Scared of new gym get panic attacks

2»

Replies

  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    Same here. Pushing yourself through is the way to go. At first I stayed on the elliptical or treadmill, thought I joined for the weights. I moved up to the machines and eventually the weights. I planned out my workouts before going in so I felt confident about my plan and using the weights.

    For my final step, I have to do squats. I will bench but can't do squats with the bar, only body weight. My balance is terrible and I still have a fear but the body weight squats have helped. Baby steps!
  • beckyboop712
    beckyboop712 Posts: 383 Member
    I went to a new gym today thinking it would be empty I went 12 am at night it was packed. When I was in school I had a school psychologist who told me I have a problem with adapting to new surroundings. I started getting panic attacks I feel like cancelling my membership. I just felt so crap going into the gym I felt I was weak and puny. I know it's only a gym but I don't know why.

    Don't give up on it yet. The packed gym at midnight could have been an anomaly. I used to work at a gym and sometimes it would get packed at times when it was normally dead. I can tell you that even at a college where students are night owls and medical residents and doctors have funky hours, even then midnight usually means a dead gym. Give it another go!
  • mssierra2u
    mssierra2u Posts: 86 Member
    Once I am on the treadmill, I take of my glasses, as I can see enough to see the MPH and heart rate info. Sometimes I walk with my eyes practically closed, just open enough to keep my balance and not get too far away from the front of the belt. I don't know you, but this may be the fight of your life and for your life. Your life is worth it. Amazing things can happen at any time.

    Plus, studies just came out that working out decreases the anxiety response, over time.
  • tracieangeletti
    tracieangeletti Posts: 432 Member
    Once I am on the treadmill, I take of my glasses, as I can see enough to see the MPH and heart rate info. Sometimes I walk with my eyes practically closed, just open enough to keep my balance and not get too far away from the front of the belt. I don't know you, but this may be the fight of your life and for your life. Your life is worth it. Amazing things can happen at any time.

    Plus, studies just came out that working out decreases the anxiety response, over time.

    Yes!! My anxiety has been greatly improved since I've started working out. Just a few weeks ago I felt a panic attack coming on rather quickly and I could feel that anxiety start to rush over me and I was able to self talk myself out of having one. I really believe the exercising has helped with this.
  • jaycbadass
    jaycbadass Posts: 325
    I went to a new gym today thinking it would be empty I went 12 am at night it was packed. When I was in school I had a school psychologist who told me I have a problem with adapting to new surroundings. I started getting panic attacks I feel like cancelling my membership. I just felt so crap going into the gym I felt I was weak and puny. I know it's only a gym but I don't know why.
    Honest truth brah, those guys could care less about you. And if you are in fast puny as you say, they dont even see you. they all have problems of their own, and reason why they are at the gym at 12 am. Focus on your lifts bro, eat train sleep and get big just like they did. Just dont be one of those guys with 5 sets of dumbells and 2 inclince benches in your spot claiming a circuit.. good luck brah and dont quit on your investment
  • owieprone
    owieprone Posts: 217 Member
    I went to a new gym today thinking it would be empty I went 12 am at night it was packed. When I was in school I had a school psychologist who told me I have a problem with adapting to new surroundings. I started getting panic attacks I feel like cancelling my membership. I just felt so crap going into the gym I felt I was weak and puny. I know it's only a gym but I don't know why.
    Honest truth brah, those guys could care less about you. And if you are in fast puny as you say, they dont even see you. they all have problems of their own, and reason why they are at the gym at 12 am. Focus on your lifts bro, eat train sleep and get big just like they did. Just dont be one of those guys with 5 sets of dumbells and 2 inclince benches in your spot claiming a circuit.. good luck brah and dont quit on your investment

    totally agree! i'm a girl and i was one of the few who used the free weights at my last gym (i only stopped going cos i couldn't afford it anymore), not once did i get bothered by the blokes, probably cos i was one of the few people using 5kg lol

    People only watching cos they're bored while resting between sets and you're right in front of them. They're not judging you in any way, no-one is. and if they are well hell, who cares? ;)

    you are there to better yourself not make friends or impress anyone. If you're not sure about etiquette, just ask the nearest person if they're using that bench etc, most will say if they are or someone else is.

    deep breath, dive in ;)
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member


    I dont know why everyone was bigger than me LOL so i was feeling uncomfortable LOL

    The big guys started out smaller too. I respect anyone that actually gets into the gym at all. I hope that respect is reciprocated throughout.

