Panic attack & workouts

[mz_rachel]

So I’m out of shape. I’ve always been overweight till my anxiety got bad. I’m afraid to even workout in the apt bc I get the two confused with naturally being of our breath bc of working out versus having a panic attack. Does anyone have this issue?

[Klbtc]

Yes. Mine used to be worse than it is now. So I guess some things do subside. (Need to remind myself of that considering of how shitty things have been lately. After my last post I ended up calling 911 :/) but this is a good news thing because like I said I guess things do subside Bc I’m able to work out now and I even go to work out when I am having a panic attack or when I feel one coming on. It’s a wave of adrenaline in your body and in order to not fight it (because whatever we resist, persists) I let it flow through me. I can tell let it flow through me by sitting in one place, deep breathing saying to myself “I’m excite by this feeling, I accept these anxious feelings. I accept these anxious thoughts. I invite these feelings in. I’m excited by these feelings” or else I start clawing at my chest or picking my scalp it’s gross but whatever it is what it is. So I have learned to take eh and let’s it flow by sprinting down my street a few times, doing jumping jacks,l or pushups. Because since we are in fight or flight mode and our body is perceiving a threat even though it’s a false threat it can really take on anything. So that’s when

I run the fastest, can do the most push ups, and do more I wouldn’t typically be able to do. I have asthma as well so it’s panic induced asthma, allergy induced asthma and exercise induced asthma. So adding that to the out of breath thing does not help. However sometimes when I do exercise (I was always petite and thin until my anxiety got really bad now I’m like big for my natural weight I guess but averse idk I have struggle with body dysmorphia okay rambulinf but it’s because now the amount of cortisol tbat my body is pumping makes me store more fat so I try to exercise as much as possible even if it’s during anxiety which seems to work

Because yes I already always struggle with obsessing over my breathing and an irrational fear I can’t breathe but I’d much rather feel short of breath and focus on that and calm myself down during a work out of after a work out then the other sensations that occur during a panic attack which are just bizarre imitation symptoms of a stroke or a heart attack

So I can relate when I was a senior in high school and the first two years of college that fear consumed me and I avoided working out but just know it is normal to have that fear but you’re dine just go slow when you start working out and do timed breathing in through nose out through mouth count a specific amount of seconds for each inhale and exhale of course if it’s an anxiety attack make your exhale twice as long as your inhale and boldness for four seconds in betweeen each breath but you’ll be fine you got this it’s normal to think like that. Maybe tell your doctor about this, my doctor gave me a very like soft or not strong inhaler for panic attacks or when I Felton out of breath years ago and it helped me so much just knowing I had it with me, maybe talk to your doctor about that?

Hope I helped in some type of way

Xxo

Sending positive vibes

Kirby lynn

[mz_rachel in reply to Klbtc]

Kirby.... seriously thank you so much. I appreciate you taking your time to writing!! You’ve given me some word that I will take to use in my advantage ❤️. It just sucks. I HATE feeling like this when I used to think and feel working out was fun! And then when I see ppl around me look “normal” that’s when I feel panicky. But you’re right. If we’re already in our fight or flight mode, might as well do what our “minds” think and use that for fuel.

[Klbtc in reply to mz_rachel]

I used to absolutely hate looking around and seeing people my age just work out and make it look so easy. Hate to say hate but that’s how I truly felt. Then I learned every single person has a story or something they are fighting. And I realized my life looks really goood from the outside or seeing me on a good day or looking at my Facebook but that’s because we only show what we want people to see. And if you’re strugglinf at the gym and get scared. I have found someone that had a kind face and said to them hey sorry but i need reassurance yes I have a panic disorder but I can’t twll if this is asthma or panic or am I about to die. Literally said those words to strangers on more occasions than I want to admit hahahahaha. Only like two or maybe one time did I get a weird response. Other times people knew how to help me out or sit with me until my mom or boyfriend arrived. We make it a way bigger deal in our heads than it is. If you were st the gym and you saw someone of any age/race/gender having a panic attack wouldntou judge them and think about it all the time? Probably not. Would you help if you felt you could? Probably so. Would you think any different of them next time you saw them at the gym? I am guessing not. Somyesh. Take that bullshit anxiety and put it to use. As you said, use it as fuel l!!! Good idea!

Xxx

Kirby lynn