Why Everyone Should Go to the Gym - Especially for Mental Challenges

I've been going to the gym regularly for over 14 years now. During this time, I've tried many different approaches. Sometimes I trained like a bodybuilder, like a powerlifter, did CrossFit, and now for over 8 years, Olympic weightlifting.

By now, I can't imagine life without it - for many reasons.

Socrates once said: "No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."

Even though this already covers the most important reason, I want to give you my top 5 reasons why people with mental challenges especially benefit - aside from the physical advantages.

1. The Community

Every gym develops a certain community. Some more, some less. Especially in smaller studios that aren't chains or franchises like McFit or FitX.

I constantly see new people in my gym who are immediately welcomed into this community, even though they're completely new. Simply because you share the same interest. Even if you've never seen each other before, you immediately belong. You talk about the sport, about experiences you've had, problems you've overcome, and much more.

This kind of community is often missing for many people today.

A friend from my gym asked me and others a few months ago what we thought was the best thing about our gym (aside from the equipment). The answer was unanimous: The people!

This realization and the fact that everyone independently gave the same answer shows how important this aspect is.

2. Your Mental Health

Most people immediately think of guys with big muscles who oil themselves up and admire themselves in the mirror when they think of gyms.

But the gym does much more for our mental health than for our physical health.

The science is clear about the benefits of exercise on our psyche. Regular training demonstrably reduces anxiety, alleviates depression, and improves mood through the release of endorphins and other happiness hormones.

What I've noticed: Even after years with depression and anxiety disorders, there's only one place where I've never had a panic attack and never felt bad - the gym.

I've never regretted going to training. But I have regretted not going more than once.

Training has so much more impact on your psyche than you believe. As I mentioned, I've been doing Olympic weightlifting for years. A sport that requires a lot of courage. After all, you're trying to get as much weight as possible over your head.

Nicole, another weightlifter from my gym, recently had the same realization as me. She told me that she's also a rather anxious person. But through training, where she has to face fear again and again (the fear that the weight will fall on her), she's become more fearless in everyday life too.

3. The Big Scary Guys

Many people don't dare go to the gym or feel uncomfortable. Especially the really broad guys are often the ones we keep the most distance from.

But these are exactly the guys who are the nicest!

In my experience, the broader, stronger, and better someone is in the gym, the nicer they are. Many of these people have their own demons and know exactly how it feels when you don't feel good enough.

What do you think is the reason they wanted to become so big and strong? Because they know exactly how it feels to feel weak. This drive to become stronger and broader often comes from a place of insecurity.

4. It's the Place Where You Learn the Most About Yourself

A hard workout isn't always pleasant. Your lungs burn, your muscles ache, and your body pleads for mercy.

But this is exactly the time when you learn the most about yourself!

The gym requires discipline, and if you want to make long-term progress, also a certain amount of suffering. You have to push yourself and go beyond your limits - that's the only way your muscles and your mind grow.

I can only recommend HIT (High Intensity Training) to anyone suffering from panic attacks. Short but very intensive workouts. Your pulse is high, your breathing can't meet the oxygen demand, and your fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. Does this remind you of something? This is exactly how a panic attack feels. Only you have control and can learn to deal with it.

You signal to your body that this feeling isn't necessarily bad, that it passes, and most importantly, that you can handle it.

5. The Hidden Benefits of the Gym

For me, many important friendships have developed in the gym. Friends I went to the Olympics in Paris with. Friends whose weddings I attended. And I also met my girlfriend at the gym.

It can be a frightening place for many, especially new people.

But if it's a frightening place for you, then for me that's just another reason why you should go.

Abraham Maslow said: "What a man can be, he must be." The gym is a place where we come closer to this ideal. We discover potentials in ourselves that we didn't even know existed. This self-actualization that Maslow speaks of happens here in its purest form: You become what you're capable of.

It's not about how much you lift or how you look. It's about who you become through the process. Every training session leaves you a little stronger, a little more disciplined, and a little closer to the person you're capable of becoming.

The Conclusion

The gym is far more than a place for physical training - it's a microcosm of life itself. Here we find community when we feel lonely. We find structure when our life is chaotic. We find strength when we feel weak.

Especially for people with mental challenges, the gym can become a safe haven - a place where fears can be confronted and overcome. And for beginners, it's the start of a journey of self-discovery that goes far beyond muscles.

If you've never been to a gym, here's a simple tip to get started: Find a small, cozy studio instead of a big chain. Schedule an introductory session or go with someone who already has experience. The hardest part is always just the first step through the door.

Maybe it's time to see the gym not just as a place to sweat, but as a school for life. A school where we learn to become the best version of ourselves - physically and mentally.

So, what's still holding you back? The weights are waiting for you. And with them, a better version of yourself