Friday, June 08, 2007

Role of Exercise in Mental Problems





By: Juliet Cohen


The term, ‘mental health problem' covers a wide range of problems which affect someone's ability to get on with their daily life. Causes of mental illness also vary, but may result from genetics, trauma, biological factors such as infections or toxins, or neuroplasticity resulting from psychological or anthropological factors. Mental health problems can affect anyone, of any age and background, as well as having an impact on the people around them such as their family, friends and carers. Symptoms of mental illness greatly vary dependent upon the specific disorder, but may include mild to chronic forms of depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with attention, loss of cognitive abilities, or the presence of hallucinations or delusions. Mental health professionals will treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices.

Mental health problems result from a complex interaction of biological, social and psychological factors, but are still usually discussed in medical terms. Multiple sclerosis does cause mental illness and psychiatric conditions, other than depression, and these psychiatric conditions are relatively common. Most people recover from their mental health problems. Long -term problems can lead to considerable disruption and difficulty in people's lives, but many of the people affected find ways of managing their problems and are able to lead active lives. People with mental health problems need help and support to enable them to cope with their illness. There are many treatment options, including medication, counselling, psychotherapy, complementary therapies and self help strategies.

Sometimes people with mental health problems are discriminated against. This can lead to social problems such as homelessness, and may make the mental health problem worse. Environmental events surrounding pregnancy and birth have been linked to an increased development of mental illness in the offspring. This includes maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma, conditions of famine, obstetric birth complications, infections, and gestational exposure to alcohol or cocaine. Minority ethnic groups, including first or second-generation immigrants, have been found to be at greater risk for developing mental disorders, which has been attributed to various kinds of life insecurities and disadvantages, including racism. Mental health professionals treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices. The major treatment options for mental disorders are psychiatric medication and psychotherapy.

Exercise In Mental And Other Problems:

Exercise helped to relieve the symptoms of depression and more than half said it helped to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular aerobic exercise will clear the cobwebs and help your brain to function more efficiently. Physical fitness does not come easy. The best strategy is to gradually increase the duration of your exercise sessions and, along with enhancing your physical fitness, your mental muscle will also begin to take shape. Many people with mental health problems use physical exercise to make them feel better, a survey has found. Mind found that people with mental health problems were more likely to get their exercise from everyday activities like walking, housework and gardening.
Article Source: http://www.articlemap.com


Juliet Cohen writes articles for medical diseases. She also writes articles for depression treatment and cancer treatment.