HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Exercise Anxiety

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/15/2016 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi HW Family,
Why is it that even when you try to do something to help the anxiety, sometimes the helping has its downsides, too?
Last week I officially joined the gym with the expectation that once I am physically as fit & healthy as I can be, my mental status will shortly follow.

For whatever reason, cardio gives me anxiety. Not sure if its the rapid increase in HR due to the type of exercise I'm doing (I do a combo of 10 min on the elliptical, and 10 minutes on the stair climber). HR returns to normal shortly after I'm done, but the uncomfortable feeling of it pounding in my chest while I'm working out so hard is enough to make me panicky.
Also working out in front of loads of people doesn't make me feel the most comfortable either. The gym is usually jam packed with people to the left, right, in front, and behind. Maybe it's just something I have to get used to.

The weight machines don't bug me as much because their in a more secluded area of the gym.

But I don't want to let the fear of my anxiety keep me from doing something that 1) is good for me 2) that I really want to do. I love exercising. But why am I so afraid of it?
Posted 2/16/2016 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
I get the same increased anxiety from cardio, it doesn't feel like it burns off the anxiety but amplifies it. I usually just grind through and feel better afterwards.
Posted 2/16/2016 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Blu's,

I used to have the same concerns. So may of the same sensations are.common to exercise and panic! Increased heart rate and body temp, sweating, muscle fatigue. ..

Start slow and ramp up steadily and gradually. If you start to feel anxious...slow down, but try not to stop.

Once you get through a few successful workouts without issue...you should be fine.:)

S.C.
Posted 2/16/2016 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
We have students who do presentations at end of year for some modules I lecture on. Some of these students get very very nervous during the presentations. They sweat, heart starts pounding, palpitations etc etc. Now a student is a healthy young human being. They are not going to have a heart attack or anything rather the anxiety of having to present in front of peers has made them hyperventilate...that's all. It is the same with an anxiety attack in other contexts. Simply put the current environment has just triggered a stress response. It will pass and your body will settle down just like the student's will became calm when the presentation is over.

Sometimes you "fear the fear" of anxiety rather than fearing anxiety itself. If you continue to expose yourself to the trigger and bravely live through the episode of anxiety then you will stop fearing the fear. If you walk away from it then the fear of the fear will grow.
Posted 2/16/2016 9:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Blu

I can relate to what you are saying but do keep up the exercise once you get through a few sessions i'm sure you will find the anxiety eases.

I need to get back in the gym myself.

Hibee
Posted 2/16/2016 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I get that too. I just did some yoga and now I'm lightheaded and having anxiety rushes.

I thought yoga was supposed to be good for anxiety!
Posted 2/17/2016 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely have this as well, and it's the worst! I feel really shaky afterwards and often wonder if it could be due to reduced blood sugar.
Posted 2/18/2016 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
It could a blood pressure thing. This happens to me when I work out in the mornings. I usually work out in the evenings after work, but on days off, I'll go in around 10-11 and I generally don't do a whole lot of moving before then so my BP is pretty low I'm guessing. I lift heavy when I lift so after rowing 150lb dumb bells or something, I'll get all dizzy and shaky and feel off for a bit. Eventually, as my cardio builds up throughout the workout, it stops. Same thing happens when I do cardio after a high volume lift. There's this marker, it takes about 25-30 minutes to break through that wall of anxiety and eventually, it levels out.
Posted 2/18/2016 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Ive pushed thru it the past couple days. No better no worse- just getting used to it. Thanks for all the support!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply