Moods, say the experts, are emotions that tend to become fixed, 1) exerting an influence o
n one's outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That's 2) fabulous if your mood is a pleasa
nt one, but it will be a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or lonely.
Perhaps one of the best ways to deal with such moods is to 3) talk them out.
Sometimes, though, there is no one to listen.
Modern science offers an abundance of drugs to deal with bad moods. But sc
ientists have also discovered the practicability of several non-drug 4) approaches to rele
ase you from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added be
nefit of being healthier. So, the next time you feel out of sorts, don't 5) head for the d
rug store – try the following approach.
Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, physical exercise
seems to be the most 6) efficient cure for a bad mood. "If you could keep up
the exercise, you'd be in high spirits," says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health
and Beauty. Obviously, physical activity 7) is linked with mood changes.
Researchers have explained biochemical and various other
changes that make exercise 8) compare favorably to / compare favourably to drugs
as a mood-raiser. Physical exertion such as housework, howe
ver, does little help, probably because it is not intensive enough, and people usually do
it unwillingly. The key is physical exercise – running, cycling, walking, swimming or othe
r sustained activities that 9) boost the heart rate, increase circulation and improve the
body's use of oxygen. Do them for at least 20 minutes a 10) session, three to five times a
week.