Exercise make me feel worse :(

[TheOriginalDollz]

this is scary I just tried to Exercise and see if that would help how I feel and my chest just felt funny like it wasnt keeping up and I got even more dizzy......is this commen with anxiety? Lord I am posting everyday with something new. Ty all for reading and your replies <3

[Cuchculan]

Just one opinion. Imagine the mind relates a fast pumping heart to anxiety. Sweat to anxiety. Breathlessness to anxiety. Then you go and exercise. You are going to experience these same feelings. So it may just be the mind latching onto things that you would normally relate to anxiety. Once that thought hits the mind out come the symptoms. Lots of people are the same with exercise. Others it helps. As it can burn off a lot of energy that makes up their anxiety. So, like most things, it works well for some and bad for others. Having said all of that I would still make sure I even got a walk in every day. You can do things that don't really feel like exercise. But are still good for you. Best of luck to you.

[TheOriginalDollz]

Yeah but like my chest will feel weird and I will get light headed...this just sucks

[GreenThumb]

When I first started seriously working out after I found out about my GAD I had the same problem as you - funky heart rhythms, chest pains, difficulty breathing, dizziness...I had myself convinced that I was going to drop dead of a heart attack in the middle of the gym. IT IS A LIE! As long as you've had your doctor check you over to make sure you don't have an actual heart problem, it is all just the anxiety messing with your head and your body. I verified this with my doctor, trust me.

It took me a couple months to get over this fear while I was exercising. When I finally started to accept the fact that my anxiety was causing all of my physical symptoms, I found that I didn't feel so crappy when exercising. I am now able to see exercise for what it is - something healthy for both my body and mind. I actually look forward to working out now. I still have days where my adrenaline is firing and my heart skips a beat or two on the treadmill, but I am able to see it for what it is - anxiety - and keep sweating. It's been really empowering...hang in there and keep exercising! You will thank yourself... 

[TheOriginalDollz]

Humm I have not seen a doctor yet (well my doctor that is on Oct 4th)  But I have seen like 12 ER docs in the past 2 1/2 -3 weeks and none of them found anything to be alarmed about :D.

[markidee]

I've been fighting this for years now.  I'm so sorry.

I've gotten over the fears related to hypochondria, and have begun exercising again (4-7) times a week, but I run with benzos in my pockets. I never go too far from home, and I often do yoga or treadmill in-house.

It evolved from chest fears to fear of open places. Exercise is as or more affective that SSRIs, but not when it causes new terror and upheaval (for me this became like an emotional hangover).

Let me know if you want any specific advice about how I've progress to a more regular (and less fearful) routine.

Keep on keeping on!

[TheOriginalDollz]

Ya it's just my head has felt horrible light headed all day long and my heart does not feel right. But I have had a chest cat scan and x ray and blood test I am sure if anything was wrong they would have seen. It just doesn't feel right. it is just so hard to believe anxiety can make you feel this way 24/7  for like 3 weeks. It is just so tiring. Blah I am just so tired anymore and so scared that I feel it all the time....and sometimes I feel my symptoms worse when I lay down it just sucks .

[markidee]

The fog will lift. One breath at a time. You are NOT alone. I spent the better part of a year fighting my way out of bed each day. You have a clean bill of physical health, but have a terrible mental battle.

It will pass, and the pain in 5 minutes will pass, and the pain tomorrow will take care of itself. Let me know if there is any specific question you have--I'm dying to pass on some strength, hope, and courage.

[TheOriginalDollz]

Ya but the hardest thing for me as I said is all day everyday symptoms. is it normal to feel light headed all day? Neck Pains? Odd feeling on the left side of my chest? Feeling like I can fall asleep at any moment? Had the feelings in my head that a vessel like wanted to pop...jaw tightens a little bit. neck tightens....feels like when i do such little task i am so winded and feels like I ran a mile.left arm pain a little and weakness. Blah! And even tho I have been to the ER 11 times I am still not even convinced! I don't know what to think is real or false anymore All i think about all day everyday. Because I cant stop thinking about how I feel.

[oneworld2010]

When you start excercising thats what happens....its just anxiety taking advantage that there are changes in your heart rate etc to give you a fright. Ignore it and continue, after a month or 2 you will feel so much better you wont believe it. Nothing beats anxiety like a fit body.....

[markidee]

Ya but the hardest thing for me as I said is all day everyday symptoms. is it normal to feel light headed all day? Neck Pains? Odd feeling on the left side of my chest? Feeling like I can fall asleep at any moment? Had the feelings in my head that a vessel like wanted to pop...jaw tightens a little bit. neck tightens....feels like when i do such little task i am so winded and feels like I ran a mile.left arm pain a little and weakness. Blah! And even tho I have been to the ER 11 times I am still not even convinced! I don't know what to think is real or false anymore All i think about all day everyday. Because I cant stop thinking about how I ***]

I'm so sorry. Please try to rest. Are you able to go to a safe place for treatment? I've been several times when my symptoms and "BLAH-ness" was through the roof. Otherwise, try to rest, eat enough, and go for a few close walks. Good luck today.

