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Exercise and Anxiety

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 5/14/2013 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hey! Thanks for reading!

So, here's my problem:

I am 20 year old college student who enjoys working out a lot. It became part of my routine and I found that it helped a lot with my stress and anxiety levels. It was a much needed break to go run on the elliptical. The problem is that it got so routine that it started causing anxiety when I didn't exercise, which is obviously a big problem.

I had a problem over the summer where I couldn't get to sleep some nights (I've had anxiety for a year now about not sleeping. It's a problem if I can't sleep) and I had leg twitches and I felt as if I had to constantly move my legs. My anxiety attributed this to Restless Leg Syndrome and I looked it up and it said exercise helps. I frequently went on walks this summer when I didn't have access to a free gym and school to remedy this and never had issues with it. A lot of times this past summer too, I wouldn't exercise and low and behold, I'd still be fine. But for some reason since I've been back at school and have made exercise more routine, it has oftentimes felt like a necessity in order to be able to sleep well and thus not have a panic attack.

I've went a week without exercising as of today because I have been traveling and had a lot of things to keep it out of my mind, but it's starting to sink in again. I am at school this summer and have access to a gym and all like that. I am also in a more fragile state because I am really homesick, I'm battling really scary obsessive thoughts, and my best friends are not doing summer school. I know I need to combat the fear, but I also tend to feel like I need to work out. Not only that, but I want to work out. It's healthy for your body, lets stress loose, and helps keep weight off. I miss it. But I feel like whenever I start back, it's going to feel like a necessity again. Worse than it does now, anyway. Help, please ):
Posted 5/14/2013 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Are you concerned that you are becoming obsessed with working out? Anything can become addictive and we can come to depend even on healthy habits...which can then turn into a vice in and of themselves.

Is there anything else at work here...an eating disorder/exercise bulimia? (a disorder where a person seeks to purge calories through excessive exercising)

If none of these are the case, and if you just find that you feel better when you get your exercise routine in regularly, then I would say that there is nothing wrong with sticking to it.

If you do feel like your habits have gone over into darker territory then I would urge you to get help.

Counseling is most likely available for this through your school.

I wish you the best...and keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 5/14/2013 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, Scaredy Cat.

The problem is that I feel like I am relying on exercising too much. And no, no signs of any eating disorder.
Posted 5/15/2013 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi J

I can relate, I used to run a lot in college and running has always been my go-to exercise activity. It's one of the things that helps me clean and clear out my mind. I often wished lifting weights would do the same thing so I could put on some mass but alas my body likes running more. Running is just something I love to do.

Over the last 6 months, I've got a new promotion and responsibilities at work, got married, learned we were having a baby all big and intense life things and looking back I noticed I stopped running and taking care of myself and gained about 30 pounds very quickly so I guess I was just packing on the stress and the pounds at the same time.

If exercise truly is part of your daily routine and something you love, go and do it! I was in a dark place before where I was seriously over-exercising and terribly underweight but that was years and years ago in high school so I can see how easily over-exercising could be equated with eating problems but doesn't sound like either you or I have this issue! I've evolved since then and just realized, hey my body loves to run and my mind loves to "run" too but exercise ratchets down my anxiety and overall I feel better when I exercise.

And yes I get restless if I don't do it because I tend to feel guilty about not doing it. Just something to work on to eliminate those guilty and negative feelings. Truly and actually you are not dependent upon exercise, otherwise you would have to exercise all day long just to get through the day. So, take a step back and look at your thoughts...would I be utterly consumed by anxiety if I didn't exercise today...well my mind likes to think that's a possibility but I have to tell it NO, SILLY! You will not be consumed by anxiety if you don't exercise, you'll just have more free time to sit on your butt and watch TV.

So don't know if that helps but its a little bit from my perspective. I would encourage you to go out and exercise and get all the wigglies out. It helps!
Posted 5/15/2013 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I am glad to hear that there is no other issue here.:)

I then have to agree with Joshua...if you find relief in exercising, then go for it...it is a healthy distraction and anxiety management tool.:)

S.C.
Posted 5/16/2013 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
I think it's just I hate the feeling that I get when I don't exercise and how I feel like I have to exercise even when I may be too busy to just to manage my anxiety. I don't know if y'all understood the issue 100%, so I just wanted to clarify. I went to the gym yesterday and I am debating on whether to go today. I think I could not go today and be okay, but I want to go today as I have time. But then I'm scared I feel super dependent on it again ):

Thanks, regardless!
Posted 5/17/2013 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
It sounds like obsessed is too stong a word...maybe compelled is a better description?

Perhaps you feel like if you don't get in your workout then the anxiety is going to kick in?

Missing a day of working out is not going to be noted by your body...in fact it is beneficial to take days off, so that reparative functions can happen....so this is probably more of a mental thing.

Maybe you could satisfy the need to work out by just doing a min-version of cardio or some weights on your off days. Spending just 15 minutes could do the trick to help you not to feel like you have missed your exercise time.

I use to feel like I had to do a huge workout to say that I had gotten in my exercise for the day. However, now I have pared down my routine and feel just as good.;)

Give it a try and see how it goes.

S.C.
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