One of our autistic students came back from a long weekend and was tired and cranky. When I say cranky, I mean he cried and threw tantrums for three hours. Multiple people tried to step in and soothe the poor little guy, but he would have none of it. All our breathing techniques, squeezing and hand rubbing were failing. Attempts to distract fell flat. The other students were covering their ears and getting stressed. So were the adults. Our room is rarely quiet, but oh my.

Finally, it was time for recess. I managed to thread his arms through his jacket sleeves and coax him out the door. It was windy, and at first he refused to budge and just fumed on the sidewalk. Kids galloped past him. I held his hand and we started walking around the playground. His tears slowed. We walked faster. His tears stopped. Eventually he let go of my hand and began running around on his own. When we finally bustled back into the classroom, his tantrum had ended and he was able to start learning. Thank the Lord.

Now there are no guarantees that exercise will calm every storm, but it wasn’t all by chance. Research shows that exercise causes changes in different chemical levels in the body, which can have an effect on our psychological state. Endorphins increase, giving us a positive feeling that fights depression. Exercise also boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin, helping us keep calm.

So when we start feeling down, a walk or workout can do wonders. Our mind set can change, helping us regain a positive attitude.