hi guys~
a question that i would like to ask those of you who struggle with scary obsessive thoughts.
do you find that when you exercise, your scary thoughts and the anxiety they produce come back extra strong? they do for me.
i continue to exercise regardless because i know it's nature's "best medicine" for anxiety, but it's hard sometimes. i first completed the midwest program about 2 years ago and have made some really great progress. i'm so grateful to be alive again- after months of wanting to go to sleep and never wake up because i thought i'd never find my way out of the darkness.
i still have some difficult days, but i know i can handle it now.
gosh though- when it comes to exercise, especially once i've been doing it for 15 or more minutes, my scary thoughts sometimes come pouring back. i realize it has something to do with the fact that my heart rate is going faster than normal, but it would make sense to me if my scary irrational thoughts were about my health/fear of having a heart attack, but they're not about such things at all.
my scary, irrational thoughts are of harming
(or worse) my loved ones.
i now know that i won't act on them and that it's just a part of ocd, but yuck! sometimes right "in the moment" of having those thoughts, i feel so shaky and uncertain. do you know what i mean? it's like what i know (that i'm a good person and i don't want to harm anyone)
and what i feel (body symptoms/uncertainty)
are so contradictory.
it's a scary place to be in those moments.

anyway- i'm rambling. sorry.
we all have our issues and hurdles to overcome with anxiety and/or depression. i've been doing very well, and i know you all either are or will in time too. for me the hardest hurdle to overcome is/are my scary, obsessive thoughts- especially while exercising.
if you experience the same, please share with me what you do to help yourself through your workout, so that you don't stop exercising because of the fear/thoughts.

thanks!

Hi. You might want to ask yourself what you are using those scary thougts to distract yourself from? What is it about exercising that you need distraction from?

I hope this helps you think it through.
Julie

Proud Mama,

I too go through the same thing at time when I am exercising- even though I feel so much better when I do exercise! Some of the tihings I do to get me through anxious exercise moments is:

1. Tell myself that everything is ok and I am getting stronger and stronger and healthier each time I exercise.

2. To push myself to move forward I tell myself ok the first 20 minutes get my heart rate up but anything after that burns FAT. That helps me to keep my workout to at least 45 minutes to an hour.

3. I take uplifting worship music cd's with me

4. Sometimes I take verses or my favorite scriptures and memorize them while I am on my daily walk. Leaves me feeling energized.

Those are just some of the things that help me- hope they help you! Take care and keep pressing on!

Hey Proud Mama,

Your not rambing..just sharing...my therapist told me about "nuero associations". For example, I remember prior to my MWC days, I was shopping and had a ton of similair scary thoughts as you did..well to make a long story short I linked my scary htoughts with shopping and stayed away from shopping malls. This happens all the time. Individuals my go for a drive, have a panic attack, and falsely associate driving with anxiety. I'm sure one day you were excercising and a scary thought popped in your head and you then associated that point of your routine with anxiety...This is a great practice opportunity, to continue your routine and break through the fear. Remeber scary thoughts are just a symptom of anxiety. If you read my previous posts you'll find that I'm not a big fan of labels..(O.C.D., agoraphobia, ect..) Their is no "it" "them" "my O.C.D." just scary thoughts..95% of the population has a variety of scary thoughts/fears no matter how irrational...God Bless....

Hi Proud Mama

I get nervous sometimes when I exercise on equipment. Sometimes I imagine falling off of the equipment while I'm exercising really hard and hitting my head. But I still exercise and try to push through the feelings. What helps me concentrate on exercising is putting on my favorite music. Also, try creating a mantra for yourself in which you repeat it over and over in your head as you exercise. Try saying something like this, "Everyday I'm getting stronger, exercise make me feel better" or "I'm strong and healthy and can exercise every day". The positive mantra repeated over and over will distract you from thinking negatively. Hope this helps.

Trish

wow.....thanks you guys for such good advice and kind words of encouragenment. i appreciate it so
much.
you know, i've been exercising more than i have in a while and my anxiety and scary thoughts have come back more than usual and stronger than they have in a long time.
michael- thank you for sharing with me what you learned from your therapist about nuero associations. i never thought about it that way- but you're right. when i was in the "thick of it" 2 years ago, it often happened while i was exercising and getting my heart rate up. there was a part of me that was scared to exercise. probably why i slacked off for a while.

anyway- thanks again guys!