But here’s something that the anxious masses may need to be reminded of: There’s a large body of evidence that suggests that exercise can be even more effective than prescription drugs when it comes to preventing and easing anxiety. More from Prevention: 3 Steps To Cure Office Body “Several studies have found the effects of aerobic exercise to be initially similar to those of medication,” explains Jeff Dolgan, an exercise physiologist at Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach. “However, in the long term, exercise seems to work better.” Especially because over time, your brain becomes resistant to a drug’s effects (but not to spinning). For example, one study completed at Appalachian State University in 2008 randomly assigned individuals with “high anxiety sensitivity” into exercise and non-exercise groups. The group who exercised reported significantly less anxiety afterwards than the coach-potato set. More from Prevention: Sniff Away Your Stress Another 2008 study conducted at Southern Methodist University found that after a two-week exercise intervention, the participants who exercised had “clinically significant” reductions in their elevated anxiety levels, while the sedentary control group did not. So why does exercise calm our nerves? Find out the mechanisms at play—and how you can make them work for you with the full article: Exercise Is Better Than Xanax: How Workouts Banish Worries
