I often feel super depressed after exercise.. why?

Awh! You just need to do the type of exercise you enjoy! I would be depressed if I had to walk on a treadmill for a hour! Haha, so I do spin classes and free weights! Honestly exercise isn't always fun, if it was everyone would be in shape!

I have anxiety disorder
Exercise makes me feel better sometimes but sometimes if I over do it I feel tired and sicky and just abit sad

jtegirl1 wrote: »

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

Like it has the opposite effect on me. What gives?

I have a feeling that it might relate to what sort of exercise you do, different exercises suit different people. Personally speaking I can't stand training in a gym, I find that I feel bored and frustrated by the end.

I far prefer running, swimming or cycling, as they all help me deal with stress.

Might be worth thinking about

I am the opposite. Lifting makes me feel great and happy, I get that endorphin high. Cardio doesn't do much for my emotional state.

Notwithstanding that you've responded to a point I made three years ago, you'll note there is a difference between training in a gym, and lifting. Much of my irritation with a gym is as simple as being inside.

The people don't help much either.

Hi, I know how you feel. I LOVE the workouts I do and feel so elated during and even for 30 minutes or so after. But I end up crying and/or having a panic attack when that feeling wears off EVERY single time I exercise. It doesn’t matter if I go hard, easy, short, long, classes, gym or sport. Nothing affects that feeling so you are most certainly not alone. Short term it sucks but long term the exercise does help the depression for me. It’s the anxiety which it increases, just be careful and listen to your body ❤️

Sorry to resurrect an old thread here but I have this also. My trainer insists exercise will help with depression but I get extremely depressed (suicidal thoughts) after.

For me, there are several things that trigger:

First, seeing people who are almost always younger, fitter, and more attractive than I ever have been. A bit over two years ago I started going to the gym and working out. I lost 75 or 80 lbs. all this did was teach me that (no matter what I weigh) I am unattractive (to be nice about it). Over the last year I’ve increasingly struggled to stay motivated and have put all that weight back on.

Second, I actually feel worse physically since I started the gym. I’m 51 now so that is part of it... but (to give just one example of many) when I started I could go up and down stairs easily. Now stairs are extremely painful (arthritis has set into both knees). I’m not saying that working out has “caused” the issue... but I do feel it has made it worse and brought the trouble on very quickly.

I’m rambling I suppose. But I’m ready to just pack it in and give up on working out at this point. I’m ugly. Always have been ugly. Always will be ugly. And exercise is making me feel worse. Why would I continue?

I never go to the gym if I can help it. I can't stand the place, especially when I'm already feeling bad about my appearance. I found using VR fitness games (boxing and dance ones) was much more fun as it tricks my brain into thinking it's somewhere else. I've also started to incorporate treadmill sessions (which was about the same price as two years gym membership) to break up the week and find I have to have upbeat music on while I jog/run otherwise I get seriously low mood swings during and after.

In regards to your knees, have you tried swimming rather than gym work? The water will take the stress off your joints. My mother has osteoarthritis and finds swimming is the best form of exercise for her.

As MegaMooseEsq pointed out, you should focus on the health benefits of exercise rather than appearance. You are lowering your risk for a bunch of different health issues. You only need to get moderate exercise, not the crazy stuff that some people do to get 'ripped'. Ignore how other people look. I have a sister who models and have met several others who look perfect on the outside, but most are a complete wreck emotionally and have insane lives that I don't envy at all. They place their entire self worth on their appearance and it never ends well.