Exhaustion

[heyheyhey]

Yesterday I did a lot of exercise: lots of running, some cycling and a few hours of dance. When I was finished I felt absolutely exhausted and the same night started having horrible intrusive thoughts and flashing imagery. Today I feel absolutely awful and my mind is just trashed. I've been exercising because I thought it was meant to help my PTSD and it does but it's left my exhausted, and I feel like it's put me in this exhausted delirious state: like when you have jet lag and it's very upsetting... can anyone shed some light on this? Are my worsening symptoms due to exhaustion? Can I not exercise like I used to? Why do I feel so exhausted?

Thanks all :). This PTSD is such a minefield, just not sure how to manage it.

 

[Silver.]

Maybe you just overdid it on the workout front, perhaps piled too much on in one day. Working out is indeed great for PTSD (and so many other things too). Sometimes if we don't work out for a period of time, and then get back into it, it does get exhaustive because our bodies are out of shape. (not implying anything here, just saying that we need to work up to working out, to get our muscles back to remembering what to do). So the exhaustion might be what's bringing on all of the bad stuff.
Perhaps next time you work out, focus on doing one thing, running or dancing and put off the other activity until the next day. Make sure you do stretching before and after as well.
Be proud of yourself for wanting to work out for your health. Try and find some calming things to do today to get over this, and don't let it put you off to taking care of yourself by working out x

 

[hodge]

Hey, Hey :-). I too think maybe you just overdid it yesterday. It's great that you're working out, but as Silver suggested, try doing less next time and work up to doing more gradually. And try to pay attention to see if your body is telling you when you're overdoing it. I know, that's a tough one, but it's a good skill to have. When I first started doing yoga I injured my back doing Triangle pose. It was really dumb to push myself, and I paid for it :-).

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Have you asked your therapist about this occurring to you? I would get that opinion and start to work from there.

Sorry about what you are experiencing right now and hopefully soon you will get some answers and relief.

 

[Missycat]

I'd agree with @Silver. and @hodge
You have probably overdone it. Its great that you are working out from a physical health perspective but listen to your body and ensure you take time to rest and relax. I have found that if im tired i tend to take longer to settle from night terrors or flashbacks and my ocd /rituals worsen - so i allow time where i can to do mindfulness techmiques to calm me.
Good luck on your healing journey
*like your username by the way - i tend to start my introductions with 'Hey' but then it would have read Hey, heyheyhey :) (hope that made you smile as intended)

 

[heyheyhey]

Aww, thanks guys! You're so lovely and supportive, it's wonderful when I'm feeling so alone. It was just so scary and I get seriously triggered just leaving the house so I think it was both of those things, still kind of feeling scared but hope it will pass! Hehe, I did @Missycat :)!

 

[City Slicker]

@heyheyhey - that's a lot of exercise you had going on - I know, I know, I should talk, I run marathons and do Krav Maga and kettle bell workouts - sometimes in the same day.

I really enjoy the fatigue, but also overriding it can push me the line past my comfort zone too. Also sometimes when my immune system is taking a hit like when I feel I am getting a cold or something, I usually notice shifts in my emotions way before I pick up that I am just ground too low physically.

Recharge your batteries and as the others have said, get rest and eat as well as you can when using that much of your physical resources.

Good luck!

 

[joeylittle]

It wouldn't surprise me if you were also dehydrated...

 

[heyheyhey]

It wouldn't surprise me if you were also dehydrated...

Really? Coz of the exercise?

 

[City Slicker]

Really? Coz of the exercise?

Absolutely - in fact I also had a dehydration experience and shared it in the log your daily exercise thread. It was also incredibly hot which didn't help and while I thought I was well hydrated I can see I wasn't - and I was also low in sodium and had a very weird reaction and then a delayed onset migraine.

The body is a magnificent and sometimes baffling thing.

 

[joeylittle]

Dehydration will easily lead to feeling exhausted, yeah. If you worked out and sweat more than you usually do but didn't take in more liquid than usual...dehydration.

 

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

I notice if I over do it exercise wise I too hae bad nights. So I try to push myself just not over the edge and rest days are sooo important. Especially if you haven't been sleeping well you have to give your body a chance to heal and repair.

Sorry you've had a bad time of it. Hope you feel better soon.