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My whole life I've always LOVED to exercise and go out dancing for hours and I was always up for some fun in the sun.... and then my anxiety got worse and doing those things left me feeling like I was having a panic attack which then led to a panic attack and then in the end kept me from doing those things.
Maybe I should make it a bit clearer. When I have a panic attack I feel hot, I sweat, my heart races, breathing becomes rapid and I feel like I'm going to pass out. When I'm in the sun or exercising these things also happen, I know it's b/c of the activity and it's not an anxiety attack but I'm so aware of these feelings and I associate them with panic and anxiety that I end up having a panic attack b/c I was so focused on having those feelings.

Is it just me or has this happened to others?

I'm really looking forward to getting passed this and doing the things I used to enjoy so much.

I think I'll start walking at a slow pace on the treadmill and work up from there.

Ding ding ding. We have a winner. That is exactly how I feel when I workout. When i walk to far from my house, I start to get panicky because I am starting to breath harder and it feels like an anxiety attack which makes me focus on my breathing which in turn, I start to breath hard and start to have anxiety.

Whats funny is I can do the hardest work out in my "safe place" and not worry about my breathing at all.

I just don't like to feel that way when I am not at home. Silly I know.

All I can say is baby steps. At one point I was not able to walk more then 30 feet from my house. I am now walking about 300 yards from my house. I still get anxious, but I am getting way better. Keep it up and stay positive friend.

This same thing has been happening to me when I exercise. It doesn't matter where I exercise or what type of exercise I do. I have every anxiety symptoms and then I get overwhelmingly tired and I sleep for hours after any exercise.

Thank you for your responses. It's nice to know I'm not the only one

gopens: Congratulations on being able to walk 300 yards! That's a big accomplishment! I can't wait until I'm able to do the same!

Good Luck to both of you! We will get there one step at a time! Much Thanks and God Bless!

The anxiety and panic have kept me from exercise for the most part. However, this past week I had my son go with me to a local park and we walked the rr tracks. He said it was quite a way that we walked. The entire time I was focused on my heart rate and how I was feeling. My heart rate is what scares me most!

Hi all,

I know how you feel! My problem isnt the exercise (it is in a way) its the fact that I have gained so much weight in the last 6+ months that I find I get out of breath by just getting out of a chair. I guess my lucky thing is I dont have any attacks from it tho. I know I need to exercise but I just dont want to. I have no motovation. No drive. Where do I start? Ugghhh! WE CAN DO IT!!!!

Hi Robin,
This sounds exactly like me, I used to exercise alot at a fitness center and walking. I have since quit the fitness center do to scanning myself how I feel all the time and contantly checking my heartrate. I do know the more in check you are with your insides and anxious makes your pulse go up.Your pulse fluctuates all through out the day which is normal with activity. mine is high alot without activity due to the anxiety. It really stinks being anxious but it will come down in time, mine did but I have been more anxious again so mine has been running high even at rest. I also have figured out if I am not thinking about it and checking it all the time it is lower when I do check it, then I should just leave it alone but I will eventually. I then think there must be something wrong the Dr. are not catching but I have been doing this for awhile and I know what it is but it is hard to realize anxiousness will do this. Take care and keep doing walks.

While the results of exercising have never caused me to panic, I definitely have had a number of panic attacks while exercising unrelated to the exercise itself. The way I've come to look at it is that having a panic attack while exercising is one of the most ideal times to have one. Your body is producing all sorts of stress hormones and chemicals during panic and exercising only helps to metabolize them faster.

When I start to panic while out running or cycling, I just start pushing my body harder. I know that the panic will pass and that by pushing myself, I'm burning off more of the excess energy that comes with anxiety and panic. Plus, when I'm done, I know I've gotten one heck of a work out!

Jamie

I saw a documentary on panic attacks where they provoked feelings purposely to prove this can happen.They spun this woman around on a stool to make her dizzy to mimic an attack coming on.It showed me how real this is and Im not nuts!Now I remind myself of this and use mind over matter but it does take practice.