Exercise does in fact, help with anxiety.
cottonanddust
Posts: 20 Member
I've been flying as a hobby now for about 15 years. A pilot friend of mine has always had an anxiety disorder since I've known him and he takes medication for it. On the ground, perfectly normal guy. No anxiety attacks that I know of. In the air he's Laser - focused. He doesn't need his meds. He's happy, productive, and like I said, focused. To my situation : When I exercise or am active physically in any way, my anxiety vanishes. When I walk, run, or ride, no meds needed. Same when I fly. For me, exercise absolutely does have a reducing effect on anxiety. Just my 2 cents for the day.
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Replies
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Good, I'm glad that works for you!! Yay!1
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Exercise causes anxiety for some people too... what works for one doesn't work for everyone else. Mental health is just one of those things that we'll never fully understand.7
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Great job! I love exercising but I have some (very valid) reasons that it increases my anxiety3
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Exercise causes anxiety for some people too... what works for one doesn't work for everyone else. Mental health is just one of those things that we'll never fully understand.
Going to the gym might do that to me, but I exercise outside in the middle of nowhere. That may cause anxiety for some too. Like I said, for me, it has been working well. And no, we'll never fully understand brain chemistry.1 -
I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.7 -
Exercise is excellent for anxiety and depression in general.
HOWEVER, as someone with an anxiety disorder i'm sorry to say that it certainly does not remove it completely. I feel about a 30% reduction on the days i work out.
I do exercise, however, because my general happiness levels and levels of fulfilment are heightened when i'm being physically active. Especially in the cold dark winter months when SAD tends to kick in.
Best of luck to you!8 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!1 -
cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
I think that some people experience this as a result of a higher heart rate BPM.
I personally have had to be hospitalized after exercise because i thought i was having a stroke, but this is because I decided it might be a good idea to try JACK3D pre-workout.
turns out i was "only having an extended panic attack"1 -
cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
To begin with neither, it was the raising of my heart rate that mostly made my brain freak out. Now, it's when i'm exercising/increasing heart rate in public, so linked primarily to social anxiety/agoraphobia. This is why I mostly just workout at home. But there are often times when even in the comfort and safety of my own living room that exercise is tough due to anxiety.7 -
I really appreciate the honest answers here. Inspiring. Proud of y'all.3
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rainbowbow wrote: »cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
I think that some people experience this as a result of a higher heart rate BPM.
I personally have had to be hospitalized after exercise because i thought i was having a stroke, but this is because I decided it might be a good idea to try JACK3D pre-workout.
turns out i was "only having an extended panic attack"
My father would drink 2 cups of coffee before his runs when I was a kid. Even as a kid I thought that would make him run too fast! Lol0 -
My anxiety is both a heart rate thing as well as a fear of *kitten* myself in public and/or not being near a bathroom when I need one. I do have Crohn's disease so the second anxiety is based on legitimate fear. That anxiety definitely causes me to be mostly housebound.4
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rainbowbow wrote: »cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
I think that some people experience this as a result of a higher heart rate BPM.
I personally have had to be hospitalized after exercise because i thought i was having a stroke, but this is because I decided it might be a good idea to try JACK3D pre-workout.
turns out i was "only having an extended panic attack"
That stuff is like the elixir to gains (and heart attacks).1 -
I had depression and anxiety induced by severe anemia and vitamin D deficiency. I also have a feeling consuming too little protein contributed to it as well. Completely gone now that I have corrected the imbalances with simple vitamin supplements & dietary changes. Don't forget to get your bloodwork done to check for deficiencies and examine your diet- SOME psychological issues are caused by actual physiological factors, which you can easily correct.4
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I also benefit greatly from regular exercise, both mentally & physically.2
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Exercise reduces anxiety and depression for some, not for others, or increases said issues. It doesn't do diddly-squat for my anxiety and depression. I just get sweaty.2
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Personally, exercise has had some positive effects on my anxiety (I have general and social anxiety). In my case, if I'm feeling anxious and go for a run, I'll feel better. However, if I'm at work and it hits me or am on my way to a social function, I can't exactly go for a run right then. So it works for me as a direct treatment. I've found my depression (mild) tends to be more closely related to my sleep than exercise. I've actually had a depressive episode mid-run before.
I think in general, exercise helps my mood slightly, but that's in conjunction with other coping mechanisms.
I agree that each person will have a different outcome, but it's definitely worth a shot.0 -
I have bipolar disorder, a few other things and a bunch of anxiety tied up with each.
For me, a clean diet and regular exercise makes a massive difference in keeping things level.
It's not enough on its own though. Medication is critical.
Exercise, particular outside in nature does seem to help though. Not in an immediate kind of way. More that if I haven't been exercising as much I may notice an increase in symptoms over a couple of weeks.2 -
Exercise really helps to lighten the mood imo, being outdoors especially.0
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I don't have anxiety but on the days I miss my run - I am a grump. In my best mood of the day post-run!1
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cottonanddust wrote: »rainbowbow wrote: »cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
I think that some people experience this as a result of a higher heart rate BPM.
