3 Exercises That Can Help You Cope With PTSD
Dealing with stress and PTSD can be difficult. A sedentary lifestyle only makes things worse. Working out on the other hand can help, especially the ones that struggle with PTSD. Three exercises, in particular, can help cope better mentally and physically.
1. Cardio
You may have heard someone mentioning runner’s high. It is not just a thing that people say. Cardio stimulates your entire body. You do not have to run for miles until you completely lose your breath.
No matter what type of cardio you do, endorphins are released. They offer a sense of accomplishment, well-being, and positivity. This happens when you run consistently on a treadmill or go running.
You do not have to push yourself, you just need to do it for at least 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Bicep Curls
Bicep curls are particularly effective at helping your mind relax and focus on goals. Like cardio, it helps release endorphins but it also has a secondary effect. PTSD can manifest itself in many ways but when you do bicep curls, your testosterone spikes up along with endorphins.
Because you get a pump from the exercise, your self-confidence increases.
3. Lateral raises
Lateral raises, just like bicep curls, are simple exercises. However, they are very challenging. You get a sense of reward by doing these exercises regularly and noticing how your strength increases and your shoulders grow in volume.
What has been proven is that strength training reduces symptoms of depression more so than other types of exercises. For someone suffering from PTSD, lateral raises can provide a sense of achievement and a goal to work towards. Like bicep curls and cardio, it elevates endorphin levels and raises your testosterone.
These 3 types of exercises are a good starting point.
You can do them at home if you have some dumbbells. Dealing with PTSD may make you feel uncomfortable going to the gym but you can improve your strength and boost your mental state at home by working out and developing a routine to go for daily morning runs.
If you want to make things more challenging, you can try other types of exercises as well. Any type of physical activity helps improve your mental state. If you can cope with your PTSD and go to the gym, that would be an advisable thing to do.
Gyms also have a social aspect to them and it never hurts to add casual conversations with new people while you work out.
