Everyone has anxiety at some point in their lives and it is something that can really affect the way you feel even when performing everyday duties. Gina Rodriguez suffers from anxiety and she recently shared a snippet of how anxious certain situations make her feel.
“Bare and exposed in the streets of LA. No makeup. No styling. Just me,” the caption reads. “I suffer from anxiety. And watching this clip I could see how anxious I was but I empathize with myself. I wanted to protect her and tell her it’s ok to be anxious, there is nothing different or strange about having anxiety and I will prevail. I like watching this video. It makes me uncomfortable but there is a freedom I feel maybe even an acceptance. This is me. Puro Gina.”
It takes a lot to open up about your mental health struggles and we applaud Rodriguez because by sharing her personal experience she is helping others talk about their personal woes.
In addition to anxiety, she also suffers from hypothyroidism, and she’s always talked about her love for boxing, which helps with both of these health conditions.
A post shared by Gina Rodriguez (@hereisgina) on
According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise helps ease depression and anxiety, by:
- Releasing feel-good brain chemicals that may ease depression (neurotransmitters, endorphins, and endocannabinoids)
- Reducing immune system chemicals that can worsen depression
- Increasing body temperature, which may have calming effects
Regular exercise has many psychological and emotional benefits, too. It can help you:
- Gain confidence. Meeting exercise goals or challenges, even small ones, can boost your self-confidence. Getting in shape can also make you feel better about your appearance.
- Takes your mind off worries. Exercise is a distraction that can get you away from the cycle of negative thoughts that feed anxiety and depression.
- Get more social interaction. Exercise and physical activity may give you the chance to meet or socialize with others. Just exchanging a friendly smile or greeting as you walk around your neighborhood can help your mood.
- Cope in a healthy way. Doing something positive to manage anxiety or depression is a healthy coping strategy. Trying to feel better by drinking alcohol, dwelling on how badly you feel, or hoping anxiety or depression will go away on its own can lead to worsening symptoms.
Even something as simple as walking can help improve your mood. Other tips to reduce anxiety can be found here. If you suffer from anxiety make sure you talk to your doctor who can help find a treatment that best suits your needs.