Running is often described as a cure-all for stress, anxiety, and low mood. Many runners report feeling calmer, clearer, and more focused after a run—but does running actually help mental health in a clinically meaningful way?

In this episode of the State of Mind Podcast, Dr. Shyam Bhat examines the science behind running and mental health, exploring when running can be genuinely beneficial and when it may not be enough, or even become harmful.

Dr. Bhat reviews research on exercise, mood, and cognition, including studies showing improvements in mild anxiety and depression, as well as large meta-analyses comparing high-performance athletes with non-athletes. He explains why running helps some people feel better temporarily, yet may fail to address deeper anxiety or clinical depression.

This episode explores:

1. What research really says about running and mental health
2. Why running helps mild anxiety and depression but not always severe cases
3. The role of endorphins, adrenaline, and the autonomic nervous system
4. How chronic stress and anxiety affect the body’s biomechanics
5. Why running in a fight-or-flight state can increase injury and health risks
6. The importance of mind–body alignment when exercising
7. When to seek professional help instead of relying only on exercise

Running can be joyful, meditative, and deeply healing—but only when it comes from the right internal state. This episode invites a more mindful, integrated approach to movement, mental health, and self-care.

To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139

While coronavirus spread across the world, something else spread even faster: anxiety.

In this episode of the State of Mind Podcast, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores why pandemics trigger widespread fear and panic, often taking a greater psychological toll than the illness itself. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and existential theory, he explains why uncertainty, novelty, and awareness of mortality activate deep fear responses in the human mind.

Dr. Bhat discusses how new and unknown threats strongly activate the brain’s fear centres, why modern humans struggle more with uncertainty than previous generations, and how pandemics confront us with the reality of our own mortality—fueling anxiety beneath the surface.

Rather than reacting with panic, this episode invites you to respond with awareness, balance, and compassion—focusing on what you can control, letting go of what you cannot, and using this moment as an opportunity to build resilience.

Touching elders’ feet is often seen as a ritual but what does it really mean?

In this episode of State of Mind, Dr. Shyam Bhat explores the psychological, emotional, and cultural significance behind touching elders’ feet. Beyond tradition, this practice reveals how respect, humility, and connection are expressed across generations—and how its meaning has evolved in modern society.

This conversation looks at:
• Why this gesture exists across Indian culture
• The emotional impact of respect rituals
• Power dynamics, consent, and changing generational values
• How traditions adapt without losing their essence

Whether you grew up practicing this ritual or questioning it, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective on how traditions shape relationships, identity, and emotional bonds.


To know more, follow Dr Shyam Bhat on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshyam_bhat

Twitter: https://x.com/shyambhat

WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6sRziD8SDyMkA7r139