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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 |
Thanks for being so real with us Zuzka! I think this is why we all love you so much; you motivate is to workout, but you always tell it like is. I feel most Americans have one time or another dealt with stress and anxiety issues and exercise definitely helps. When I feel the world is getting too much for me I go on runs and leave all my worries in the pavement. I agree with you that more intense exercise helps.
Private Member |
Hi Z. Always on the lookout for us, aren’t you! 🙂 Well, by sharing your story, you give others the courage to share theirs. Don’t worry about being 31, 32, 81 or 82. What we need to think about is understanding the purpose of living. At almost 51, I have spent too little time coming to know the purpose of life and living in accord with it. Don’t let that happen to you. Allow yourself to ask “Why are we here? Where did we come from? Is there hope for us? If so, why doesn’t everyone know this hope?” Simple answers from the bible helped me battle off severe spouse abuse and neglect. The sad truth is though, had I focused more on the bible’s answers to those ultimate questions, I would not have gotten involved with the abuser. Regardless, I did. And having a true and meaningful hope for the future keeps me going and lifts my spirits so I am not anxious, depressed nor on meds. I work out, I eat pretty good and I keep away from people that try to run me down into their negativity. The hope that keeps me going – what is it? Jeremiah 29:11,12: “‘For I myself well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward YOU,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give YOU a future and a hope.And YOU will certainly call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to YOU.’” More at jw.org. ….. I hope your sweet nature and sensibleness will lead your heart to investigate the bible and that it will help you find meaning in life.
Private Member |
High Zuzka….Thanks alot for sharing all your experience / time with us…..
Yes, exercising actually makes happy! After each workout I am indeed totally finished, puked, but also totally satisfied and happy. And so exhausting / harder it was, the better I feel. I prefer HIIT workouts. Your workouts zcut / Zwow are just great !!
I wish you all the best for the next 10 years, you know, when you’re very very wise ….
Have you ever tried the workout “Insanity” or “Insanity asylum” tried? Extremely hard HIIT workout with bodyweight exercises. You will like it …. only for absolute professionals.
One question I have problems to get away the last fat around my belly. there is allready a “2-pack” , but not more. I do 4-5 workout / week (HIIT bodyweight-exercises), in the diet, I make sure to eat natural and try to avoid the artificial sugar stuff. (Daily intake 1200-1500 calories, 125 grams carbs, 125 grams protein, 50 grams fat, I’m 165 cm tall, 54 kg). Should I eat more or less? Some say that I should eat a lot more, so my metabolism is gaining momentum. How many calories are you eating?
greetz ……and thanks a lot
patrick
Private Member |
Hello, Zuzana! First of all, want to say that your workouts are extremely effective and extremely hard :). I was looking for something special that I would love and I found it. Thank u very much! for it. What about stress , depression and other negative emotions…All negative emotions like possitive, are an energy. You can use it in a ‘possitive’ way, than the results will be really empressive.You can transform it reaching your aim.Probably, it sounds ridiculous, but all negative stuff in our life can be very useful. If YOU make it useful. Sport is one of the key, you can use to open any door you like. It is the key, that helps you to use your depressin energy in a proper way! It can only become your door, if you feel like that.Your passion. Your life sense.
Private Member |
Of course I know all of us face (sometimes big) issues, worries and problems every once a while (and I know you for a while already) in life but who’d tell, because you always look so happy and serene in your videos 🙂 I just lost my father (not even a full month passed) so many changes are necessarily happening since then, it’s a whole new phase in my life. Keep on going Zuzi, with all of your (inner, and out as well!) strength. Sending you some good vibes, we’re here for you every time you need it! You’re just human so no worries if you feel down or fed up sometimes, just don’t ever lose hope on a brand new day, or your smile 😉
Private Member |
Dear Zuzka ,
I dont know you in a personal level at all, however when you workout for example , or when you talk to us or share something with us, i can see sometimes sadness, BUT 90% of the time i see you happy, how ever i do believe you have an incredible strong mind set,
I can say i have been down, but i never taken medications , coz the power of the mind heals wonders!!
I do believe and i know for sure you are so strong in many levels, i wish you can come inside my head and see what i see in you,
You are real , your sadness , your happiness, your journey. . .is all real & is what made you who you are today !!
And my advice when you feel down or stressed, remember that there are haters & many people wouldn’t wanna see your success or happiness.
for me the challenge is what keeps me going in this life, it makes me stronger & stronger !!!
So i know you have faced pretty nasty things in your life, but keep doing what you doing , IT IS WORKING, & Screw the haters !!
you are strong on the inside coz it all reflects on how you approach life
Peace x
Private Member |
I think anxiety takes over when you lose contact with the inner self. Be true to yourself . We can contact the inner self thru meditation. This has not to be complicated. Just through breathing exercises or yoga. A lot of techniques restore the relation with the inner self. And yes , if you like physical activity it can be a way too.This way anxiety or depression don’t stand a chance.
Private Member |
I can’t believe how many people have panic and anxiety on here! I thought I was the only one! I too had to seek help last year & my therapist saved my life. After months of trying to cope alone, I had to go on meds and it helped to keep my body from being triggered by outside issues or my thoughts. It isn’t for everyone, but I think yours is situational. You went through a great deal of changes – and still are. But beautiful days are now and are ahead for you. I do not know you, but I feel like I do having followed you since 2009. I sincerely see and feel a difference in you since leaving your old blog. I’m sure it was not easy, but it was something I know you had to do and I am glad you did. What you are doing now is so spectacular . I always looked at you as a perfect woman, but it is comforting to know that even my fitness idol has anxiety like I do.
Writing about this makes me feel like I am not alone – and reading through the comments I think you created a collective sigh of relief. Know that even though you are facing a divorce, you are divorcing a man who, quite frankly, well… even I, clear across the country felt like something wasn’t right…. Now, I can see you have a man in your life who RESPECTS you for who you are, not what your body looks like.
You are a shining light, Z. I am grateful for you. 🙂
Private Member |
thank you.
Private Member |