Exercise related anxiety

jessrainsb
jessrainsb Posts: 38 Member
in Fitness and Exercise

I have a history of panic attacks and I’ve come a long way. I can actually exercise now. But typically at a very, very easy pace. I’d like to increase my intensity but the idea of pushing my heart rate higher spikes my anxiety.
I have a couple of conditions which make all symptoms worse, POTs and I also gets PVCs/PACs. I have cut out caffeine in hopes it will help.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has had any sort of anxiety related to exercise and how you got through it?

Replies

  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    If it’s causing you stress, I wouldn’t worry about increasing the intensity. Keep it easy going. Any movement is better than none.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Since you have a couple of heart conditions you need to be getting direction from your doctor or therapist about the amount, type, and intensity of exercise. You are still doing well and will see benefits from exercising at your current level, assuming it has been approved.
  • gallicinvasion
    gallicinvasion Posts: 1,015 Member
    edited April 2019
    I exercise a tiny bit three days a week, but most of my activity calorie-burn increase has come from walking a lot more during the normal weekday from zero before starting my weight loss to 45 minutes a day on average now). I really recommend adding more low-impact low-intensity activity, instead of feeling like you need to get in the max heart rate zone.
  • AmyBethTN
    AmyBethTN Posts: 11 Member
    The harder I exercise the better my handling of my anxiety! I’ve been able to go to sleep without meds for months now and no attacks at all. I feel SO much better after some sweat therapy!! Also, I am on a medicine for my PVCs, and also watch my caffeine intake. Message me anytime!! 😁
  • jessrainsb
    jessrainsb Posts: 38 Member
    Thanks for all the replies! My go to workout right now is anything from Jessica Smith on youtube. I love that you can modify almost anything in her workouts. I’m looking forward to walking/biking outside when it actually starts warming up, eventually. I tried ditching the caffeine but I’m failing on that front. I’m sure I’d feel better without it but darn it, I can’t seem to kick it right now. 3 kids and constantly busy, I feel like I need SOMETHING for me.
  • luckycleo777
    luckycleo777 Posts: 17 Member
    jessrainsb wrote: »

    Hi, I see that this a month and a half old, but I wanted to commiserate with you - I was just at the doctor today with chest pain while exercising and they did an EKG and said there was nothing to worry about on there, normal except for PVC's. I'd been having the feeling of skipped heartbeats for months and convinced myself it was just my anxiety making me imagine things! Anyway, I struggle to exercise almost every day because of my severe anxiety. I wake up and wonder if every day will be my last run, if I'm finally going to push myself too far. And I don't run far - 3 or 4 miles. Please don't let people make you believe exercise is a magical cure for anxiety, because it's not. The worst panic attack I've had in months came at the end of a 4-mile run.

    You might not need to push your heart rate higher to get more exercise benefits, though. For me, walking on a treadmill (at an incline) allowed me to start out slow and as I became more fit, I was able to increase my speed and the incline so I was getting more of a workout while keeping my heart at the same rate.

    I'd like to keep in touch with you, I feel like we're in the same boat, so feel free to message me anytime :)

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