Sports & Wellness
Mental Health Awareness Week
To support the Mental Health Awareness Week held by the Mental Health Foundation we want to talk about how sport can help you fight the feeling of loneliness and positively affect your mental health.
Every day we are surrounded by many people, yet one
in five of us feels lonely some or most of the time. The fact that in an era of
globalization and socialization people experience loneliness more than ever
before, is unbelievable. But facts speak for themselves.
According to the Community Life Survey, in 2021 6% of English people felt lonely often or all the time and 19% of respondents felt lonely occasionally. That is 25% of people who suffer from depression and bad mood every day!
Nevertheless, for some
reason people choose not to talk about this problem, leaving millions of people
to deal with it on their own. But Mental Health Foundation decided to bring
this topic to the spotlight. This year, they look to raise awareness on how
loneliness impacts millions of people around the globe, leading to depression,
anxiety, and overall reduced mental health.
Sport Session supports the
initiative of the Mental Health Foundation and wants people, who are
experiencing the impacts of loneliness, to know that their feelings are valid
and their mental health matters. As a sporting community, we are convinced that
sporting activities can help you overcome depression and fight the feeling of
loneliness. In this article, we would love to share with you several ways, in
which exercising and physical activity can combat that nasty and destructive
feeling and improve overall mental health.
Get socialising
Many sports involve working
together with others in a team, such as football or polo. Equally, there are plenty of sports
options to choose from that don’t involve teamwork but still allow you to
connect with those, who share your sports interest. Whether it’s golf,
horse riding, or roller skating, you can meet new people and reconnect with
old friends through the fun of sports! Socializing can help you reduce
those feelings of loneliness. Moreover, according to Dr. Craig Sawchuk, a Mayo
Clinic psychologist, it sharpens your memory and cognitive skills, increases
your sense of happiness and well being, and may even help you live longer.
Release endorphins
Exercise increases the
production of endorphins in the brain. These feel-good neurotransmitters
contribute to a happy mindset and improved mental health.
You may have heard of this feeling referred to before as ‘runners high’, but
running isn’t the only source, any physical activity can contribute to the release
of endorphins. Get a friend to work out with you for an extra boosted
endorphin-releasing session!
Reduce stress
Stress is a natural
reaction to any situation that may make you feel threatened or under
pressure, our bodies experience the “fight or flight”
adrenalin response. But if we don’t release this pent up adrenalin it
can manifest
into the unpleasant symptoms of stress, including a raised heart
rate, anxiety and
an upset stomach. Physical activity allows us to release this
stress-induced
adrenalin, reducing the negative effects of stress on our bodies
and promoting
improved mental wellbeing.
Do something you like
Find a sport you enjoy.
Doing something you love will no doubt have a great effect on your mental health and open up the
opportunity to
meet others who share your interests. Focusing your mental energy on the sport at
hand can help in taking your wandering mind away from other worries, making the
activity a nice escape.
Find yourself a coach
To solve any psychological issue you need a good therapist. To fight the
feeling of loneliness through sport you need a good coach. Our coaches at
Sport Session are not just trainers, they can listen and give advice. They do not
judge or criticize, but they help you to become a better version of yourself.
The feeling of loneliness can arise from self-doubt or low self-esteem.
What is a better way to boost it than good training in the fresh air? Choose your coach at Sport Session today!
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