Anxious about returning to the gym

[tuffy62]

Hope someone has some ideas. I used to work out 2-4 days a week, loved it. I had a bout of depression this year, due to many things. I'm on 20 mg of Celexa and feel much, much better. However, I've not been able to get back to the gym. Logically I know it will make me feel even better, but I get almost panicky thinking about going there. I know it's weird, not sure why I feel this way. I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be and I hate it, but right now typing this I could almost cry. I want to get fit, I want to be healthy, but I'm scared. Anyone else ever feel this way? Thanks.

[FP77]

Yep had this one...try graded exposure. One day just go and have a look, next time go in for 5 mins. Just do it in really small steps and praise yourself each time. It does get easier each time.

[tuffy62 in reply to FP77]

Thx!

[Angep Star]

Hi tuffy62,you could also try going for a walk first, burn off some of your nervous energy!!! Then perhaps when you get the good feeling from your walk try make it to the gym. Tell yourself you can do it and you will do it. Our thoughts control our emotions!! Tell yourself your going to the gym because you live it and it will make you feel better going. Our brains start to believe the negatives we tell it so switch to the positives and make it believe, good luck sunshine 🙏🏻

[Hope4TheBest07]

Wow this happened to me. I have been having some anxiety issues and its been making me shelter away and scared to leave my house. I can't enjoy the gym like I used to because all I do is focus on my breathing smh my heart beating etc. I went to the gym 3 weeks ago and had an axiety attack it was very scary. As I working out my left arm kept feeling weird and I kept thinking about it. Then I started to panic in the gym.. I grabbed all my stuff and ran out the gym, then I was scared to drive home because of "what if something happens while I'm driving " so I went back into the gym and walked around, talked.to myself and tried to relax and it kinda went away. I had enough courage to drive home gym.is only 5 min away. I felt like crap for the rest of the night... I haven't been back to the gym since smh anxiety is like a bully smh. The best advice we can give each other is to just keep going, fight the anxiety back. Look how many times we had anxiety attacks and nothing really happened. Ive had anxiety over 15 yrs off and on and STILL here. So I just will force myself to go out and try to focus OUTWARD. It is very hard but if we keep practicing it should work.