I personally have had to be hospitalized after exercise because i thought i was having a stroke, but this is because I decided it might be a good idea to try JACK3D pre-workout.
turns out i was "only having an extended panic attack"
My father would drink 2 cups of coffee before his runs when I was a kid. Even as a kid I thought that would make him run too fast! Lol
Aww...that is cute.
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For me, it was weight lifting that caused my heart rate and blood pressure to increase causing mass anxiety/panic.. Doctor prescribed inderall for that an migraines.cottonanddust wrote: »VintageFeline wrote: »I have exercise induced anxiety/panic attacks. I have reduced it hugely by yes, exercising but it is still a trigger for me.
So different strokes and all that. No sweeping statements to be made about health and the treatment thereof really.
Was is a specific activity that did it, or the idea of exercise or the build up to it? Thank you for your honesty!
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Generalized anxiety disorders and panic disorders are different, however they can overlap.
Anxiety is general fear of things, it can be specific to phobias or situations. As our civilizations have evolved, our bodies have been a bit slower on it. When your body is in stress mode, it doesn't know if it is being attacked by a predator or if you just were in a situation where social anxiety was triggered. In an act of preservation, your heart quickens in order to pump extra blood to your limbs with added oxygen from increased breathing. And your body is filled with energy in an effort to fuel your getaway from the metaphorical tiger it thinks it is being pursued by. The best thing to combat anxiety is to calm your body. Your mind cannot send stress signals to your body is your body is relaxed. Therefore breathing exercises, massages, and coping mechanisms can combat stress. The other option is to go ahead and release all of that excess energy and put that pumping blood and oxygen to good use. By exercising you get rid of the stress signals, thus neutralizing anxiety. In this day and time, we can't just drop everything to exercise when our stress rises but it is definitely a helpful treatment against anxiety.
Panic disorders involve the act of panicking for no apparent reason. Having a panic attack because of exercise is likely caused by a specific feeling or trigger such as an increase in heart rate, dizziness or a situation such as a crowded place, or even can be triggered by specific people. Panic becomes a cycle that once your trigger is exposed, you begin to feel the symptoms and you panic due to the symptoms, further causing more symptoms, then more panic, more symptoms, etc.
If panic disorders are paired with anxiety disorders, which are separate in nature, it can be a very different story. The increase in heart rate, the trouble catching ones breath, the dizziness that can come from underfueling before a workout... can all cause panic. Panic then causes more anxiety for those who suffer from both. It is not a fun cycle.
My sister suffers from both disorders while I only suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. We talk frequently about how our symptoms differ as well as how we combat them. We both speak to analysts who help us understand our mental health and disorders. It's ten times more complicated than I explained above, but it's at least a starter for anyone who is curious. Exercise is, clinically speaking, a great treatment for anxiety but it may not be the easiest or calming for those with multiple disorders. For that, diaphragmatic breathing is really a great alternative until other symptoms are reduced.2 -
For me, exercising alone or with a close friend or two helps immensely but exercising in a group setting causes huge anxiety for me. I always fear that I'll pass out or get dizzy and faint and it'll be so embarassing in a big group of people. It's so odd because you'd think with a fear like that I'd want to be surrounded by a group of people in case something did happen, but nope. I have no problems driving an hour up into the mountain full of grizzly bears and cougars and hiking alone, lol. But put me in a room full of people just wanting to work out and it's boom, panic attack!1
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Of course it does. Exercise keeps me sane and happy.0
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Exercise used to help with anxiety and depression for me, but lately it has been making it worse. It's very upsetting.0
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Another vote for Does Nothing Whatsoever for my depression, ADHD, chronic pain, etc. I will be taking medication for the rest of my life; the meds work, so I'm perfectly fine with that.0
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cottonanddust wrote: »I've been flying as a hobby now for about 15 years. A pilot friend of mine has always had an anxiety disorder since I've known him and he takes medication for it. On the ground, perfectly normal guy. No anxiety attacks that I know of. In the air he's Laser - focused. He doesn't need his meds. He's happy, productive, and like I said, focused. To my situation : When I exercise or am active physically in any way, my anxiety vanishes. When I walk, run, or ride, no meds needed. Same when I fly. For me, exercise absolutely does have a reducing effect on anxiety. Just my 2 cents for the day.
It helps. Same with depression. It helps with that. It DOES NOT help with nightmares though! Sheesh.. I think mine have gotten worse since I started this! On the bright side, I can write one hell of an awesome book..0 -
ClosetBayesian wrote: »Another vote for Does Nothing Whatsoever for my depression, ADHD, chronic pain, etc. I will be taking medication for the rest of my life; the meds work, so I'm perfectly fine with that.
I second the chronic pain. I had pretty bad sciatica.. Now I know its only been like 6 days and Ive actually GAINED 4 lbs since starting this.. but I swear, my sciatica is MUCH better. I almost forgot what it was like not to be in pain! A lot of my putting off starting exercise was because of the pain. Im glad that I started!0
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