Anxiety and Exercise

Feeling_Helpless · ‎22-10-2015

Hi all just wondering if anyone experieces or has experience severe anxiety after exercise. I try to get at least half an hour of moderate exercise a day but after i am done i get chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, upper back pain, weakness in aems an legs and burning/heavy feeling all over. Which then lasts all day. I am a mum of 2yr old and 3yrs old so i do have a lot on my plate but i am generally quite healthy in meal choices and just had a blood test and everything is fine..

Neil_1 · ‎23-10-2015

Hi F.H.

Welcome to Beyond Blue and thank you for coming here and providing your post.

A very intriguing post as well; with all the symptoms that you have described, I would have been getting myself off to a medical professional (some people may call them Doctors) straight away – but it seems as though you’ve done this. With that, they’ve taken your bloods and everything appears to be fine. Was there nothing else the doctor could enlighten you on in regard to all of what you’ve described?

The other thing to note here is that you’ve mentioned that all this has happened from only completing a moderate exercise level. I know for myself that I do at times experience some of what you’ve described, but I’m pretty much fine with that, cause my sessions in the gym can be brutal; which does result in me feeling none-too-flash for a short time after; but you rest up and you’re right to go on. It also helps you with fitness and the next time and subsequent times those feelings aren’t nearly as intense.

With the exercise, is it at a gym or do you do it elsewhere? With whatever the exercise is, do you feel you’re doing the exercise properly – as there’s so many different things that can be done for exercise and in that, there are a lot of different variations – some not so good.

Then you say those feelings stay with you all day. Now this is not a tongue in cheek response, but just wondering if there’s any scope for you to do a workout in the evening, whereby, you get home, do a few things and then off to bed, which ‘could’ help to alleviate some of those symptoms? It might not as well, just another thought for you.

Can I just say in finishing; that this is a brilliant thing you’re doing – with the healthy eating and the exercise regime as well; all very positive initiatives that you’ve got happening for yourself. Really well done and I hope you can find some relief from these feelings that you’re experiencing.

Kind regards

Neil

Just Sara · ‎25-10-2015

Hi FH...I relate to your post. I let go of a six month gym membership after three months due to debilitating anxiety while exercising. I used to go three to four times a week until I couldn't bare it any longer. My symptoms included major head pressure, breathlessness and body tremors. It was so scary in the end I'd panic before going. I miss the experience of the gym, especially swimming. Sometimes I push myself to swim, but the last time I had a panic attack while in the pool and couldn't get out until I settled.

My anxiety is due to PTSD from workplace bullying that triggered childhood memories. I sort of feel it has to do with feeling small. The more I work out, the smaller I become. Ergo...challenging my core beliefs about big vs small issues; mainly safety. It took me a long time to recognise this, but when I did it made so much sense. Unfortunately, knowing this hasn't made things easier. Fear is insidious. To deal with it affectively, I suppose I have to address core beliefs and change them; a work in progress. Especially since they began as a child. Trying to decipher a child's rationale and deal with it as an adult isn't easy. But I push on...

Hope this helps...Dizzy x

Shaz1 · ‎27-10-2015

Hi Feeling helpless,

Your symptoms sound mostly the same as mine. I may go to gym maybe once a week now, because i was getting attacks when i go out anywhere. My last bad one was when i got home from a class (at the gym) as soon as i walked in door, i went into my room and laid on bed, cried, my body was hurting all over, chest was really sore and i was shaking.

i told my Physcologist about it, and she said thats weird for it to happen at home.

Ive been given the form to get blood tests weeks ago, but haven't done it yet.

So im not sure if i can be of any help, other to say you're not alone. I just ride it out.

I did go with my daughter to gym today and that seemed to help a bit, someone to distract me. So maybe a friend to exercise with? I also go at "quiet" times of day.

Hope you feel better.

Shaz