Prescription drugs can be a valuable tool for controlling mental illness. They should not be thought of as a stand alone option however. There has been a gradual realization that “something more than remission of symptoms is necessary for recovery to take place” (Carless, 2008). Many people who go to the gym regularly know innately that exercise improves their physical health. Now some psychotherapists are beginning to use exercise therapy as part of a holistic approach. This recognizes the reality that mind affects body, but also that body affects mind.
The hypotheses as to why exercise affects mood are varied and feature some overlap. The Beta-Endorphin theory is currently the most recognized (Cripps, 2008). Other theories include the Monoamine hypothesis, the Serotonin hypothesis and the Thermoregulatory Theory. Each theory focuses on a specific part of a larger process. Exercise creates a unique chemical reaction in the brain. It causes the production and release of endorphins, a natural pain killer and mood elevator. Exercising consistently causes a more even flow of these chemicals.
This in turn can have a positive overall effect on depression and other mental illnesses. At this point it is not known if the endorphins themselves elevate mood. They are probably released as a response to physical pain or stress, then trigger some additional reaction that elevates mood and alleviates other symptoms of many mental illnesses. It is this additional link in the chain that makes it less likely that a pharmaceutical product could be developed that replicates the positive effects of exercise with no side effects.
In addition to endorphins exercise triggers an increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is a mood elevator. It is also an important factor in the long-term survival of brain cells.. In conditions such as dementia, fostering the survival of brain cells is critical to forestalling the progression of the disease. Exercise also has the potential to help sufferers of chronic pain. A reduction in pain then can help to prevent the development of depression and other long-term mental illnesses. Chronic pain sufferers often suffer from isolation as well.
Exercise can be a bridge to healthy social interaction, one of the most powerful tools for preventing or reducing depression. For obvious reasons much prior research has concentrated primarily on the physical effects of exercise. These effects are the most obvious and easy to evaluate. As Carless puts it: Research has tended to focus on the ways exercise may alleviate symptoms, impairment, and dysfunction rather than its potential to contribute meaning, purpose, success, and satisfaction to a person’s life (2008).
The prevalence of mental health issues in today’s society is a powerful reason to turn the focus of research in a new direction. The role of exercise in the prevention of mental illness is a logical direction to take. Exercise often involves more brain functions than just physical movement. These additional functions can also help to promote mental health and well-being. Exercise fosters increased social interaction, improves self-esteem and provides positive feelings of mastery and accomplishment, all characteristics mental health professionals seek to increase in their patients.