I'm just gonna say it - I'm scared.

dirtyflirty30
dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
edited November 21 in Fitness and Exercise
It's really hard for me to admit this - but I'm scared to workout, especially to run.

About a year ago I had some heavy anxiety, and it caused some heart palpitations, etc. I had some testing done, all seems okay - anything that was out there seems to have been caused by stress/anxiety.

So far, I've lost 55 by pretty much walking and yoga alone (along with calorie counting, natch). But I really want to get back to running/heavy workouts.

However, I'm scared. I have this lingering fear of having a heart attack or cardiac arrest while working out/running. It actually just happened to someone in my company yesterday - they were out running and just dropped dead.

Has anyone faced this and overcome it? Or just any advice/support would be appreciated.

Replies

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Talk to your GP before you start running. And please see a therapist about your anxiety. You deserve to be happy and healthy.
  • br3adman
    br3adman Posts: 284 Member
    You're going to expire one day! Just don't over do it and rest when you are tired. Just try it to overcome it. After a few weeks you will have the confidence :)
  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    Talk to your GP before you start running. And please see a therapist about your anxiety. You deserve to be happy and healthy.

    Anxiety totally under control with help from my doctor. Just this one lingering fear left.
  • taco_inspector
    taco_inspector Posts: 7,223 Member
    edited July 2015
    A quick chat with your physician could facilitate a cardiac stress test to allow you to discover if you are predispositioned for an exertion-based cardiac event like you're worried about. Of course, all done in closely monitored clinical conditions so there's very little risk. Generally, these are done on a treadmill, so you'll also get a feel for running a little (albeit, on a treadmill).

    Fears of elevating exercise levels are very real and quite common; there's no reason that you shouldn't pay attention to what you're feeling and/or what your brain is telling you. With your great success thus-far, it's clear that you've already taken some baby steps and also made some much larger leaps to get to where you are now. This can be just another (of your many) successful life changes.

    Caution is always a good thing when stepping-up your activity/exertion level; maybe a little pre-run research will help to allay your trepidation.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    br3adman wrote: »
    You're going to expire one day! Just don't over do it and rest when you are tired. Just try it to overcome it. After a few weeks you will have the confidence :)

    Yup, we all end up 6 feet under, worrying about it won't delay it but running might.

    If you've already been walking my suggestion would be to very gradually introduce short, slow (and I mean slow) running intervals (starting at 30 sec to 1 min) and gradually add time them until you reach the point you're running whatever amount of time that your goal is.

    As to your colleague dying while running.....it happens. Runners die (very infrequently) coming up to the finish line of their umpteenth marathon. One of the early running authors (Jim Fixx) died of a heart attack at 52 IIRC. In almost all of these cases the victim suffered from an undiagnosed condition and they represent a statistically miniscule proportion of runners. You're far more likely to be hurt or die slipping & falling in your own shower than you are as a result of running (even when you factor in motor vehicle caused deaths).

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited July 2015
    dirtyflirty30 wrote: »
    It's really hard for me to admit this - but I'm scared to workout, especially to run.

    About a year ago I had some heavy anxiety, and it caused some heart palpitations, etc. I had some testing done, all seems okay - anything that was out there seems to have been caused by stress/anxiety.

    So far, I've lost 55 by pretty much walking and yoga alone (along with calorie counting, natch). But I really want to get back to running/heavy workouts.

    However, I'm scared. I have this lingering fear of having a heart attack or cardiac arrest while working out/running. It actually just happened to someone in my company yesterday - they were out running and just dropped dead.

    Has anyone faced this and overcome it? Or just any advice/support would be appreciated.

