Exercise and Anxiety!

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mermaidmissus
mermaidmissus Posts: 2 Member
edited June 2017 in Fitness and Exercise
hello all!

So, i've been plagued with anxiety issues since i was a kid. I just recently started interval running to help with anxiety/depression, and wouldn't you know it, the doctors were right all along!

My question for you is: have you experienced anxiety/depression before? What's helped you out the most and how do you manage it? Let me know!

If anyone wants a friend, motivator, or just someone to talk to about life-- don't hesitate to add me! We're all in this together :-)

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  • Rocknut53
    Rocknut53 Posts: 1,794 Member
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    2-3 hours of intense hiking helps keep my depression in check, once I push myself to do it. The anxiety is another monster altogether, still working on that although the exercise does help. Fortunately, anxiety episodes aren't frequent.
  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
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    Fortunately I've got a very mild case. Mostly along the lines of 'get an Ativan before heading into a high-stress situation, but no need for regular meds'. IF I can catch myself in time, I can snap out of it. It's sort of:

    Anxiety: This is bad. This is very very bad. It's going to be awful, I know it.
    Me: Wait. How?
    Anxiety: I don't know, but I can't cope. I can barely breathe. There has to be a reason why I feel like this. It's going to be bad.
    Me: Wait. Hang on. The reason you feel like this is because you have this unfortunate tendency to turn molehills into mountains. You saw a psychiatrist. You got the diagnosis. This is actually a thing. And this thing is stressing you, but your perception is not reality. You're okay.
    Anxiety: Oh, right.

    But that's IF I recognize it in time. And IF it's not a serious situation. I'm an introvert. I was a call center supervisor for 13 years. At this point, I loathe making phone calls and I loathe answering them if I don't know who's on the other end. I especially loathe calling someone to tell them something they won't want to hear. So the idea of needing to make one of those calls? Sets my heart pounding. If I can remind myself that the way I'm feeling doesn't necessarily mean I'm in any real danger, I'm usually okay. But then... it's mild anxiety.

    And since I've become more active, I really feel like I'm more relaxed now and I haven't had any major issues.
  • KDS0305
    KDS0305 Posts: 28 Member
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    I am always shocked at how much better I feel after exercising. My anxiety/depression can make me not want to exercise but if I can force myself to do it then life is so much easier!
  • ABabilonia
    ABabilonia Posts: 622 Member
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    Running outside has helped me with my anxiety and depression. Enjoying the nature and breathing fresh air clears my mind. Anxiety and depression have caused me to gain over 50 extra pounds. Luckily I'm getting that under control, and I have managed to lose nearly 30 lbs. Running has also helped me control my binge eating too. Good luck in your journey...
  • CarolinaZP
    CarolinaZP Posts: 4 Member
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    "Oh just don't worry about it, calm down" :s The hateful combo to hear from someone who doesn't understand anxiety. It is like telling a person that doesn't have their legs to just try harder and move on, but never help them to a wheelchair or to get prosthetics.

    I've also had anxiety for as long as I can remember, but it only spiked bad enough for me to seek help after an emergency family situation last year. Since then I had to admit I have this and been working on it.

    Exercise and better eating made a difference, as well as therapy. The medicine helped at first, but the drowsiness was too much. So I chose to wean out of it, and may be seeing an actual psychiatrist if I can't manage without the pill.

    On the exercise, I found Yoga to be the most helpful, because I need to pay way more attention than walking on my treadmill. I use a streaming service with online classes. I still walk, but mostly outside while the weather is nice and with a coworker around the work campus, and both exercises have been helpful as breaks during the day to set my mind on myself.

    As for eating, what is interesting is that eating healthier for me means I need to go to the store more often for fresh picks. This lead to me removing something which always made me anxious, which was the belief that I HAD to plan the whole week and go to the store just once. It stressed me A LOT for no reason, since I totally made this rule on my own and forced myself to try and follow it to the letter. Each time I failed (often) I'd beat myself about it, or if plans derailed, beat myself about wasting food, etc. One of the many wrong beliefs a person with anxiety can have.

    I tell this story so that others may stop and think during this journey. Don't be too hard on yourself. Stop and think about your goals, make them achievable before you push them to be more challenging, or rewrite them altogether to be something that works not just for your physical body health, but also your mental health.

    This is what I listen to whenever I feel like the only person going through this. The focus is depression, but it is not far from anxiety:
    https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_solomon_depression_the_secret_we_share#t-16067
  • amaranthineecstasy
    amaranthineecstasy Posts: 3 Member
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    Like you I have suffered from anxiety my entire life. I have a really bad panic disorder too. I developed postpartum depression when my babies were 2 months and they are six months. I was given Zoloft for the past 3 months. I initially started off Celexa which didn't help me so I made the switch. The medicine has helped tremendously with my depression and anxiety. Still, there times that I can feel it. I started working out two weeks ago and it has affected me in such a great way. When I work out I tell my self encouraging things the whole time. I just feel so much better releasing my thoughts and energy into a good work out. When I don't work out I notice I hold things inside and tend to over analyze. It's weird. Hopefully as I stay consistent with my diet and fitness I can wean off Zoloft.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
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    mermaidmissus wrote: »
    hello all!

    So, i've been plagued with anxiety issues since i was a kid. I just recently started interval running to help with anxiety/depression, and wouldn't you know it, the doctors were right all along!

    My question for you is: have you experienced anxiety/depression before? What's helped you out the most and how do you manage it? Let me know!

