Anxiety & Exercise

[Meyer_Gdmnx]

Hi guys I’m 21 and have had health anxiety for a year I used to play football all the time and I enjoyed it very much but since I started to suffer with it I found myself not enjoying at all mainly due to the fact that when I play I think I’m going to die. My chest becomes tight I feel like I can’t breathe head goes very light feel like I can’t see. I want to get back to playing and having fun but I just don’t know how to combat it? Any advice would be much appreciated

[CatIsMyCopilot]

When I first started experiencing anxiety, I had health anxiety, and did fear doing physical activities (thinking I was about to have a heart attack), but for me this stage was shorter. I went to a doctor, and then tried exercising while anxious, and usually found it actually made me feel *better* afterward i.e. my physical and mental symptoms decreased, if temporarily.

Would it be possible to try playing, and just try to be aware of how you feel afterward, even though I'm sure it's very scary *during*?

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to CatIsMyCopilot]

Thank you for your reply I played the full game which is two hours. I am proud of myself in one but at the same I’m terrified that I’m going to die as a result of working that hard after so long

[CatIsMyCopilot in reply to Meyer_Gdmnx]

That's great!

If you haven't already, with health anxiety it's usually recommended to get a physician to check you out, just to make sure the symptoms you're experiencing are truly anxiety-related. (Hopefully just once, but for some it takes more times to be convinced.)

But other than that, you may have to play a few more games to help convince your brain that you're going to be OK. I think it may have taken me several workouts to really be confident I wasn't harming myself. Fear is a stubborn thing, unfortunately :/

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to CatIsMyCopilot]

Thank you for your reply again I have been to a physician blood test etc said I was fine other than low folic acid. But my legs really hurt so obviously I’m worried I’m going to die from overtraining🙄 thanks again if there’s anything I can ever help you with feel free to message

[Kayakin]

Congratulations on taking steps to return to football Could you check with your health care provider to see if you are ok to play football, or if you could get in better shape with some exercise first? One thing you might consider is another sport that is not quite so strenuous.

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to Kayakin]

Thank you for your reply I haven’t replied because I went and played the full two hour game which for context a 70+ men play in I’m now terrified that I’m going to die as a result of working out after so long even though I’ve played there a hundred times

[Spider-Man98]

Do you have a Facebook account if you do then talk to a man name Khail Kapp, he has a lot of experience with anxiety. Then go on YouTube and look for an account called motivationaldoc he has videos on anxiety. They'll help you.

[Meyer_Gdmnx in reply to Spider-Man98]

I’ll check it out thank you