Fear of Exercise

[Isaiah4110]

Anyone here with a fear of exercise? Care to share?

[Luna_Argent]

Ever since I was 16 I've been scared of exercising. I run and all of a sudden my chest hurts, my heart is beating so fast I ffel that if i work too hard it'll explode but the worst part is my breathing i breathe so hard and it hurt so much during and after that I afraid that if i try to hard I'll never catch my breath ever again. And if I try to force myself to do it again i might suffocate. I don't know what to do.

[konker]

i'm in such bad shape, health-wise, I feel too far gone come back.  I'm 5'0" and 253 lbs.   I get winded just getting up to go to work.  I'm so afraid I'll have a massive heart attack or stroke.  Not to mention, I've got some sort of nasal congestion that ramps-up w/anything I do, like walking or going from warm to cold rooms or in warm/building to a cold garage.  It causes me to cough my brains out & blow my nose for like 10 minutes.  A pulmonologist suggested possible allery/asthma or exercised-induced asthma.  (just what a fat person needs to hear).  I am not active @ all because it scares me to feel my heart beating so fast.  I need help.  I've got a perfect 4 yr old and a great husband to live for....

[Ms_C]

I used to run 3 miles a day...ever since my anxiety began I am afraid because of the chest pain and my heart racing. I have had several tests and everything came out fine. My heart is health!! I just still have the fear of working out...I plan to run a marathon one day, I just hope I can get back on track!!

[malone665]

I was very active as a kid and now I have developed  a fear of exercising. I'm afraid of the feelings that I might get along with like others have said, my heart beating really fast. I start to feel like I am panicking. what would normally be discomfort but feel good and healthy, and maybe even motivating, registers as pain for me. And I am afraid of feeling any pain, of any kind.

[malone665]

I was very active as a kid and now I have developed  a fear of exercising. I'm afraid of the feelings that I might get along with like others have said, my heart beating really fast. I start to feel like I am panicking. what would normally be discomfort but feel good and healthy, and maybe even motivating, registers as pain for me. And I am afraid of feeling any pain, of any kind.

[Noelieboats]

I'm the same as the general consensus here I fear for my heart I'm trying but God it's hard and itsense fear washes over me when my heart is going fast. I can't think of my heart without conjuring up images of terror so actively getting it worked up is nearly impossible.


But what I do is set a target, small target or whatever depending on your fitness but set it and stick to it. Today I will walk the 2 miles home and a comfortable pace I have a very bad knee so this for me is something. I will get on my excercise bike and set the my phones storwatch to nine minutes I will turn up the intensity and I will cycle for 9 minutes almost as fast as I can, no matter how scared I get or worked up I will not stop until I hear the alarm sound. Focusing on the counter keeps my thoughts occupied and I'm always fine afterwards. I made a habit of telling people that I'm doing it they inadvertently guilt me into keeping it up by asking me how I'm getting on and am I doing 10 -15 minutes yet etc.

[Justshhh]

I do the minute my heart starts to race I'm sure that I'm going to have a heart attack and die right there it like half my brain knows that's crazy the other half is way more convincing and I can't seem to talk my way thou it I just start freaking out all on the inside of course I can be standing right next to someone and feel like in going to die any second and no one even know I'm upset I have been having panic attacks since I wa a kid so I can hide them pretty well. I have a two year old and about thirty minutes ago I seen a pic taken of  me at the beach this past weekend and I do not want to look like this anymore but if I even think about working out I freak out so I hope reading some of the post will help me figure out a way to talk myself throu it

[kelkwa]

Hi All this sounds so like me i have had all the tests under the sun and came back clear i am over weight and curnetly try to loos weight i get heart plups all the time when i do exercise i love it but always afraid that something is going to happen while doing it

