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
