LIFESTYLE | HOW WAS IT FOR YOU ?

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

LOCKDOWN’S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW EXERCISE CAN HELP

BY CLAIRE MIDDLETON

As restrictions on lockdown number three start to ease, it’s a good time to take a minute and reflect on the last twelve months. What crazy times they’ve been!

Some found lockdown almost unbearable, whilst some actually enjoyed the enforced slowing down of life and having the time to take stock of things. Some, myself included, felt like they belonged a little in each of these groups.

One thing is for certain, the nation’s mental health has taken a battering. 12 months of restrictions, three national lockdowns and a whole year without hugs, all set against a backdrop of daily scaremongering and terrifying news reports full of death tolls and infection rates.

So are we on the brink of a national mental health crisis? And what can we do individually to help nurse our minds back to health? According to Mind*, over 50% of adults and more than 75% of young people admitted that their mental health has worsened during lockdown. Mind’s report showed that ‘young people are more likely to have experienced poor mental health during lockdown than adults’, and ‘many without previous experience of mental health problems have experienced poor mental health during lockdown and have seen their mental health and wellbeing decline’. An adult who was surveyed told Mind: “I normally have very good mental health. Over the past month I’ve become more anxious about all sorts of things and also been crying about things, which I don’t normally do. Some days I’ve slept very badly. I live alone and feel very lonely and isolated – not something that normally bothers me.”

This is a serious issue, and one that’s bound to have a significant impact on society for years to come. However, there are things we can do to lessen the negative effects of restrictions on our mental health, an important one being exercise and fitness.

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE AND MOVEMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH

We know that exercise is good for you. We know it’s good for your heart, for keeping weight off and for keeping you fit. But it’s also incredibly good for your mental state. Proven to enhance mood, improve sleep and help you deal with anxiety, stress and depression, exercise could be a key component in helping you navigate your way through, and out of, lockdown with minimal damage to your mental state.

According to helpguide.org, studies have shown exercise is helpful in treating mild to moderate depression just as effectively as antidepressants! A study carried out by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that 15 minutes of running or an hour of walking each day reduces the risk of serious depression by 26%.

Exercise is a fantastic weapon in the fight against depression for many reasons. Here are just some:

Exercise encourages changes in the brain, such as neural growth and decreased inflammation. It creates new activity patterns, invoking feelings of calm and wellbeing. It releases endorphins. It gives you time out of your day and away from negative thoughts.

So now we’ve established that exercise is a good way of staving off depression and other mental health problems. Now, we need to look at how to incorporate it into your everyday life.

Gyms and sports clubs have been closed for a long time now, thanks to the pandemic. However, lots of sports clubs and groups have been meeting virtually and training online via Zoom and Google Meet.

There are also countless exercise classes on YouTube you can follow from the comfort of your own home whenever you have the time. You can choose anything from streetdance to cheerleading - the choice is endless.

Of course, for many nothing beats the exhilaration of putting on your trainers and getting outside for a run or a walk. The combination of fresh air and exercise, as well as the change of scenery, is a brilliant way to boost your mood and get yourself going for the day.

However you choose you incorporate movement and exercise into your life, do it safely and make sure you consult your doctor if you feel that your mental health is getting out of control. Stay safe!

*Mind’s survey and report can be found here: https://www.mind. org.uk/media-a/5929/the-mental-health-emergency_a4_final.pdf?