[daz67]

i used to suffer from bad panic atacks 3 years ago which i had valium for but since after alot of diferent treatments i have been free off panic atack and valium for 3 years . i am tottally adicted to runing and training  .obsesed  yes ocd .i went for a long run about 8weeks ago 18 miles or so with out water bottle and it was sunny big mistake at about 16 miles felt dizzy numb hands lips etc i was colapsing some one got some coke and water and slowly got my act back together i was terrified i couldnt breath think etc it brought all the old memories of the panick atacks i had back since this event my life has changed .when i run after ten min iget pulpertaion dizzy and begin of panic atack istop and fight my mind and breathing as i walk back to the car where i feel a bit better this was happening every few runs now its every run its got so bad iwork different each day and started having atacks every day went toany doctor surgery  every day or so then i went to hospital blood test ecg etc all was clear which was last week so ithought i would be alright now ino im not having ahart atack when runing but its just getting worse  back to doc now im on valium again my 3hour training run swim etc has almost stoped i was strong fearless  8 weeks ago is it possible that 1 bad experience on a run has brought me back to this  i have to beat these sycologicle problems /i still think there might be a health problem aparently just in  my mind i hope it is .daren

[Isaiah4110]

bump-a-roo

[nursegirl6572]

Carole,

Please take my advice and consult your doc on Monday about any concerns you may have.  I honestly don't want you to get yourself more anxious in trying to over-analyze.

I know it's hard.....but just continue to think positively.  Any one of us could lay out the risks for you....but all that will do is send you into a "what-iffing" state.  Let your surgeon put your fears to rest and answer any and all questions you may have regarding risks....based on his complete knowledge of you, your background, etc.  He would be the VERY best person to ask those sorts of questions to.  Okay?

Okay?

[nervous15]

Wow, between you and nursegirl a fountain of information can be absorbed.

Ryan, I dont know if you are familiar with my problem....I have extreme anxiety (maybe the hysteria type), when it comes to medical proceedures, lab tests, dr visits, anything that has something to do with my health..

I am due to undergo UPPP/Tonsilectomy surgery Wednesday.  If it wasnt for the people on this site I would be dying inside.  I am 59 yo female, overweight, htn, sleep apnea GERD, allergies, you name it I probably got it.  My anxiety and BP goes soaring through the roof (breaking through my BP meds) at the thought of even going to the dr.  (normally BP stays around 120/76 right in their.  Note: I NEVER have this type of anxiety with any other situation except MEDICAL stuff.

Could you please give me some insight.  I am scared to death to be "put to sleep" under General Anesthesia.   I also worry cause my mom died of complications from Alzheimers Disease (she got it late in life in her 70's) Will this trauma as well as the Anesthesia put me at risk for Alzheimer's Disease..>OMG what the hell am I gonna do. (sorry for using profanity)

BTW I got all cardiac testing Nuclear Stress test (did 94% of my THR) the test also showed that I have an extremely small regurgitive valve, almost to where it could not be seen, 24 hour Holter monitor that shown 27 episodes of atrial ectopy, and a few venticular PVC's, unifocal in origin. My Cardiologist reviewed every report and cleared me for surgery......HELP  I need all I can GET

Nervous15

[sandraL80]

what a great article. Its like reading about myself. I have been reading about this syndrome and have all the symptoms, but I know I have anxiety as an underlying cause. And yes, the symptoms are becoming more pronounced after becoming decontitioned and out of shape. Such a vicious cycle!
The article doesn`t say much about treatment...? Is it all psychiatric?Or does exercise play a role? I would guess so..

[dmbfan07cb]

I am afraid to exercise because I am afraid my heart will beat too fast, and I cant stand being able to feel my heart in my chest.  I am also afraid of being dizzy or lightheaded after a hard workout.  Which happens frequently to me.  Hard to work through it, I haven't conquered it yet.

[nursegirl6572]

While I've never experienced this exact fear...I know a lot of others have...I truly hope that others come and share their experiences.  It is SO helpful being able to read about other's backgrounds with the same thing.  

I hope your friend eventually gets the help he needs...and can realize he is not alone.  It's a very isolating feeling sometimes.

You're a wonderful friend.

[Isaiah4110]

Hi Ryan,

Thanks so much for your response, I really appreciate it. Actually, I am not the one with the condition. I am here in the forum because I have a friend who has AD, and his biggest fear is of exercise, so I was hoping to find others with similar fears, just to find out more about their experiences. You can refer to this post I created a couple of days ago to get the low-down on my situation: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/517075

Once again, thanks so much, & I hope to hear from you more! ;-)