    Me, me, me ...been there done that ..understand exactly where you're coming from

    For me pregnancy-induced asthma and then 9 months later pneumonia knocked me off my feet...misdiagnosed for three weeks as asthma....flashy ambulances to hospital 3 times, a years convalescence ...after that issues with breathing would freak me out ...you know what happens when you try to get fit, you breathe heavy, sometimes you can't catch your breath

    On top of that I ended up with non-symptomatic brain thing that gets monitored by MRI so also have stroke concerns

    Played with my head (literally).. Diagnosed health anxiety..CBT, meditation but ended up chronically lazy :blush: and overweight

    What fixed it? , I got a personal trainer I trusted, his presence made me more secure that what I was feeling was normal to just getting fit, to just lifting more ...his no-nonsense seen it all before approach, together with my enough mentality fixed me ...twice a week to start and now over a year later still see him once a week ...I don't do panic attacks, I'm fit and strong and 54lbs lighter...I can do it without him but I like how he pushes me

    You're not mad you know. Neither are you weak. It's the lack of control for an otherwise strong person that knocks you for six

    I'm better now ..cured of heightened anxiety

    You can do it ..bloody hell if I did, you can

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    It's not about dying...well not really...

    It's about lack of control particularly for those who are used to good health and probably used to being confident and in control. Something worrying can suddenly knock you for six, coming face to face with your own vulnerability / mortality can be challenging and you start to focus on niggles that previously you'll have just shrugged off... Being a parent makes it 10 times worse

    But you have to get over it, it's no way to live

    And it is possible to get over it

    You've just got to be a stubborn-*kitten* b!tch and find your way through
  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    standenvernet wrote: »
    A quick chat with your physician could facilitate a cardiac stress test to allow you to discover if you are predispositioned for an exertion-based cardiac event like you're worried about. Of course, all done in closely monitored clinical conditions so there's very little risk. Generally, these are done on a treadmill, so you'll also get a feel for running a little (albeit, on a treadmill).

    Fears of elevating exercise levels are very real and quite common; there's no reason that you shouldn't pay attention to what you're feeling and/or what your brain is telling you. With your great success thus-far, it's clear that you've already taken some baby steps and also made some much larger leaps to get to where you are now. This can be just another (of your many) successful life changes.

    Caution is always a good thing when stepping-up your activity/exertion level; maybe a little pre-run research will help to allay your trepidation.

    I think I definitely have to ask for the stress test. Otherwise I'm just going to keep being afraid of it.
  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    br3adman wrote: »
    You're going to expire one day! Just don't over do it and rest when you are tired. Just try it to overcome it. After a few weeks you will have the confidence :)

    Yup, we all end up 6 feet under, worrying about it won't delay it but running might.

    If you've already been walking my suggestion would be to very gradually introduce short, slow (and I mean slow) running intervals (starting at 30 sec to 1 min) and gradually add time them until you reach the point you're running whatever amount of time that your goal is.

    As to your colleague dying while running.....it happens. Runners die (very infrequently) coming up to the finish line of their umpteenth marathon. One of the early running authors (Jim Fixx) died of a heart attack at 52 IIRC. In almost all of these cases the victim suffered from an undiagnosed condition and they represent a statistically miniscule proportion of runners. You're far more likely to be hurt or die slipping & falling in your own shower than you are as a result of running (even when you factor in motor vehicle caused deaths).

    You're totally right. I've been reading about Jim quite a bit, and trying to remind myself that running actually likely prolonged his life.
  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    It's not about dying...well not really...

    It's about lack of control particularly for those who are used to good health and probably used to being confident and in control. Something worrying can suddenly knock you for six, coming face to face with your own vulnerability / mortality can be challenging and you start to focus on niggles that previously you'll have just shrugged off... Being a parent makes it 10 times worse

    But you have to get over it, it's no way to live

    And it is possible to get over it

    You've just got to be a stubborn-*kitten* b!tch and find your way through

    I do just have to get over it + accept that I can control getting healthier, but not when/if I'm gonna kick it. Thank you for your kind words + support - so helpful to know I'm not the only one.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    edited July 2015
    the worrying would probably kill you faster than the heavy workouts would. just saying. you'll be fine

    edit(I have anxiety too and as soon as I excepted the above the easier it got)
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