    If anyone wants a friend, motivator, or just someone to talk to about life-- don't hesitate to add me! We're all in this together :-)

    Yes, I've struggled with anxiety my whole life and depression most of it. Running helps tremendously!
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    edited June 2017
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    HollyJean2013 wrote: »
    I've struggled with it off and on over the years. Just the last two years were really bad bc I took a break from fitness and good nutrition. I went to the Dr and they put me on zoloft. She said I was OCD with Anxiety bc I was obsessed with working out. When she asked me what I enjoyed doing and a bunch of other questions my main answer was fitness related. So that's why she said I had OCD. So I took a break from fitness and took the Zoloft. Gained weight from it and started to get depressed bc I wasn't working out anymore. I finally weaned myself off the Zoloft after 6 months bc I felt drugged up all the time no matter how many milligrams I took. I'm finally getting back into a routine of eating healthy again and working out. Seriously this is the only thing that works for me and keeps me happy. If that makes be OCD then owell at least I have a healthy obsession

    I don't think you have any idea of what OCD is based on this entire dialogue. OCD is in and of itself an anxiety disorder that involves much more than being anal-retentive or having to do things a certain way. It almost always develops in childhood or early teen years.

    There are several types of Anxiety Disorders that include:
    • Generalized anxiety disorder
    • Panic disorder
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
    • Social anxiety disorder and social phobia
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder
    • And specific phobias and irrational fears

    Anyways, OP, I have several mental health problems which result in unstable moods, and I was diagnosed with OCD around age 8. It is a daily hell.

    Exercise and Fitness help lower my overall levels of stress and can help stabilize my mood. I've been told that long bouts of low intensity exercise (like running) can be particularly helpful as they can act as a form of meditation where you completely clear your mind.

    Exercise is great and it definitely helps with anxiety. I've even seen a couple studies (like here and here) that have shown frequent exercise to be as helpful if not more helpful than anti-depressants like SSRIs.

    That isn't to say that there wont be days, triggers, or stresses that can't beat-out the effects of exercise. IMO there are some days that no amount of exercise can help.
  • CarolinaZP
    CarolinaZP Posts: 4 Member
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    HollyJean2013 wrote: »
    I don't think you have any idea of what OCD is based on this entire dialogue.

    To be fair, it sounds more like her doctor has no idea what OCD is, which is scary to think they "diagnosed" her anyway.

    I am not happy with how quickly my family doctor prescribed me anxiety medicine and never recommended therapy, or asked about my diet. Feels like both the OP and I need better doctors or a specialist.
  • TheCupcakeCounter
    TheCupcakeCounter Posts: 606 Member
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    I've heard running helps. Other people have mentioned kick-boxing and yoga as good options as well depending on how you are feeling that day (stressed, angry, etc...). Another friend does Zumba just because she likes the music and the dancing - makes her feel happy.
  • Panda8ach
    Panda8ach Posts: 518 Member
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    Hey ☺ I have BPD so anxiety and depression are hand in hand with that... I finally started dieting 5 weeks ago and I'm amazed at how good I'm feeling. I am not my own biggest fan for so many reasons but hopefully this will help me on my way
  • Lizzypb88
    Lizzypb88 Posts: 367 Member
    edited June 2017
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    Add me girl! I've suffered depression and anxiety since I was a kid, and it hit harder, mostly anxiety after I had my kids... I had been told since middle school that exercise would help, eh whatever idk is what I thought!
    I have been running lately, and even when I went back to my psychiatrist I told him how I was surprised that it's helped not only my anxiety and depression, but also any physical symptoms I get from the worry! (Tingling fingers, heart palpitations)- all that goes away when I exercise! It's saved me a lot to just go to the gym when I'm feeling a bit panicked to just hop on the treadmill and every time I'm like- oh well I feel fine now! Saves me a lot of sleepless nights and wanting to go to the ER, etc... my psychiatrist, who has been with me since I was 7, told me he's so proud of me for working out and it's going to make a positive change in anyone with depression etc... it's not an end all fix all, but I definitely think with all the other tools we have or are using to cope, adding exercise really just boosts your coping and happiness even more!

    My advice is; when you feel those symptoms come on, and you're body isn't too sore from working out- hit the gym right away before u feel worse! I always come out of my workouts feeling much better and usually forgetting I even came to the gym with some anxiety feelings!
  • serenityfrye
    serenityfrye Posts: 360 Member
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    Working out definitely helps, but I've found that if I push my deficit too far, I'll have a terrible anxiety episode. Just broke through one this past week because I was eating too little and working out too hard. Balance is important for me. Also dairy and sugar are terrible triggers for me unfortunately.
  • jennybearlv
    jennybearlv Posts: 1,519 Member
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    Medication, minimizing stress, and you nailed it: exercise.
  • Ant488
    Ant488 Posts: 372 Member
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    True! Exercise does help. It's amazing what issues, thoughts, and emotions you can go through or work out by exercising.
  • pieceofvegancake
    pieceofvegancake Posts: 12 Member
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    I'm really glad I've come across this I've been on and off with anxiety which makes me feel so low and fatigue. I've been recommended that I should do lots of regular exercise but that little voice (how I call it anyway) would say "how can you get energy by using more energy".

    Reading the comments I am starting to feel more confident that it could work. Thank you!
  • bossymom15
    bossymom15 Posts: 130 Member
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    I suffer with both and it definitely runs in my family tree. I do take meds and have been lucky they work well for me. But I find running is the best stress reliever for me in the short term. Just took it up a few years ago at the age of 49. When that "fight or flight" feeling kicks in, things are too overwhelming, I lace up my shoes and hit the pavement. Always feel better when I get home. The family appreciates it too. :)

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