My personal experience of anxiety disorders, covering some 13 years, has taught me that they can have a huge negative impact on one’s self-estem.

They feel different to other people, unusual even, and are usually introverted about their ailment. They can also end up introverted BECAUSE of the ailment. They can even become housebound, feeling they cannot go out, and paradoxically then are trapped where they feel safest, which comes under the general definition of agoraphobia. That however is not the thrust of this article, but is purely stated to set the scene so to speak.

To effect any cure for an anxiety disorder necessitates finding out the root cause, or causes, of the ailment, and then working on getting rid of those causes. This is absolutely crucial, as without finding out these root causes, there is no basis for getting rid of the disorder.

The causes of your anxiety disorder can be many things, and they all need addressing. All contributory factors must be addressed and eradicated. I know I am hammering this point, but it is very important.

You can go a long way towards a cure by addressing such issues as diet, sleep and exercise. These are called lifestyle factors, and whereas there are other lifestyle issues which may come into play such as work or family, those first 3 issues tend to play a major part in the condiiton of most people.

To make the point of this article more specific, let us take exercise as an example. Even the most modest form of exercise can have a hugely positive impact, not just on the body but, most importantly, on the mind. I know that in my case exercise is almost literally what kept me from tipping over the edge.

Exercise can be a big help not only in controlling the weight, but also in creating what I can only describe as a very satisfying from of tiredness, which in turn helps the sleep patterns.

Let us take the example of the person who perhaps has a form of agoraphobia, and is trapped at home. Now imagine how they will feel about themseves, and how others will feel about them, if they are able to get out and start an exercise program, or if they join some health or sports club with all the social spinoffs that could have for them. Can you see how this could have a huge impact on not just their feeling of personal worth, but also in contributing to them wanting to effect a permanent cure?.

There is no need for someone to suddenly decide they are going to become a marathon runner overnight, as even the most modest of programs will produce huge results. My personal recommendation is to take up running, because of what it did for me, but not everyone will be able to do that, and I want to repeat, it is not necessary.

The same recommendation applies to joining a sports club or local gym, where not only will one be getting the benefit of the exercise, but will also be back amongst people again, making new friends and contacts.

One of my close colleagues joined a local pool club and said it was a great help to him, even though we all know that pool is not the hardest exercise anyone will ever undertake. Again, the social side was a great asset to him just in getting him out.

I guess most people will understand how exercise of any sort benefits the body in a big way, and how it also can boost the immune system. However, it is the good feeling generated within which is the key here, and what that does to one’s feel of worth and self-esteem, something totally lacking in a lot of anxiety sufferers.

I would personally go as far as to say that were it not for my own exercise regime, I am really not sure if I would have made it out of the mental morass I had gotten myself into.

This next point may come over wrong, but I will put it into this article nonetheless as I believe it to be very important. My exercise program has made me stronger, fitter and able to sleep better. I learned how to eat in a more healthy way, and the control of my weight has never been a problem for many years, despite the passage of time. I literally became proud of myself, but always in a modest way, and the uplift that gave to my feeling of personal worth I simply am unable to quantify.

I was doing things each week which few people ever attempt, and all this despite my disorder. What that did for my feeling of personal worth I simply am unable to put into words.

It really makes no difference if someone has never exercised in years because, as I have stated in this article, even the most modest form of exercise program can have huge benefits. I have proven to myself, and also through what I have seen others do, just how beneficial exercise can be to the anxiety disorder sufferer. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Go ahead, take that first step, you will never look back.

Lack of any exercise, along with poor diet and bad sleep patterns, in my experience can contribute hugely to one having an anxiety disorder. Conversely, the adoption of even the most modest exercise can have huge spin-offs, and can go a long way towards helping the sufferer cure their disorder. So make your own decision, take that first step today, it is something you will never ever regret doing.