RUNNING AND MOOD
WORDS : CHRISTINA MACDONALD
The benefits of regular exercise for improving mood are widely accepted. Exercise releases feel good brain chemicals that may help to combat depression and, according to the Mayo Clinic, can make a big difference to mood and wellbeing. Researchers claim there is a “compelling” body of evidence around exercise boosting mood. A 2006 review of 11 studies investigating the effects of exercise on mental health found it to be a strong intervention for depression, and the charity Mind recommends regular cardiovascular exercise, such as running, as effective for treating mild to moderate depression.
I’ve always used exercise to help manage stressful life events. In the past 20 years, running has helped me cope with breakups and family stress. I turned to running one again last summer when I suffered a tremendous loss. When my mother died, I decided to sign up for a half-marathon. I believed the focus of a fitness goal would help me deal with my grief. It didn’t entirely work out that way. I enjoyed the training and it certainly boosted my mood, but my energy levels were poor and, on race day, I really struggled, despite completing all the training. I underestimated the amount of physical fatigue that grief can bring. On race day, I simply didn’t have enough fuel in the tank. Not that my performance mattered. There will always be other half-marathons.
But it did make me wonder if I’d fully dealt with my grief. I hadn’t been overly emotional about losing my mum, despite being very close to her and caring for her for almost a decade. Which begged the question, had I fully dealt with my grief or just buried my emotions while overdoing my training? At what point is it better to confront your emotions and deal with trauma head on, rather than trying to distract yourself entirely through running?
Leggete l'articolo completo e molti altri in questo numero di
Women’s Running
Opzioni di acquisto di seguito
Se il problema è vostro,
Accesso per leggere subito l'articolo completo.
Singolo numero digitale
Jun 2017
Questo numero e altri numeri arretrati non sono inclusi in un nuovo
abbonamento. Gli abbonamenti comprendono l'ultimo numero regolare e i nuovi numeri pubblicati durante l'abbonamento. Women’s Running
Abbonamento digitale annuale
OFFERTA SPECIALE: Era
€42,99
Adesso €29,99
fatturati annualmente