Anxiety Treatments: Regular Exercise
Anxiety
symptoms are symptoms of stress caused by anxiety (worry,
fearful thinking). Any method used to reduce stress helps
the body to calm down and become less symptomatic. The
less stimulated the body is, the less symptomatic it
will be.
Regular light to mild exercise isn't going to address the underlying factors associated with your anxiety, but can help to reduce the negative effects of stress caused by anxiety.
How helpful is regular light to mild exercise?
In a poll we recently conducted, participants indicated:
Of those who tried regular light to mild exercise:
- 7.9% said they experienced no difference
- 90% said they experienced little to great benefit
- .9% said they experienced complete relief
- 1.2% said it made things worse
Since each person is different, what may work for one person may not for another. We encourage you to use caution and discernment when trying anxiety treatment options.
The combination of good self-help information and working with an experienced anxiety disorder coach, counselor, or therapist is the most effective way to address anxiety disorder and its many symptoms. Until the core causes of anxiety are addressed - the underlying factors that motivate apprehensive behavior - a struggle with anxiety disorder can return again and again. Identifying and successfully addressing anxiety's underlying factors is the best way to overcome problematic anxiety.
For more information about our Anxiety Counseling option; our Available Anxiety Therapists; to Book An Appointment with one of our anxiety therapists; common Anxiety Signs and Symptoms; common Anxiety Attack Symptoms; the symptoms of panic attack disorder; anxiety Recovery Support area; information about Anxiety; and our Anxiety 101 section; or click on the appropriate link or graphic below:
Return to our anxiety tips page.
Authors: Jim Folk, Marilyn Folk, BScN. Last updated November 20, 2018.
