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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
When I'm having a trouble with panic disorder, as I am now, I find that exercise, even walking briskly for an hour, causes me to become very fearful. When I stop and rest, the fearfulness fades. Any ideas either why exercise might me fearful or what it means in terms of maybe there might be something else going on? I am in excellent physical health.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on April 6, 2007, at 19:33:02
In reply to exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
Your body associates the elevated heart rate and increased breathing with panic attacks. Exercise can induce panic. This is why I thought it was interesting when a nurse practitioner thought I would benefit from working out, even though when I did it made me extremely anxious.
-Bonnie
Posted by valene on April 6, 2007, at 19:50:43
In reply to exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
bassman, I wish I knew the reason, but I do know that when I was on the taper off diazepam I could not do aerobic exercise as it would rev me up too much afterwards. I would have more anxiety than before I began. I know other people who withdrawing from benzos could not do heavy exercise.
Are you changing or discontinuing any meds?
Best,
Val
Posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 20:01:05
In reply to Re: exercise and panic disorder, posted by valene on April 6, 2007, at 19:50:43
Nope, same ol' meds. It seems to happen (for years at a time) when I'm on the "edge" of active panic or worst. It's almost diagnostic...if I can work out and not feel very fearful at some point, the PD is under control-and vice versa. It used to be that I could jog 60 minutes and be O.K., but if I jogged 75 minutes, panic was gonna happen. Right now I have the fearfulness after about 30 of jogging until the end of the run.
Posted by Phillipa on April 6, 2007, at 22:48:20
In reply to Re: exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 20:01:05
It's becoming a fear and I do this too. I'd start with a slow jog of l5minues and then a lot of slow stetching. If it worked once it will work again. And the endorphins . If only I could still jog. The high I used to get was incredible and deep relaxation. Love Phillipa
Posted by willyee on April 6, 2007, at 23:41:52
In reply to exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
> When I'm having a trouble with panic disorder, as I am now, I find that exercise, even walking briskly for an hour, causes me to become very fearful. When I stop and rest, the fearfulness fades. Any ideas either why exercise might me fearful or what it means in terms of maybe there might be something else going on? I am in excellent physical health.
Try to find a low impact excersise first,more importantly if u can find one u enjoy,example for me roller skating,part of it is deep inside u dont wanna do it,ur stressing ur body and doing somethingu dont enjoy,if u enjoyed it the anxiety from it will be much less evident.
Also that whole enhphin is bunk,ive worked out hard since 16,and its just that,a rush,a adrenaline endophin rush,and if there is any good feeling its very brief followed by much longer period of anxiety.
Its a catch 22 however,not excersising and letting ur body become weak and unhealthy will make it that much harder,many times docs plain told my faimly if i were as strong physicaly as i am id be in much worse shape when i had interactions,my body is built strong and that comes in handy when i as a whole go through so much stress.
Its very important to keep a strong body while you build a strong mind,just dont do a excersise your not happy doing,find one such swiming,or something you can enjoy.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 7, 2007, at 8:47:24
In reply to exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
I noticed this once when I went to an aerobics class. I think the trick is to do something regularly, like every day, and to make it not too intense, ie its just relatively gentle (but still gets the heartrate going). And I think doing it with someone else would help take your mind of it.
I cycle everywhere now and that doesn't cause panic, in fact it makes me feel a whole lot better. But I do it everyday for at least half an hour - I think if I were to suddenly start doing it, it'd cause panic.
Yeah the doing it every day I think is the key. And making it relatively gentle at first.
Posted by Phillipa on April 7, 2007, at 19:35:29
In reply to Re: exercise and panic disorder, posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 7, 2007, at 8:47:24
Merri agree with the start slowly and daily. But when I was having huge panic attacks it the jogging was wonderful and when done about 30minutes later if I had a problem I would all of a sudden have the answer. And the guilt I have if I don't ride is incredible. I rode today and feel a sense of accomplishment. That's me. And endorphins are a real thing . Google endorphins for anyone who doubts the benifits of excercise. When I stop that's when the anxiety returns. Love Phillipa ps still wish I could jog. I grieve the loss but disc problems prevent it. Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on April 8, 2007, at 15:01:15
In reply to exercise and panic disorder, posted by bassman on April 6, 2007, at 17:50:08
Posted by Sebastian on April 11, 2007, at 20:08:34
In reply to Re: exercise and panic disorder, posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 7, 2007, at 8:47:24
I use to get extream anxiet at the gym.
This is the end of the thread.
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