Exercise

Does anybody else get anxious or even have a panic attack due to exercising? Well recently after walking during a really hot day and wondering beforehand if it was gonna cause any issues I of course started having some chest pain and almost had a panic attack just before I ended up getting home but out loud I said "I'm fine" and my heart rate slowed back down and I felt better.

Well today I was walking a fair distance and my anxiety was already pretty high beforehand and well just before I got back to the car there was a steep hill which made me think what if I can't handle it or what if it makes my heart go crazy and well half way up the hill I felt a panic attack coming on and I sat down on this rock while my heart raced for about 2 minutes before I calmed down and walked up the rest of the hill.

Now the thing is, my heart has been checked out and I'm fine, and before that really hot day I didn't worry about walking but maybe a little about actually strenuous exercise and I could walk wherever with no problems. Regardless when things like this happen it makes me have a harder time believing it's just anxiety, even though my anxiety was at a high level beforehand and I didn't really feel like walking around (I was with some friends and they wanted to). And also before all of this started I would walk miles or ride my bike or skateboard with no problems. I'm also a thin guy so it really shouldn't be difficult at all. So what I want to know is does anyone else's anxiety act up or have a panic attack due to walking or other forms of exercise?

Hey X,

Yeah, this is fairly common. It is no wonder really, considering that the physical sensations that go along with exercise are pretty much the same in a panic episode!

Increased heart rate and body temperature, breathlesness, ect...can all be triggers for anxiety sufferers.

This is what worked for me when I was having trouble with this issue. I would not avoid pushing myself physically. (In a lot of instances I had no choice as my job requires athleticism) and would not stop if I felt anxiety or panic start. I would slow down or back off slightly, but not stop.

Once my brain realized that I was dealing with normal reactions to exercise, the trigger stopped.:)

I hope that this helps...if you would like to read more on the subject, you can do a search here as we have older posts on this subject.

Keep posting,

S.C.

I definitely feel the way you do. I can't do anything physical without panicking about it. I know deep down that nothing is wrong with having an increased heart rate and a bit of breathlessness, but anxiety is often stronger than rational thoughts and takes over. I have yet to figure out what to do about it. But it comforts me a bit to know that I am by far not the only one who experiences this. Just don't ever quit doing it because you're uncomfortable, otherwise you'll end up like me and not be able to even leave the house. Keep pushing through, no matter what. Don't just do it for yourself, do it for those of us who have lost our normal lives due to giving in to our anxiety. And along the way I hope you can figure out ways to make it better.

Special, no offense meant, but I had to giggle at your post. We used to have clients wear heart rate monitors and without fail, if they're near any of the treadmills or bikes that have "their own" monitors, they all wreak havoc with the readings. In fact, someone on say, a bike, their monitor might actually show the heart rate of the person next to them on the treadmill.

I am not laughing at your anxiety, but rather, the familiarity of seeing just how frequently that would happen, and because (a) I have my own history with PAD and GAD, and (b) I'm aware of how this occurs with heart rate monitors,...I'm in a good position to respond quickly when I watch peoples' faces overcome with concern with bizarre numbers or,...no reading at all!

It's all shades of wonky.

But S.C. made a very poignant point. (Say that 7 times fast!)

Something happens on a physiological level if, (provided you have your doctor's clearance re: your health), when you feel anxiety intruding and invading your personal space,...when you slow down but do not stop,...your body gets a signal, a new signature, a new baseline from which to work.

Slowing down, you're equipping your mind and body with techniques to overcome the sensations of panic. YOU are in the driver's seat, instead of the flood of chemicals flooding through your body being given permission to sway your experience.

It's also why, after exercising, one "cools down"....and why one does NOT "just stop" exercising, change clothes and drive home. There needs to be a period of acclimation TO exercise and FROM exercise.

The sudden starts and stops just serve to throw your body for a loop. So absolutely it's a perfect breeding ground for launching panic attacks, all those hormones just flying around your body untethered! Sure!


Merrida

Hey guys, i am proud and thankfull to say i am now dealing well with my anxiety and it is not something that effects my every day life but excersise is something that still is a huge problem for me, its not the excersising that part is fine i am able to get proper into it again... its after perhaps an hour later i get crazy heart pals for a good couple of hours.. problem is my doctor dosent seem bothered by this at all! he explained it to me something like.. because you have spent so long in a high anxiety state and type of stress to your body your body interperates it as negitive stress like excercise, laughing getting excited all triggers heart palps in me as does crying stress rushing about, my doctor tells me its simply going to take time for my body to distinguish between good stress and bad stress and release the appropriate hormones in relation to the emotion.. hes basicaly telling me when i am giggling with my friends my body should be releasing good chemicals but my hormones are to pot because ive been suffering anxiety and could be releasing things like adrenaline and other nastys as thats is what it is so used to any time i am stimulated.

I understand im rambelling a bit but tell me sometimes i think this over and it makes perfect sence and other times i think it sounds rather stupid,

Anyones thoughts would be appreciated

From a recovering but still palpitating jenna haha

x