movement and Emotional dys-regulation
***Subtítulos en español 👇🏻
***English 👇🏻
"I LOVE movement and its impact on health.When I learned about the crucial role movement plays in brain and cognitive functioning and particularly for those of us with ADHD, I felt compelled to share this knowledge, I feel it is essential to spread the word about the benefits of movement in aiding those who are struggling with any mental health condition, not just ADHD."
In this brief write-up, I'd like to focus on the benefits of balancing exercises. While we're all aware of the positive impact that exercise can have on our mental, physical, and emotional health, there's something particularly special about exercises that improve our balance.
A note about the cerebellum and balancing exercises- Specially important for ADHD'ers.
In simple terms, a professor named Jeremy Schmahmann from Harvard Medical School found out that the cerebellum in our brain is very important for our emotions and thinking abilities. He discovered a condition called CCAS or Schmahmann's syndrome, which can cause problems with the executive function of the brain, like with organization skills, judgment, thinking, and controlling our emotions.
These problems are similar to what people with ADHD experience but not every person will experience same symtoms.
Schmahmann believes that if we improve our cerebellum, we can improve our ability to control our thoughts and emotions (Yes! regulate our emotions better!! 😬😉 )
The cerebellum is the part of the brain that can change the most, so we can improve it by doing exercises that help with our balance and coordination.
This means that new treatments aimed at improving the cerebellum could help reduce the negative symptoms of ADHD like emotional dysregulation that can be problem for kids and adults.
The cerebellum makes up about 10% of the brain's total volume, but it contains over 50% of the brain's neurons. It is responsible for coordinating voluntary movement, balance, and posture. It also plays a role in motor learning and in some cognitive processes, such as attention, language, and working memory. In addition, recent research has suggested that the cerebellum is also involved in emotional regulation and balance.
Improved cerebellar function = improved ADHD symptoms
The best exercises for the cerebellum are those ones that challenge your balance and coordination
Table tennis is the best one! but any racket sport is great.
Yoga: specially balancing postures
Handstands
Jump Rope: Jumping rope requires coordination and balance as you coordinate your hand and feet movements.
Balance Board: Standing on a balance board can help improve your balance as you shift your weight to maintain stability.
Some benefits of balancing exercises:
Improved cognitive function: Balancing exercises require concentration, coordination, and focus, which can improve cognitive function and enhance brain activity.
Increased brain plasticity: Balancing exercises can increase brain plasticity, which is the brain's ability to change and adapt to new experiences. This can help improve learning, memory, and cognitive function.
Improve focus: it's important to engage in activities that require coordination and balance. These types of exercises are particularly effective when they are fast-paced, as they force you to shift your attention quickly between multiple points. Without focus, attempting to balance or coordinate new movements is nearly impossible. By regularly practicing these types of exercises, you can train your brain to better focus and process information more efficiently.
Better emotion regulation: Balancing postures require focus, concentration, and steady breathing. These physical movements and mental focus can help calm the mind and regulate emotions. Balancing postures also activate the cerebellum, a part of the brain that plays a crucial role in emotional regulation. When the cerebellum is activated, it sends signals to the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for regulating emotions, decision-making, and social behavior. This communication helps to improve emotional regulation and balance.
Incorporating balancing exercises into your routine can offer significant benefits for both your physical and mental well-being. By giving attention to the cerebellum and engaging in exercises that challenge your balance, you can harness the power of movement to support your cognitive functioning, emotional regulation, and overall health.
Remember, movement is a powerful tool, and by spreading awareness about the benefits of balancing exercises, we can help individuals with ADHD and other mental health conditions thrive.
I hope that helps
Much LoVe Pau