those with health anxiety

[Adamj]

How do you exercise? Like for some reason my brain has convinced me that ima die when I exercise so I sit or lay all day and feel even more like poop. Like how I could go from hiking 7-10 miles a day during a week long camping trip and working on my feet 10 hours a day over 10k steps a day this time last year to feeling like I’m bed ridden isn’t fun. I do understand that if I want to do any of that again it will take time to build up my body. All the doctors I’ve seen have told me to get out and exercise. I wonder if it would relieve some of my symptoms/ sensations

[Agora1]

It would help Adam. The heart was made to work and not just lie around.The more you work it, the better it will perform for you. Your doctor tells

the truth xx

[Adamj in reply to Agora1]

Should I just say to myself if you die you die? And just go for small walks?

[Agora1 in reply to Adamj]

Well I wouldn't say it that crudely since we don't have any control over dyinghowever we do have control by exercising our heart by walking. You know Adam,

it takes more stress to worry each day than to take that gentle walk tonight.

You'll be okay xx

[Nad1971 in reply to Agora1]

Very nicely put, thank you. Perhaps some slow deep breathing will help? It will help you as you set off for a walk, perhaps and calm you down? I try and meditate each day and it helps

[b1b1b1 in reply to Adamj]

Go for small walks, as Agora recommends. Once some time ago I was quite sick for almost a year. After I recovered I was not in good physical shape. Here is how my doctor told me to start exercising: 1st 2 weeks- wear a watch and walk for 5 minutes, then turn around and walk back. So a total of 10 minutes. Walk slowly-no perspiring, no elevated heart rate and NO hills. Next 2 weeks - 15 minutes with everything else the same. Then 20 minutes, then 25 and then 30. He said after 30 minutes for 2 weeks I could do whatever I wanted. It worked and after exercising more in the following 6 months, I became very strong.

[Hidden]

Adam. I’m 72+,🇮🇪going on 21 .That is how good I feel . I gotta be real, that’s my style. I’m dealing with a reaction to an injection Monday. Gotten progressively worse, day by day . Guess what?I still feel good & my mind is keen.My hands are shaking, my eyesight is off, I’m startled by loud sound . I.’m ok! Did what I could 🇦🇸& will keep doing it. Why, cause I Got This. OK , what is about? I know old man exercise, not me. I do what I like walking love walking seeing the. Stuff around me ,the bushes, trees, flowers, dogs,cats,birds,all of nature. You get my idea. Don’t have a bike now but they enjoyable. Swimming,but not for me I don’t like actually be in the water,so for me. No here’s the 🍒 cherry on top.Until Covid I was a 9Round boxer at 🇺🇳🏴‍☠️70. Owner give me A pair of gloves, taped me for a promotional spot. Sorry zAcDam for all the typos & vrap that all I can do now Later

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

Same. You got the clear from your doctor. Trust in your heart it knows what to do. It's a strong muscle and it'll keep pumping. I know that's easy to say but you have to remember these sensations are just that sensations. Anxiety is a liar. You can start out small. I'm in the same boat. If I do anything that is cardio related I feel like my heart is going to run out of my chest. So I'm doing things that are low impact. Like yoga and walking. You can start there. Do things small engage with life and eventually before you know it you're doing things. And sometimes yes you have to tell anxiety You know what F* it. If you're going to kill me, then just do it. I know that's kind of strong. And I know that kind of scary. Cuz you feel like you're conjuring up some type of bad thing to happen to you. But again it's just anxiety making empty threats. Sometimes I tell myself the quote from Shawshank Redemption, get busy living or get busy dying. Fine maybe a motto or a mantra or a quote to tell yourself. And speak to your anxiety with assertiveness. Be dismissive of it. When it brings up these intrusive thoughts of hey if you go running you'll probably die or you'll pass out. Just tell the amygdala cuz that's the one responsible for it to shut up. Even make a joke of it. Like well if I die I'll leave a nice looking corpse. Or well people that know and love me know I tried my best. I went out with my boots on. Something like that. Again your brain is a muscle and it can be retrained. You just got to keep telling yourself that everyday. Eventually it'll stick. Hope you feel better soon. I'm pulling for you. ⭐

[AnxiousCanadianChic]

Think of it this way, there’s more chance of you dying if you don’t exercise than if you do. Now that it’s summer, I go for long walks in local parks near me, in colder weather it’ll be the gym.

I have a stupid anxiety about having to go to the bathroom while on my walks. I keep thinking “what if I have to go to the bathroom?” I have severe anxiety about it but I just force myself to go for the walk.

[Midori]

Not the best course of action. There are many drawbacks to just laying around. Muscles need exercise to function at their best. The heart is a muscle, and needs to be kept as strong as possible.

Staying in bed or loafing around will take calcium from your bones over time. This leads to something called Osteoporosis, or Brittle bones. Something all too common in older women, but can also happen to inactive men.

Also you probably will need Vitamin D if you don't get out of he house for about half an hour each day, as your body needs Vit. D for the calcium. Sunlight can provide that vitamin.

Muscles need to be strong to carry you around, if you lay around all day in bed, your muscles can contract, then your arms and legs will start to bend at knees and elbows, also foot drop, and in really severe cases you can end up looking like a dying spider.

Sorry if I'm not mincing my words, but as a retired nurse I know what I'm talking about. I experienced it after being confined to bed for 3 months. I had no muscle tone and couldn't walk when I was taken out of bed. It took at least three weeks of very rigorous Physio to get me walking again.

Getting your exercise will help you feel stronger and better in yourself.

Cheers, Midori