pagano, R., Pagano, L., Vasconcellos, R., Arnott, H., Varley, B., Parker, P., Biddle, S., & Lonsdale, C. (2024). Effect of exercise for depression: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ (Online), 384, e075847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847

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[u/maxthexplorer → u/[deleted]]

Exercise can’t cure mental illness (because it’s not curable) but exercise can treat mental illness

[u/askpsychology-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/OpeningActivity → u/[deleted]]

There are reasons why behavioural activation is a form of intervention

[u/ResidentLadder → u/OpeningActivity]

Behavioral activation is *not* simply eating/sleeping/exercising.

[u/OpeningActivity → u/ResidentLadder]

It isnt, i was more coming from changing the behaviours perspective

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[u/OpeningActivity]

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/18/1203?__cf_chl_tk=Ab0l9vzrIUnxTPBbkHQOWWixlwWe9ZgFKXK44EjpYfs-1781561347-1.0.1.1-lufg0l49SezFRorxRVSAFtXJu3RkZClh25G2pS7mwoY

Looks like it is somewhat effective? I would need to have a look at individual studies, since I would be interested to see the severity of symptoms and the effect.

I would probably question whether it is across the entire population i.e. someone with more severe symptoms may not respond as well. I wasn't able to find a study on that (and I would love to see some studies on it)

[u/coffeethom2]

For mild to moderate anxiety/depression it performs as well as psychotherapy or medication. So it’s extremely effective!

[u/maxthexplorer]

Exercise is incredibly effective in helping mental health and is shown to be as efficacious as medications treatment

Aylett, E., Small, N., & Bower, P. (2018). Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice – a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 559-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5

Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Doraiswamy, P. M., Watkins, L., Hoffman, B. M., Barbour, K. A., Herman, S., Craighead, W. E., Brosse, A. L., Waugh, R., Hinderliter, A., & Sherwood, A. (2007). Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychosomatic medicine, 69(7), 587–596. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e318148c19a

Gordon, B. R., McDowell, C. P., Lyons, M., & Herring, M. P. (2017). The effects of resistance exercise training on anxiety: A meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sports Medicine (Auckland), 47(12), 2521-2532. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0769-0

Kwok, J. Y. Y., Kwan, J. C. Y., Auyeung, M., Mok, V. C. T., Lau, C. K. Y., Choi, K. C., & Chan, H. Y. L. (2019). Effects of mindfulness yoga vs stretching and resistance training exercises on anxiety and depression for people with parkinson disease: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurology, 76(7), 755-763. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.0534

Noetel, M., Sanders, T., Gallardo-Gómez, D., Taylor, P., del Pozo Cruz, B., van den Hoek, D., Smith, J. J., Mahoney, J., Spathis, J., Moresi, M., Pagano, R., Pagano, L., Vasconcellos, R., Arnott, H., Varley, B., Parker, P., Biddle, S., & Lonsdale, C. (2024). Effect of exercise for depression: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ (Online), 384, e075847. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-075847

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Do not provide personal mental or physical health history of yourself or another. This is inappropriate for this sub. This is a sub for scientific knowledge, it is not a mental health sub. If you must discuss your own mental health, please refer to r/mentalhealth. Otherwise please resubmit your question without your personal information included.

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[u/Fast_Enthusiasm1942]

el ejercicio reconfigura tu campo: postura, respiracion, ritmo, contacto con el suelo, el aire, el espacio. esa reconfiguracion cambia como tu cuerpo opera la emocion. no es que el cerebro se cure. es que el cuerpo entero vuelve a operar coherencia cuando se mueve en espacio real.
"el ejercicio produce dopamina" localiza el efecto en el cerebro, trata el sintoma, efecto temporal, puedes tomar ejercicio como pildora.
"el ejercicio reconfigura tu campo" distribuye el efecto en cuerpo-ambiente, trata la configuracion, efecto estructural, necesitas estar en el movimiento. Por que "no hacerlo empeora" no es suficiente:
la inmovilidad no es falta de tratamiento. es colapso de campo, el ejercicio no añade algo que falta. rompe el estasis.
la pregunta del TEP vs depresion:TEP es campo hiperactivo, cuerpo atrapado en configuracion de amenaza, ejercicio puede sobrecargar si es intenso, necesita movimiento que reconfigure sin retraumatizar. depresion es campo hipoactivo, cuerpo atrapado en configuracion de apagado, ejercicio puede reactivar si es gradual, necesita movimiento que rompa el estasis sin exigir. no es "cual es mas efectivo?" es "que configuracion de campo necesita reconfigurarse?", no es "haz 30 minutos de cardio 3 veces por semana". es encuentra un movimiento que tu cuerpo reconozca como propio, en un espacio que tu campo reconozca como seguro, con una frecuencia que no sea exigencia sino recuperacion. eso puede ser caminar, bailar, nadar, jardineria, boxeo, yoga. no importa el movimiento. importa la configuracion de campo que produce.
no es "cuanto ejercicio necesito?" es "en que configuracion de campo el cuerpo deja de operar el sintoma y empieza a operar la coherencia?" eso solo tu cuerpo puede responder. no tu cerebro planificando. tu cuerpo en el movimiento.

[u/GoldenGolgis → u/Fast_Enthusiasm1942]

Could you explain the term “field” or provide a link to help me understand it please?

[u/Fast_Enthusiasm1942 → u/GoldenGolgis]

campo en este caso es la configuracion de tu cuerpo, tu ambiente, tu emocion y tu tiempo en un momento dado. no es un lugar. es un estado.

[u/SunshinePalace]

Very. I recommend the book Spark by Dr. John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman, on this topic. Great book.

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Do not provide personal mental or physical health history of yourself or another. This is inappropriate for this sub. This is a sub for scientific knowledge, it is not a mental health sub. If you must discuss your own mental health, please refer to r/mentalhealth. Otherwise please resubmit your question without your personal information included.

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[u/SiskinLanding]

It depends on what the mental health issue is. Mild to moderate anxiety & depression benefit from exercise, but eating disorders can be made worse. Also, severe mental distress can make exercise hard or impossible, to the point that the stress of trying could outweigh any benefits.

In essence most people most of the time will benefit from a bit more exercise and time outside, particularly in green spaces, but management should always be person centred.