WORDS: CHRISTINA MACDONALD
Most of us know that running can improve our mood and mindset and help us cope with stress.
At some point in our lives, we might use it to help manage our emotions. When stressful or traumatic situations arise, the temptation is often to go out for a run to clear our heads and feel better. It works for many runners. I recently used the focus of training for a half-marathon to cope with the loss of my mother and found that having a training plan to follow was a welcome distraction from grieving. While it’s still important to grieve, running is a convenient and reliable hobby to fall back on when you need to calm your mind and think clearly, and perhaps even overcome a nasty shock. “If something traumatic has happened, going for a run can be a really good opportunity to break things down,” says Philip Clarke, a Lecturer of Psychology at the University of Derby. “A run can be a really good opportunity to make sense of situations in your head. It also means you may run further. If you’re focusing on a situation, it can take away the feeling of perceived exertion. You may find you’re able to perform a little bit better or run a little bit longer because your mind is occupied.” A few studies seem to support the benefits of exercise on managing emotional trauma. Some of the first evidence of the beneficial effects came from a 12-week study in 2015, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The study combined a 12-week exercise programme for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with the usual care programme for PTSD. Results showed that adding exercise into the treatment resulted in reduced PTSD and depressive symptoms and improved sleep quality.