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Anxiety And Exercise
Blog | November 16, 2018
My mindset in my younger years is different than how it is today. First of all, back then I thought that when I’d turn older, I’d be ancient, but also very wise, calm and s hundred times more confident and totally worry-free. While I don’t feel ancient, I’m not as stress-free as I thought I’d be.
Stress and anxiety are normal parts of life, just like joy and happiness. The world is full of opposites, which I believe are necessary to create balance and also meaning. What would happiness mean to you if you never experienced sadness, stress, anxiety, or any other negative emotion? Negative emotions are not necessarily bad. They guide us, teach us and protect us. You can learn a lot about yourself from your negative emotions… however, they can become a problem if they persist, creating a negative emotional imbalance resulting in stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic anxiety disorders.
I had gone through major anxiety after I turned 30 and sought out professional help for the first time in my life. Anxiety can be triggered by numerous factors and combinations including:
- Genetics
- Brain Chemistry
- Substance Abuse
- Lack of Movement/ Activity
- Medical Issues
However, it’s common for stress to build up as a result of simply getting older. It gets made up of major life changes, losses, and health problems. In my case, it was just a stress build up over time by going through major changes like divorce, moving from country to country, loss of my blog, starting a new blog, change of work environment, and starting a new relationship.
Now I see the benefits of talking to someone who can help to sort things out in your head and work through your emotions. Personally, I am strongly against taking medications for depression and anxiety, even though I know people who had a good experience with them. I am not saying that medications are bad. My belief is that they would be bad for me. I have always been cheerful and positive minded person and I would feel like I am taking the cheap way out instead of facing the challenge and coping with it in a healthy and natural way.
There is no doubt that exercise has healing effects on anxiety and depression. Besides talking to my therapist every once in a while, exercise has been the number one go-to coping strategy for me. It has not been always easy to get myself motivated to exercise, especially when I’m feeling down, but once I get started, it always makes a huge difference. I get my mood elevated immediately after a few minutes into my training and feel amazing for hours afterward. The best benefits come from intense exercises that burn away stress hormones such as cortisol while improving the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters in the brain.
So the next time you’re dealing with the blues, or need to get over a funk, try kicking your butt with a short and sweet training session. Even a brisk walk outside can help. For further guidance and structure in your routine, consider signing up for the ZGYM.
Talking more often about exercise and the positive effects it has on anxiety is something I really want to do more on my blog, because anxiety and depression is something that has affected me, people that I am close to, and millions of Americans.
Share your insight, stories, advice, and opinions in the comments below. Looking forward to reading them.
Best,
Zuzka.
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Private Member |
I too suffer from Anxiety Disorder w/ Panic Attacks. It’s a rough rough to be sure. I do exercise and find that it does help. Thanks for the post!
Luke
Private Member |
road* 😀
Private Member |
You wrote this at a great time for me! Thanks Zuzka! One more reason to do my Zwows!
Private Member |
I get get stressed out easy,and over the time I realized that when I exercise ,it helped me out so much. I more I stuck with exercising the more I felt less stressed out..
Private Member |
Great post, Z! As a grad student studying kinesiology, I have developed a strong appreciation for the way in which physical activity (exercise or sport) stands to physiologically diminish or counteract stress and anxiety symptoms. I’m very glad that you’ve chosen to discuss this topic! I have a plethora of research that supports this fact and I’d be happy to share them with you.
All the best!
MissLadyV
Private Member |
New research is linking exercise and cannabinoids. Some indications say just getting outside into the sun helps reset our natural body chemistry. I have to admit there’s nothing like a good run on a mountain trail on a sunny day to make me feel good.
Private Member |
I had a friend who dealt with depression /anxiety and I to had dealt with it, with both now try to focus on our fitness goals and take one day at a time it helps a lot to go burn a few when feeling stressed so right now I total reck with school I m going to get a workout in then hit the shower with a good nights sleep 🙂
-haleStr3ngth
Private Member |
I discovered that I had General Anxiety Disorder after my dad died and when I was in my early 30’s. It astounded me to learn about anxiety because I realized how incredibly it had affected my life. Looking back (I’m in my early 40’s now) I think that if I had developed a love for exercise and healthful eating early on, like you have Zuzka, I may have avoided taking meds. Or maybe not. My anxiety is is such that I would (and have) curl up away from the world while bills and cleaning piles up around me. I isolate. And I soothe myself with food. Without meds it’s a struggle even with CB therapy. So I fully believe that it’s the right thing for me to take my SSRI because while on it I can enjoy life. And get up to exercise =)
Private Member |
Your story made me feel better to know that you too deal with the same things I do ( anxiety.) I am inspired by you. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to follow you only because I thought you were just another pretty face promoting fitness. But you are doing it more that just for fitness. I am really glad to have read your post on facebook. i will start your fitness routines tomorrow. Thank you.
Private Member |
Zuzana, you are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing some of your experience, it really helps me feel more normal, not so alone, and helps me remember that even the most beautiful, successful and popular people (like yourself) are not much different than me. Thanks.