Sports and Mental Health

Sports and Mental Health

Annalise Argiro, Staff writer

Do you come home from school stressed? It is well known stress negatively impacts your mental health. Stress makes you run away from very important events in your life.  After a long day, stress can keep you from getting enough sleep, and you don’t have any way to release the pressure; This is when sports come into play.

Sports provide a way to escape or reduce daily stress. Sports lower your stress rate which helps your mental health. You get to meet new people and escape your school life. Playing sports releases endorphins, also known as “happy chemicals” that make your body relax. Playing a sport makes your confidence increase. Additionally, sports can make you tired and help you fall asleep. Getting enough sleep is important for good mental health. If you don’t get enough sleep, you get anxious and depressed. Sleep helps you keep going and keep your mental health controlled.

No matter where your sport is played, inside or outside, you are in a new environment. A place away from your stress is good. That is why a lot of people’s comfort place is their sport. Playing sports keeps your mind off what you are stressing about. It has been shown, teen depression is reduced by playing sports and provides a good environment for building skills. Playing sports help you meet new people and make new friends outside of school. School is something that people don’t look forward to but have a tournament or a race at the end of the school day gives you something to you can look forward to. Just looking forward to that can change someone’s day. Playing a sport lets your mind think clearly and you don’t have to worry about anything at all. Just being free helps a lot. That is why you should consider sports for your mental health.