It’s no secret that life is full of stressors, ESPECIALLY when you’re young. Whether it be school, relationships, money, or whatever else, there are all types of coping mechanisms available for people who feel like they’ve reached their breaking point. From my experience as a freshman in college trying to navigate her way through becoming a young adult, I’ve found that nothing puts me more at ease than weightlifting. After 3 years of sticking to a consistent routine, I’ve never felt better. Initially, I had started strength training to lose weight, but I was shocked when I discovered how much of a huge impact it had on my mind. After researching the full potential of strength training, I found that it can go far beyond just improving your body. Read below and learn about how lifting can give you a complete mental health glow-up just as much as a physical one and why you should give it a try!
Nowadays, depression among teens and young adults is more common than ever. One research study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that rates of adolescent depression increased from 8.1% in 2009 to a staggering 15.8% in 2019. Weightlifting serves as a natural antidepressant and across all studies is shown to benefit mood dramatically. This is because when we strength train, our bodies release a significant amount of endorphins, even more than cardio does. Lifting also helps generate hormones that relieve stress, putting the mind in a peaceful, more laid-back state. Not only does it help to fight depression, but it lowers anxiety levels as well. By releasing endorphins that researchers describe as “natural cannabis-like chemicals”, the brain enhances your sense of well-being.
Like many people with mental health issues, specifically ADHD, lifting works wonders when it comes to focus. This is because strength training stimulates the brain’s attentional system. This can result in a various range of benefits including improved long-term memory, better productivity, and sharper focus. Our minds are wired so that when we have an everyday routine, it allows us to narrow our thoughts on one aspect of our lives at a time, making the gym the perfect place to forget about all your worries.
The last and most interesting benefit, that I’ve learned to appreciate most personally is a renewed sense of discipline and motivation. One common trend among mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, and BPD is a lack of energy and purpose. When people feel mentally fatigued and drained on a daily basis, it has a damaging effect on their cognitive thought processes and takes control of their emotions. Physical activity combats this issue by naturally increasing energy levels through increased heart rate and brain activation. This means that by sticking to a simple exercise routine every day, people are more prone to get things done and set other short-term goals for themselves as well. It’s insane to think that weightlifting just for an hour a day, 4.16% of your day, can change who you are for the better and transform you into a leveled-up version of yourself in all aspects of your life.