    BTW, I used to have issues with crowds, etc. Still do in a way.

    Breathe... concentrate on yourself. Do you're workout for yourself and screw everything else.

    Best of luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress, and if you need some encouragement, just ping your friends here.

    Cheers,
    Teddie

    thank you for the words of encouragement.
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member
    I would use this as a stepping stone to work through this anxiety. Put your ear buds in and do in there and just do your thing. You arent there to impress or talk to anyone. You are doing this to better yourself. Dont just quit!
    I have to kind of agree with this. I could tell you to workout at home, like some others have...but suspect you're here on MFP to CHANGE YOUR LIFE! You can totally do this...and you're a lot stronger than you think!

    Good luck, and hang in there. I'm sure lots of people are scared when they start something new.

    thank you im 21 years old I felt like a idiot its only a gym. I dont know why I was feeling like this.
    Anxiety disorders are a real thing. Nobody CHOOSES to feel that way....but I bet you can work through it :drinker:

    Don't be afraid to get therapy for it if you can. I have a family member who was extremely Agorphobic when she was younger (so much that she rarely left the house), and she went to threapy and is quite outgoing now!

    Theres a member of my family that suffers the same as well
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member
    Can you get an induction at the gym?
    I was a bit apprehensive about joining a gym, but when I joined our local one at the start of the year I got the induction which showed me how to use all the machines, and the instructor also gave me a programme to work on so I felt as if I knew where to start, now I love it.

    I believe it is because it is a new gym and its diffrent surroundings which im not used to is why im feeling this way
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member
    Pinpoint what's bothering you. I too have problems with the unknown (and, like you, get panic attacks in result), but I get a little better when I look at the situation and say, "There! That's what's making me shut down!" Is it the noise? The lighting? The number of people? The fear of being judged or injured?

    Go one more time and really listen to whatever your body is saying. If you get red flags in the weight lifting section, start panicking as soon as you enter the building, or feel uncomfortable on the cardio equipment try and figure out why. If you run away, you'll never get better. I've found that facing anxiety head-on has done wonders for me.

    I was absolutely petrified of running in public and now I do it without thinking twice. I realized it was people looking at me that made me so nervous (if I trip, they'll laugh; if I go too fast or slow, they'll notice; if I breathe too hard, they'll think I'm dumb; etc.). I forced myself to run along heavily populated roads (I used to run on deserted streets and at weird hours so no one could see me) . Once I did that, I trained myself to watch the drivers and realized that NO one (with the exception of the occasional creep) was watching. And -- let's be honest -- the creep does not care about my speed or breathing.

    You'll get there. It'll just take some time, patience, and bravery. :wink:

    thank you I am hopefully going to go back.
  • djshari
    djshari Posts: 513 Member
    I have felt the same way! When I first signed up the guy who helped me was really friendly so that helped a little bit. I did have to ask how to use the elliptical and then I think I did something wrong. After just 5 minutes my legs felt super wobbly. I stepped off and seriously though I was going to fall over. It took everything I had to walk out. I went back later and tried the exercise bike instead. And the next few times. They are right near the door so I can see if there is one free. Then one time it wasn't so busy so I went on the treadmill. Still, tbh, I haven't used my gym membership that much. They were supposed to give me a free personal training session but no one ever called me. I paid the higher price to be able to bring a friend but no one ever wanted to go. Now that it is summer I spend all of my time outside. When it expires I am considering a new place altogether or just bumping down to the cheaper membership and using the difference for a swim pass or zumba or something.
  • AsrarHussain
    AsrarHussain Posts: 1,424 Member
    I have felt the same way! When I first signed up the guy who helped me was really friendly so that helped a little bit. I did have to ask how to use the elliptical and then I think I did something wrong. After just 5 minutes my legs felt super wobbly. I stepped off and seriously though I was going to fall over. It took everything I had to walk out. I went back later and tried the exercise bike instead. And the next few times. They are right near the door so I can see if there is one free. Then one time it wasn't so busy so I went on the treadmill. Still, tbh, I haven't used my gym membership that much. They were supposed to give me a free personal training session but no one ever called me. I paid the higher price to be able to bring a friend but no one ever wanted to go. Now that it is summer I spend all of my time outside. When it expires I am considering a new place altogether or just bumping down to the cheaper membership and using the difference for a swim pass or zumba or something.

    good luck i hope it works out for you im in the same position no one to go with to the gym

Categories