Physical Activity and Anxiety

[Lost-and-Stuck]

I noticed over the last several years that when I’m lying down and watching television my anxiety level is much less and my mind is more quiet than when I’m physically doing something. It’s as if movement worsens my anxiety and initiates the racing and obsessive thoughts; irritability increases as well. When I mow the lawn or perform any kind of yard work, my anxiety is much higher.

Conclusion: The more physically strenuous the activity, the more anxious and irritable I am.

I work at an Amazon sortation facility and it involves a lot of lifting and transporting of packages. My anxiety and irritability is off the charts. Not to mention the racing thoughts as well.

Does anyone share this experience?

[Hidden]

I’m working in the same issue, starting today. I realized that sitting around and watching tv made me feel relaxed because I was avoiding whatever it was that triggered the anxiety.

It took me a while to realize why I really didn’t want to go outside and do things- it isn’t bc I’m lazy but bc I have anticipatory anxiety surrounding being in public around people.

I had a manic bipolar episode two years ago where I was acting strangely in public (hallucinations and delusions) and had to go stay w my parents, who would stop me from leaving the house. So I’ve come to realize that I internalized the behavior of leaving the house with being unsafe in public/having people judge me, a fear that being outside an episode could happen at anytime (even though it was determined that the cocktail of meds I was on at that time caused serotonin syndrome and lithium toxicity). But anxieties not logical so even though I know it won’t happen again it’s always there.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I had to look past being outside as a trigger to anxiety and realize what it was I was avoiding so that I could address it cognitively and behaviorally.

But I hear you, it totally sucks and you’re not alone xo