What I Need to Know:
Today, with the society and expectations forced upon people my age, I am surrounded by those who suffer from poor mental health. Depression and anxiety are two extremely common disorders found among teenagers; this topic strikes a personal chord with me because I have seen the extent to which they affect one’s life through my some of my closest friends. For the Honors Mentorship Capstone project, I wanted to combine this personal interest of mine with my professional interest of physical therapy. I wanted to explore how physical exercise helps to develops positive mental health in children and when this treatment should be used in place of traditional medicine. Knowing more about this topic can not only help me be educated on a very prevalent issue in today’s world, but it can also potentially allow me to help those in poor mental conditions.
What I Know/Assume:
Before starting my research on this topic, I already knew that physical exercise positively correlates to mental health. However, I did not know the reason behind this or the actual biological aspect behind this. I assume that the levels of neurotransmitters are involved in the biology of mental illness and also physical exercise. Another part of the topic I believe I know is the root of poor mental health in children; with external factors such as social media and television having such a large influence on the youth, it has become easy to give in to societal pressures and live up to expectations, leading to the development of depression and anxiety.
The Search:
I began my research by reading and summarizing an article about the benefits of physical therapy on patients with dystonia. I wanted to start out on a broader scale and simply see the effects of physical therapy on patients with a mental disorder and then narrow it down as I went along in my research. The next article I chose to add to my research was centered around an experiment testing the correlation between European children’s participation in sports and their mental health. Another article I found was a more personal account of the treatment of depression with aerobic exercise. All of these articles all shares similar results of physical activity positively impacting mental health. They also provided me with extra information regarding the extent of its effectiveness and also the neurotransmitters involved.
Although these articles were very helpful in providing evidence for my topic, I wanted more in-depth and personal information specific to my topic. I conducted an interview with a professional in the field, as shown below.
1. How does exercise have a positive impact on mental health?
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“Overall, exercise is an excellent and efficient factor in the mental well-being of an individual. People who exercise regularly tend to feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have better memory, and they feel more relaxed and positive.”
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2. Are there any negative effects of exercise on mental health?
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“Studies have found that too much exercise can negatively affect your mental health because when you are focusing too much on physical fitness, there is a chance exercise could be bordering on compulsion or part of a larger problem like anorexia/bulimia. When done in moderation, however, exercise has no negative effects on mental health.”
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3. Is there a correlation between exercise and depression and anxiety?
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“Yes, exercise has been proven to treat both of the mental illnesses that are the most common among children and teenagers. It releases neurotransmitters called endorphins which help you feel happier, making it a very effective treatment for depression. It also helps relieve built up tension and stress, making it a natural treatment for anxiety.”
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4. Why is it important for children and teenagers to get exercise regularly?
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“Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are very common for people in this age range. Children and teenagers also face daily stress from school and social pressures. These make them more susceptible to poor mental health, which is why exercise is so important for them especially.”
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5. How does exercise reduce stress levels in children?
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“Stress causes a tightness in muscles, especially in the face, neck, and back. These can even lead to muscle cramps, headaches, insomnia, and fast pulse. Exercise helps relax these muscles and relieve the tension through the release of endorphins.”
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6. How does exercise affect the brain?
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“As I mentioned before, the main benefit of exercise on the brain is the release endorphins. This not only makes you feel pleasure, but also creates an environment for the growth of brain cells. It also increases the heart rate, which in turn pumps more oxygen to the brain.”
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7. What is the traditional medication used to treat mental illnesses?
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“Treatment for mental illnesses typically involve self-care, therapies such as meditation, and prescriptions to certain medications. The most common medications used are Xanax, Valium, Prozac, and SNRI’s.”
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8. Could physical exercise ever be as efficient as traditional medication for mental illnesses?
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“I personally believe that more severe cases of mental illnesses require traditional medication because it is a more efficient way of altering hormones levels to homeostasis. But, in mild to moderate cases, physical exercise can be just as efficient and maintaining an stable exercise schedule can prevent relapses into illness.”
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9. For what types of mental illnesses should physical exercise be recommended to help treat?
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“Physical exercise would be the most effective treatment for the mental illnesses we have been talking about: depression, stress, anxiety. However, exercise is also a great way to reduce symptoms of ADHD and PTSD.”
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10. Can physical exercise prevent mental illness or simply treat it?
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“It is hard to say whether or nor exercise can prevent mental illness for sure, but it probably cannot prevent all cases since some people are genetically prone to mental imbalances. It is, however, a very effective way to balance out those levels in the brain.”
This interview, combined with the articles I found, along with the IB Psychology and Anatomy classes I am currently taking in school provided me enough information to conclude my research project
What I Discovered:
The results that I discovered from my research align closely with my assumptions and what I thought I knew. I discovered that physical activity increases levels of dopamine in the brain, which translates to feelings of pleasure and happiness. This is crucial in battling depression, one of the most common disorders among the youth. This is a natural and healthy way to induce these sensations as opposed to antidepressants; however, it is important to acknowledge the fact that sometimes, these traditional forms of medicine may required in certain cases if they are severe and require quicker relief than that of physical exercise.