The Hidden Risk of Relying on Exercise for Mental Well-Being

Movement is a powerful tool for improv­ing mental health. But becoming overly reliant on exercise for mental health support can backfire.

“Exercise is great and does many things for your body, but you don’t want that to be the only arrow in your quiver,” says ­integrative psychiatrist Henry Emmons, MD, author of The Chemistry of Joy.

If exercise is your only tool for managing mental health, your rela­tionship with movement can become rigid and unhealthy. Instead of exercise giving us more freedom and flexibility, we can get compulsive about it, ­Emmons says.

You may be convinced that you have to exercise to feel good — such that missing a workout causes your mood to plummet, bringing feelings of shame and disappointment. Then you’re vulnerable to relapse if you become sick, injured, or otherwise unable to work out for a prolonged period.

Finding other means of coping with stress and negative thoughts or ­behaviors is important for sustaining your mental health. “It’s a good idea to have a wide array of tools and not rely on just one,” Emmons says.

Luckily, there are many options. You can combine movement with various mental health treatments, including talk therapy, medication, and support groups.