Anxiety and fittness

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello,

Wondering if anyone has any advice. 

I have been suffering with very high levels of anxiety lately, especially in the mornings. I have been off work for 2 months now following a major stress event and having had a bad experience with Fluoxetine side effects. I am due back at work this week and in no way ready for it.

It’s like I am in a constant state of panic from the moment I get up (X10 worse), to the moment I sleep. I am very highly strung all day, restless, have huge tension. Get easily worked up and having panic attacks by the hour. I can’t sit still, but don’t know what to do with myself. The thing is though, I have nothing to do. I am in the house bored alone so half the anxiety is driven by trying to find something to occupy my mind as a distraction from the automatic thought processes.

The problem is this anxiety is taking its toll. I am emotionally, physically and mentally drained constantly and getting annoyed at being tired. It’s like I can’t handle the adrenaline anymore as any slight rush resonates the panic sensations. I use to love coffee but that’s a thing of the past!

I know exercise is a good way of alleviating the stress and reducing anxiety and I love cycling, however I am struggling not to get motivated, but to deal with the higher heart rate and the cool down. It’s like I just can’t handle it anymore and can’t calm myself down. A 20 minute cycle was hell when you are hyper sensitive and stupidly worked up before going. When I finally got home, I was so dizzy and on the verge of a panic attack.

Even a 10 minute walk around the park leaves me so breathless and panicky these days. I am only a 25 year old guy!

How do you manage to get a good exercise routine in place and cope?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Posted

    So sorry you feel this way. I fully sympathise. I stupidly stopped my meds cold turkey a couple of months ago and my anxiety levels shot up 2 weeks ago. Since then I have been taking my meds and I'm slowly getting there, had a great day yesterday but today I'm a mess again. Are you on any medication at the moment? The best thing to do is get yourself into a little routine. I find a brisk walk in the morning clears my head. Then I find things to do round the house, like at the moment I'm cleaning my sons toy cupboard out.

  • Posted

    So sorry you feel this way. I fully sympathise. I stupidly stopped my meds cold turkey a couple of months ago and my anxiety levels shot up 2 weeks ago. Since then I have been taking my meds and I'm slowly getting there, had a great day yesterday but today I'm a mess again. Are you on any medication at the moment? The best thing to do is get yourself into a little routine. I find a brisk walk in the morning clears my head. Then I find things to do round the house, like at the moment I'm cleaning my sons toy cupboard out.

  • Posted

    Hey there Thomas,

    I suffer from anxiety, too and i hear and feel every word u mentioned. One thing that I have learned is to always occupy myself with something and never be on my own. This is because, when I am alone, I tend to constantly think of my anxiety and then google the symptoms i am feeling and believe me, Dr.Google is the worst!!! By the time I finish reading what is causing my sypmtoms, I have fiagnosed myself with 5-6 diseases and then my heart rate goes theough the roof and I become more and more anxious.

    Keep yourself occupied with things you enjoy doing. Try to take a walk around the block when the sun is up and shining. Once your body adapts to the walks, you will gradually be able to take on more intense exercises.

    I hope this helps a little.

    • Posted

      Seriously consider an adult coloring book. Doing something creative like that requires your right brain to engage. Where we have problems is when we stay in left brain...memories, fear, anxiety, etc. only happen on this side...never on the other.

      Anything creative will shift your attitude.

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