If exercise feels physically stressful while you're doing it (and is thus aging), why does regular exercise still improve mental well-being?

[Always Stay You]

Is it the brain trying to compensate for the trauma it just experienced?

 

[Deleted member 84661]

The testosterone and dopamine released afterwards probably

 

[Always Stay You]

The testosterone and dopamine released afterwards probably

I think they occur because the body is trying to adapt / cope with stress. But it does not undo the damage done by the stress.

 

[Orc]

stress is only bad in high quantities or chronic exposure, short term it's often healthy.

 

[Always Stay You]

stress is only bad in high quantities or chronic exposure, short term it's often healthy.

Why is it healthy short term?

 

[Orc]

Why is it healthy short term?

enhances cognitive and physical performance.

Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful - PubMed

Although the concept of stress has earned a bad reputation, it is important to recognize that the adaptive purpose of a physiological stress response is to promote survival during fight or flight. While long-term stress is generally harmful, short-term stress can be protective as it prepares the...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Dastan]

This is called hormesis