Exercise and Stress Control
Exercise does help you cope with stress. You have surely heard this many times but there is research to back it up. What exercise does is release stress-lowering chemicals in the brain. People who run know what an "endorphin high" is. It's the release of this chemical that help them cope with pain and creates a feeling of euphoria.
Exercise lowers your stress levels in another way. It stops the body from producing chemicals from stress. Stress can cause your body to produce cortisol and hormones, chemicals that negatively affect the blood vessels and can possibly lead to problems with the size of the arteries.
The way exercise helps this is that it uses and destroys the hormones and cortisone your body produced and releases them when you urinate. Exercise also strengthens your blood vessels and improves their elasticity, preventing them from being damaged by stress chemicals.
Stress causes your muscles to tense up especially the muscles in your neck, shoulders, and calves. When you exercise, you work these muscles loose as you warm up and when you do the actual workout. Exercise makes the muscles stronger and gives them oxygen, reducing the unhealthy cholesterol levels and allowing the circulatory system work properly.
Exercise also helps you deal with stress mentally. When you are exercising, you are not worrying about your problems, you are thinking about working out. You can't focus on the things causing you stress when you are at the gym lifting weights and doing cardio.
Exercise lets your body reach a state of homeostasis. That means that your body uses feedback to get to a state of equilibrium and balance. When you workout, your mind is not focused on the stresses in your life so your whole system can get back to a balanced state.
Exercising also is a good way to get more self-confidence, helping you to cope with stress in the future. Looking good helps you feel good about yourself and you also have a sense of accomplishment.
A walk outside of your home or office is a great way to exercise your stress away. You should also work out for at least 30 minutes between 3 and 5 times a week if you want to reduce your stress levels.
