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
Anxiety & Exercise : Hi guys I’m 21 and... - Anxiety and Depre...
Anxiety & Exercise
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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*?
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
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 :/
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.
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.