Exercise to help with strong emotion

When dealing with strong feelings, sometimes it helps to relax, and to calm our level of agitation. Other times it can help to raise our level of activity instead.

Research suggests that it can take 30 minutes of exercise a day, for at least three days a week, to significantly reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

However, smaller amounts of exercise — as little as 10 to 15 minutes at a time — have been shown to help in the short term.

Physical activity also gives us a sense of accomplishment. Not only does exercise provide us with something at which we can succeed, but it can help us sleep and help shift our attention away from difficult or painful thoughts.