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Walking for anxiety

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Posted 4/7/2014 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
The first day I decided to walk for my anxiety it was pacing the porch with my body vibrating and shaking felt like I was walking off some sort of seizure, I wanted to call an ambulance or lay on the floor but I had to keep moving for fear of dying. The next day I decided to walk around the yard five times, my chest was tight, I couldn't get a full breath and I had left sided shoulder and arm pain. I was told I am not dying and this is anxiety, so I figured I would just walk, five times around the yard, I mean if I was going to drop dead the back yard was a good a place as any, at this rate I was going to drop dead in my bed anyways! So I ventured on my journey around the yard, I surrendered to everything around me, I put my faith in the dogs that they would somehow find someone when I finally dropped to my knees and fainted in the yard! So off I go, I cant breath, I keep walking, faster and faster, I don't care what happens I am going to finish my five laps, I mean moving your feet is logical isn't it, you must get somewhere if you move! Sweating like a pig, I finish my first lap, and on an on finally by lap 5............ I can breath, I'm ALIVE, my chest pain is gone, and I am floating on my feet, I surrendered and found freedom during my back yard trek and I'm still alive what a PLEASANT SHOCK! I walk everyday now, sometimes my husband takes me and I sweat and imagine having to lay down on the road until my dizziness passes, but I never do lay down, I always make it back, and I always feel better after! I would like to start a walking for anxiety group, I wonder how many people are frozen at home without a walking partner to take them down the driveway or around the block while they sweat and feel like fainting from the fear. If I could find it in me to hold someones hand and take them around the block with me or to the end of the driveway, together we would heal and the group would slowly get larger and larger and more people would get better and better! I am glad I found this site as it is like we are starting to walk together building strength and trust, one foot in front of the other has to lead to something and the more feet the stronger the steps!
Posted 4/7/2014 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Kudos to you!  I used to be an avid walker.  We live in the country so I would drive the 4 miles into town and walk the same route which took me 45 minutes.

My anxiety keeps me from heading out on my own these days and yet I know I would feel much better.  Come take my hand and drag me along with you. :-)

One of my therapists once told me to go take a walk, but I said I cry and people will thinking I am looney,  She said put on sunglasses.  I tried but the country roads are scary with the traffic zipping past.

I will put this into my bucket list.

Thank you,

Kitt

Posted 4/7/2014 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
You will walk soon, you will be safe, and you will be proud:)
Posted 4/7/2014 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
Beamer,

Excellent!! Many times, our anxiety may start,--or flourish,--due to inactivity. I know that when we're deeply anxious, the mere thought of moving scares the heck out of us! But you're so right....once we get moving, it all comes together.

There seems to be a "door" we have to make it to,--and through,--for this break to occur. Generally I've found it to be around 6-12 minutes, where we may feel iffy, not quite sure this will ever feel good, the sweating starts, our heart rate picks up,...

....but come that magical "door," wherever it may appear to each of us, once we walk through it, this wonderful new feeling washes over us as we adapt, and it turns into a type of thriving!

Very good news. What a splendid idea,....a walking group for anxiety! :)






M.
Posted 4/12/2014 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I would love to join a walking group. I love talking walks with my kids but im scarred something will happen to me while taking a walk so when we do walk its usually a short walk. I get this feeling like im walking sideways instead of striaght, like the ground is uneven and of course therse the lovely lightheadedness/ dizziness that is with it. My anxiety has never been as bad as it has been the past year or 2 and i think its due to not being as active as i once was due to moving to a new state, not being able to find a job and not having friends to do things with (I'm a bit shy when first meeting people)and my husband isnt really the active type these days either mainly because of his job. Oh well guess its time to get me and my kids to be more actice especially with the nice weather finally here. :-)
Posted 4/12/2014 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Beamer, that is so inspiring!! I am so proud of you!! I too found that walking would help. I would have to FORCE myself to do it sometimes, but I always felt better after. Thanks for sharing this. :)
Posted 4/12/2014 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
I did this just yesterday. I've fallen back into a pit anxiety / stress wise lately and my 9yo daughter looks at me and says "Dad, you should go for a walk." She was right I was stressing out and had a nice tension headache along the sides of my head, so we piled into the car and went to a nearby park, we did a couple of laps, and strangely enough I didn't collapse either. cool

I was tired after that (I'm overweight and deal with Crohn's.) so I let her play. But it's amazing what you can do, regardless of what your brain thinks.
Posted 4/12/2014 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Haha it's not really funny but I am sooo glad to hear about the ground tilting! Just yesterday that happened to me the ground was sideways!!!! I was like " I draw the line here anxiety, I have put up with a lot from you but I draw the line at the earth tilting under my feet" I kept trying on adjust my body and my glasses I was probably walking with my body tilted sideways to try and adjust and of course the lightheadedness I very dibilitating that's why it would be good to walk as a group with all these things going on who wants to walk alone! We would probably need some sort of rope to keep us all upright and together but darn it we would be moving!
Posted 4/12/2014 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
IM 0627 said it well - " But it's amazing what you can do, regardless of what your brain thinks."