[lindahurt]

It is common to have these symptoms even if you don't have anxiety when you first start to workout.  That is because your body isn't conditioned to the exercise.  After your body gets a little use to it, you wont feel faint and light headed, etc.  According to studies exercise helps anxiety and depression.  So as time pass if you sick with it you should feel better.

[MsPanic]

I agree with every1 else. If you're not use 2 exercising then your body will let you know because some symptoms of fatigue are similar 2 GAD symptoms. & as a person with GAD, as soon as you feel weird you start 2 worry & we know what comes next.. PANIC! So dont push yourself 2 hard when exercising. Take your time. I been there.

[Loren7979]

Start off slow man.  I'm doing the same thing right now.  My symptoms are slightly different, but nonetheless, work your way up to it.  I was exercising like I was training for the Olympics or something.  Just a compulsive routine I had.  I have to retrain myself to start off slow, and work your way up.  You are probably just fine like the doctors said.  Stress is more painful than physical pain.  I wish you the best of luck.

[markidee]

Ya but the hardest thing for me as I said is all day everyday symptoms. is it normal to feel light headed all day? Neck Pains? Odd feeling on the left side of my chest? Feeling like I can fall asleep at any moment? Had the feelings in my head that a vessel like wanted to pop...jaw tightens a little bit. neck tightens....feels like when i do such little task i am so winded and feels like I ran a mile.left arm pain a little and weakness. Blah! And even tho I have been to the ER 11 times I am still not even convinced! I don't know what to think is real or false anymore All i think about all day everyday. Because I cant stop thinking about how I ***]

How long have you had these symptoms. This is EXACTLY panic disorder started. You will stop worrying about your body so much. Going to the doctor helps, google can help, but they can become obsessive. I was best helped by a community of fellow panickers--people with a deep well of suffering (especially the sweet and wise older ones). Please seek out these people. AA is good place to start (even if you don't drink), because poele are honest and the meetings are everywhere. It also doesn't require you to subscribe to a doctrine.

I hope you're doing better!

[Lavender]

Have you ever tried Tai Chi.  It is a real relaxing form of excercise that is more like meditation.  Walking is also good for me, it doesn't raise my heartrate as much as other forms of excercise.

[Snuz]

The treatment I'm working on now, for myself, is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. This therapy is based on the current research and the Drs. claim that anxiety is just confusing a bunch of uncomfortable physical sensations then adding the thoughts we have about those sensations. The book I'm reading teaches us to accept those physical sensations and even has exercises designed to make you feel dizzy, etc. so you learn to accept feeling uncomfortable.

Just a thought.

[miika]

I have a huge problem with exercising. I used to workout a lot in my teens(hundred years ago), like 3-5 hours a day. But I had to quit, because something hit me, later found out it was anxiety. I wast in perfect shape, but still got the symptoms. Nowadays it`s still the same. I would LOVE to start working out again, but it feels extremely bad.

I get super dizzy, heart races and jumps around, it`s hard to breath....chest feels "empty". My neck hurts in a very weird way. My nose starts to run, red burning eyes etc. Overall it just makes me feel like drunk, really weird. Everytime while feeling like that, I think it cant be just anxiety.

[worried_girl]

it makes me feel worse too and its so annoying because i want to lose weight but anxiety stops me x

[msplants]

I have a huge problem with exercising. I used to workout a lot in my teens(hundred years ago), like 3-5 hours a day. But I had to quit, because something hit me, later found out it was anxiety. I wast in perfect shape, but still got the symptoms. Nowadays it`s still the same. I would LOVE to start working out again, but it feels extremely bad.

I get super dizzy, heart races and jumps around, it`s hard to breath....chest feels "empty". My neck hurts in a very weird way. My nose starts to run, red burning eyes etc. Overall it just makes me feel like drunk, really weird. Everytime while feeling like that, I think it cant be just anxiety.

This is how I feel sometimes when I exercise and so it makes me afraid to exercise. Like you, I used to exercise a lot and be in perfect shape. I had lost maybe 30 pounds I had gained after being on anti depressants and kept it off for several years and in the past 3 years I have gained it all back Which is also depressing.

It seems I have hypoglycemia so I have to eat regularly or my blood sugar will drop too low and that triggers those weird sensations too. It is easy to overeat unintentionally.

What I have done is do something really gentle like walking around in the mall window shopping or around the block outside.

I have a very easy 20 minute yoga dvd which gets some exercise in plus helps for peace of mind and anxiety.

I find having a treadmill or elliptical is good too as I can get on it for 5 minutes gently and add a minute or so every few days and if I do it gently, I don't get the weird sensations.

Leslie Sansone dvd walking 1 mile is really good too. So if you go slowly and gently you can get some exercise in without freaking and build slowly.