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I try to get out and walk every day. But a lot of times once I get going and have been walking for a while I start to get a little dizzy and feel anxious. It's probably just my body creating endorphins or something who knows. But I get nervous cause I get the symptoms of having an anxiety attack. Anyone else deal with this?

hello-

I think when you get a little dizzy, you are probably hyperventilating. that happens to me sometimes. For example, this weekend I played in a bell choir in front of church and I incorrectly assumed that everyone was looking at ME-- duh. I started to have my first panic attack in a long time.

When you walk can you listen to the radio or sing or something? Then you have to breathe, etc. Good luck and happy walking.

newrunner,

thanks for the response. Yeah, I should listen to some music or something. I do breathe, I concentrate on my breathing because it helps me relax.
Sorry to hear about your panic attack. At least you knew it was only a panic attack and realized how silly it was for you to think everyone was watching just you.
Again, thanks for responding I appreciate it!

are your symptoms all the time or just in the fall/spring when sinus' are going crazy?

I don't get that symptom anymore when I exercise and I think it was just doing it even when I didn't want to, until I started liking to exercise and looking forward to it. As I got in better shape, I breathe more deeply and relaxed and the symptom went away.

I hope your walk today is good.

newrunner,

my symptoms are all the time. I have allergies really bad, so that might have something to do with it. Also, I think maybe I just need to exercise more. I need to go out and exercise even on the days I really don't feel like it! It's hard, kudos to you!!

Hi,
I tend to get anxious while exercising also, but I start to panic or feel anxious when I feel my heart rate increasing-which that is what is "suppose" to happen while exercising, so I tell myself that over and over again but for some reason I just think, "what if my heart keeps racing and doesn't slow down?" Lol. That is just a silly thought which causes me to panic. I know it is a very silly thought but that is what my anxious mind does. It thinks all of those things. I find myself avoiding exercise because of that. I hear that exercising is great and I should do it but I just get so anxious while doing cardio. Hope you are able to exercise and not have those anxious symptoms.

Hey guys-

One thing that really helped me out in getting rid of the anxiety of a high heart rate when exercising is wearing a heart rate monitor when exercising. I used to freak out because I "felt" like my rate was "too high" etc. With the monitor, I can see the actual number and see that I actually have to work pretty hard to get it up high. and then when I stop the number drops quickly and then thumps along at a steady pace. One time I remember feeling a panic attack and I looked at the watch/monitor and my pulse did go up a bit, but nothing like exercising. I belong to a gym and they have metabolic testing available so that you can find out your most efficient heart rate and how to help your body get more fit. I think that it is available pretty widely. Otherwise, go by the old standard of 140-your age as a target rate per minute- as the maximum. If you get tested, that will be more precise.

I got my monitor/watch about 5 years ago and have already burned thru one. I now LOVE to use it and revel in having a super high rate and watching the calories just torch off.

My best advice is to start and keep doing it. Don't let emotions get in your way, because you can always talk yourself out of it. Just make it a habit like brushing your teeth. Do it, get it done, and get on with your day. Now exercise is my emotional medicine not a panic-inducing thing. I LOVE it.

Good luck to you all.

I wrote about my experience on being at a water park and using the "Wave Pool". My Dr told me to go back and try to push through the scary feeling and see what happens. If too scary I could always go home. I found out that I did find and could do all what I use to do in water. Ride the waves on a float tube or dive and swim in the waves.

Anyway, my Dr was very pleased at my experience of pushing forward and noticed that I went beyond what he wanted me to do and I was okay.

I do notice how I feel when walking or doing more anaerobic exercise, using more muscle power instead of aerobic where the exercise is easier and burning calories by breathing easily in repetition exercise that doesn't have a lot of heavy lifting etc. I guess this type helps to get the endorphins working and not stress the body as much.

When I was cleaning out my fish pond and using a power pressure washer, I could feel the difference as well as my mind racing at how I must clean this pond, and worried about stressing my hands or neck too much by trying to do too much in one day or time frame and not resting. I had to talk to myself to calm myself down and not try to overdo which is my "habit" to push myself to the limit to where I'm exhausted and sore and then I feel depressed because I'm not accomplishing more.

I hope this makes sense... and that the answer isn't overkill.