My anxiety keeps me from doing so many things  since I was dx with cancer. I  lost nearly all my hair; I am so self-conscious of going out in public.

My hubby is a Crohnie too and is not into walking - however he is a working fool so he gets lots of exercise.

I am the slug!

I finally sold my treadmill rather than staring at it and telling myself I am a loser for not jumping on it. 

If only we could turn back time but I know the trick is to stay in the moment.

Blessings to all,

 

Kitt

 

Posted 4/12/2014 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in the same boat, Kitt.

I went to PT yesterday and I felt like I was dragging my butt....we didn't get much done. I'm beside myself with this brand new lack of oomph to go for a walk, much less work out.

It's finally what most people consider a lovely day outside. I stood in the back door for under 2 minutes and my face and chest are now bright pink from the sun. Two minutes? Really?

I think I'm going to get a parasol (and find a sunscreen that doesn't cause my face to break out in pimples,...I'm not having any luck. My body doesn't like the list of sunscreens I've been trying).

I do not intend this to compare in any sort of way, but I wanted to share something. I have always had very thin and very fine hair. I never had much, but beginning in my late teens I started losing it....and it hasn't stopped.

Since my 20's, and more so now, you can always see my scalp right through my hair. There isn't enough to try and do a female comb-over and spray the heck out of it....I was often made fun of because of that (and other things). I wear my hair in a ponytail, such as it is, and "all my hair" in one tail is about the thickness of a finger. I'm extremely self-conscious. All that's seen framing my face and the top of my head is scalp with random strands poking through.

I'm not sure that's related to walking, but I share that feeling.

For me, my walking (which I'd like to return to now that the snow's melted off the tracks) involves just me and my dog, all alone, along the tracks.

Hubby's pretty athletic and active, but he'll trudge along with me every now and again....but pretty much it's me and my dog.

I wish we lived closer....for so many reasons, I wish we did. I'd go for a walk with you! :)






M.
Posted 4/12/2014 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah the tilting feeling is not fun at all, im always trying to lean the oppistie way to feel like im walking correctly and i wouldnt be surprised if people at walmart, where it happens a lot, would think im intoxicated lol. It use to help when my kids where is strollers to keep me going straight but none of them are in strollers these days, i wish my 3 yr old would ride in one but she wants to be a big girl and walk like her brothers. I mainly walk with my kids and dog but dont go far as we live in the country and fear if i go to far amd something happens my kids wouldnt know where to go oe what to do, so itend to stay inn the area that has a grouping of houses, still not sure my kids would go to someone and say my mom needs help. Maybe we should make a facebook page calling all anxious people to join a walking group in our areas. I know there are propbaly a lot of people with anxiety that feel alone, i know i do or did til i found this forum, even though im still new and havent made any personal posts it is comforting to read some of the others and know im not crazy or the only one with these sometimes very strange symtpoms.
Posted 4/13/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I know very well how powerful just a walk in the park is for anxiety. I go for a walk and tune my phone into my charlie brown themed piano jazz pandora radio station. I have alot of heart issues that makes walking and jogging an axiety itself, but I make myself go, then after 30 minutes I feel good and know Im OK, then it becomes an OCD issue where I dont want to stop. I,ll walk or jog for so long my legs are give out then have to go home. When I get home I feel good from being so tired. then this helps m sleep too. a win win deal.
Posted 4/13/2014 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
Oh wow yes I hear you with the OCD walking! Also with the heart issues! Oh my it's ridiculous! As more and more people share I feel better and better as I know more and more that I am not alone in my symptoms! The affirmation is amazing comfort! Thanks for sharing:) we are all starting to move even with are sharing the energy is there !
Posted 4/14/2014 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
What a lovely idea!!! Walking is so therapeutic. It always calms my nerves and puts me in a great state of mind. I'd encourage everyone, to do what Beamer did...baby steps at first, in the backyard. Build up to around the block or stay in the comfort of your yard...no judgments!!! Just get out and move!
Posted 4/15/2014 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Great idea! Sometimes I find just going in the garden and trying to breathe deeply, sun on my face, wind in my hair, makes me calmer and feel better. I had a mini meltdown yesterday and headed straight to the garden and cried it all out. Within a few minutes I felt better. I've been told I need to start walking briskly for at least 30 minutes a day, not just to help me loose weight but to help my anxiety. Now that spring is here I should find it easier. I'd love to join a walking group, maybe I should look into it. Keep going Beamer1!

A x
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