An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir March 2020 www.dfmagazine.ie 32 | BY COMDT MURT BRENNAN OC DFPES BSC PHYSICAL ED & MA SPORTS MANAGEMENT T he human being/soldier has never been more exposed to more life stresses than s/he is today. Indeed rates of depres- sion and anxiety are at their highest recorded levels with 38% of Irish students reporting extreme anxiety and 30% report- ing symptoms of depression (Price et al., 2019). From personal life to professional performance, these stresses are constant and damaging. They are often exhibited through physical symptoms such as sleeping problems, loss of appetitive or behavioural symptoms such as regular loss of temper or irrational behaviour, and can lead to debilitating illnesses such as heart disease, and to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression (Men- tal Health Ireland, 2017). While it could be argued that the link between physical activity and exercise is hindered due to western medicines insistence on treating mind and body separately, there is growing evidence to suggest that physical activity can have a direct effect on one's mental health (Gingell, 2018). There is anecdotal evidence, particularly within the DF, from personnel who can testify to the positive effect that a daily exercise routine can have on their mental state. Be it to break the monotony of an overseas deployment, to escape the constant interaction with people, or to clear your head from hours of email/mobile phone interaction, we are, in the immediate aftermath of a physical activ- ity sharper, happier and healthier. Dr Michael Otto professor of Psychology Boston University eludes to this in when he observed that usually within five minutes after moderate exercise, you can get a mood enhancement effect (2006). EXERCISE IN REHABILITATION Dr Jennifer Carter discourses that clinical and counselling psycholo- gists could do a better job of incorporating exercise into treatment. She further admits that she recommends exercise for her psycho- therapy clients, particularly for those who are anxious or depressed (Weir, 2011). This proposal was further enhanced by Otto at al., when in 2006 they reviewed 11 studies investigating the effects of exercise on mental health. They determined that exercise could be a powerful intervention for clinical depression (Otto et al., 2006). Based on these findings, they concluded, clinicians should consider adding exercise to the treatment plans for their depressed patients (Weir, 2011). Herring et al. (2013) studied the effects of exercise training on anxiety levels among healthy adults, adults with chronic illness, and individuals diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. They found that on average, after chronic exercise both state and trait anxiety were reduced significantly. With patients with chronic illnesses Herring argues that it is plausible that exercise training could be especially beneficial for individuals at increased risk for experienc- ing anxiety symptoms because they must cope with health-related threats of a chronic illness. (Herring et al., 2013). Herring et al. also makes the connection between the increases in physical activity with increased physical self-esteem. He argues that impaired self-esteem has been associated with elevated symptoms of anxiety. It is possible that exercise training could improve anxiety through increases in physical self-esteem or self- concept. (Herring et al., 2013).

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