topic Anixety and panic / sport in Anxiety

Anixety and panic / sport

RHINO5 — Sat, 03 Oct 2015 10:26:45 GMT

Hi my name is Adam and I am a 26 year old male.

My question to everyone on the forum is:

‘Have you ever had exercise induced panic attacks and have you got any advice in the area’.

My background

I have struggled with different levels of anxiety throughout my life time, but in particular in 2010 after a knee reconstruction and during the last 3 months. I have been told that I have generalised anxiety/panic disorder. I am currently on a mental health plan which includes regular visits to the head doctor (psychologists) and medication.

Exercise is my release and is something I really enjoy, but at the moment I fear doing it… It is highly frustrating and scary at times. Who on earth can play a sport and check their pulse 10-20 times during and after exercise. It’s like fighting against my body and I cannot stop it. I usually get through the exercise, albeit only pushing at about 60-80% effort. And any time I try to push a little harder, I find having bad panic attacks as soon as I finish. For instance I could go for a 5km jog for 30-35minutes and then after spend 2 hours on the lounge working through panic and fear of dying because of an increased heart rate and the more the heart rate rises the more I panic, which starts this vicious cycle, that has become crippling and has stopped me from doing so much not just sport but work, study etc.

Although I experience anxiety, panic and hyperventilation in other parts of life, I haven’t really found any good research or advice on exercise induced panic. If anyone has any similar experiences or any advice toward it, I would happily take it on board. (Clutching straws)

Thanks

Anixety and panic / sport

sunlightguardian — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 03:14:49 GMT

Hi RHINO5,

I don't have much experience with exercise induced panic attacks but from looking at what you've written, it doesn't sound like much fun. 😞

I suggest that if you haven't yet, maybe you could talk through this with your psychologist? He could be able to help you formulate a new mental health plan to help you cope with your situation.

Take care and keep posting,

Steph

Anixety and panic / sport

Chris_B — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 23:26:53 GMT

Hi RHINO5, welcome to the forums. I can't recall this specifically coming up before, but we have a number of threads on health anxiety which may contain some insights for you:

Health anxiety and panic disorder

Health anxiety, a long lonely road

Severe health anxiety

Health anxiety - please help

Health anxiety

Health anxiety is taking over

Health anxiety disorder

Health anxiety by KatieNZ

Anixety and panic / sport

RHINO5 — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 10:09:38 GMT

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm always trying to be proactive toward my anxiety and will take all suggestions on board 🙂 ...

Anixety and panic / sport

willowsleaf — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 10:55:06 GMT

Have you had your adrenals checked? Could be a stress response that they are fatigued