30%
Exercising at least
three times a week,
you can reduce your
risk of depression
by up to 30 percent.Pilotscheme
● Think you might
need help with your
mental health, but
are too embarrassed
to see your GP? You
should check out Pilot,
a new online mental
and physical health
resource for men. It’s
an “end-to-end” online
health navigator that
men can access to seek
treatment for a variety
of problems – mental
health issues, hair loss,
sexual dysfunctions
and sleep disorders.
With Pilot, you can get
real help from a real
doctor, and you don’t
ever have to front up to
a GP’s practice - it’s all
done confidentially
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Pilot also recommends
exercise as a useful
w a y t o k e e p o n t o p o f
your mental health.
“Exercise is a natural
mood-booster,” says
Tahnee Schulz, head
psychologist from
Pilot’s mental health
partner Lysn. “It
activates the release of
natural endorphins, but
additionally, people who
exercise are generally
more resilient and
have better tolerance
to stress – the term is
‘distress tolerance’.
The reason for this is
that when you exercise
vigorously, your heart
pounds, your stomach
twists, you get hot and
sweaty, your chest
gets tighter and you
experience shortness of
breath. These physical
sensations are similar
to when you’re highly
stressed or anxious –
but instead you’re doing
something good!
“Your brain is
constantly making
associations between
your experiences. So,
when you exercise
vigorously, your brain
learns, ‘I’ve got this!’”
Of course, while
exercise is great, you
shouldn’t try to put
too much pressure on
yourself if your body’s
already under stress.
“The chemical
reaction that releases
the stress hormone
cortisol is the same,
regardless of whether
it’s from mental or
physical stress,” Schulz
says. “So going into a
highly stressful meeting
and then punishing
yourself at the gym
is not helpful.”
Head to Pilot today
at pilot.com.au