Which exercises can help patients relieve stress?

Exercises that can help alleviate stress in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive cleanliness include mindfulness yoga, aerobic exercise, progressive muscle relaxation training, tai chi, and team-based sports. Moderate physical activity can regulate emotions, divert attention, and assist in reducing stress related to obsessions. If stress is accompanied by severe anxiety, insomnia, or thoughts of self-harm, prompt medical consultation is recommended.

1. Mindfulness Yoga: By combining slow movements with breath regulation, mindfulness yoga encourages focus on bodily sensations rather than obsessive thoughts. It helps patients become aware of their emotions without being overwhelmed by them, promoting mental and physical relaxation and reducing tension caused by excessive preoccupation with cleanliness.

2. Aerobic Exercise: Activities such as brisk walking, jogging, and swimming stimulate the brain's release of dopamine and endorphins, effectively reducing anxiety and diverting attention from obsessive concerns about "dirtiness." Sessions should last approximately 30 minutes and be performed 3–5 times per week for optimal benefit.

3. Progressive Muscle Relaxation Training: This technique involves systematically tensing and then relaxing muscle groups from the limbs to the torso. By focusing on physical sensations, it helps relieve psychological tension, enabling patients to quickly calm down when obsessive thoughts arise and reducing impulsive cleaning behaviors.

4. Tai Chi: Characterized by slow, flowing movements and emphasis on mind-body integration, tai chi helps regulate autonomic nervous system function and reduce sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity. It alleviates physical symptoms of anxiety such as palpitations and irritability, making it suitable for long-term practice to improve emotional stability.

5. Team-Based Sports: Activities such as badminton, table tennis, or group jogging shift focus through social interaction, reduce self-preoccupation, strengthen social connections, and ease feelings of isolation caused by洁癖 (cleanliness obsession), thereby indirectly reducing psychological stress.

Exercise should be introduced gradually to avoid overexertion. It is important to choose a clean environment acceptable to the individual, establish a consistent routine, and select activities aligned with personal interests to prevent avoidance due to obsessive thoughts. Consistent practice enhances emotional regulation over time.