Woman on a runI’ve struggled with mental health issues like depression and stifling, vomit-inducing social anxiety for a long time; I’m far from alone. Mixed anxiety and depression is Britain’s most common mental health complaint, affecting just under 8% of the population (millions of people). Therapy has been key to keeping my mood in check, but to be honest, I used to dismiss claims that exercise could also improve my symptoms. I was never an athletic kid (looking back, I’m amazed at how unblinkingly my PE teacher accepted I was on my period every single week). Until my early 20s, I would take a bus instead of walking the 10 minutes to my local Lidl. But at 22, my mental well-being took a nosedive. I didn’t leave my room, except when I had to, for months; I slept about 14 hours a day, and felt miserable. Even saying “hello” to a cashier gave me the visible shakes, which heightened my embarrassment further.I was also on a waiting list for therapy