Does exercise really make that much of a difference?

[candletea19]

Does anyone here exercise on a regular basis? Do you notice how well it works for you, if at all, for reducing symptoms?

I have major depressive, PTSD, and anxiety and panic disorder. Due to my trauma, I also suffered physical disruptions as well. Because of, at first, the physical and now the mental added on, I was not able to do any kind of exercise or anything. At one point I couldn't walk at an average pace for a couple of minutes without my back hurting intensely. I'm at a better point physically now (unfortunately not mentally). Because of this, I have gotten in such terrible shape, and gained a fair amount of weight.

I want to get back in shape and lose weight (healthily) anyway, but I have heard so many people say that exercising was helpful to their mental illness and the symptoms.

Can anyone vouch for this? Would love to hear some first hand stories! I would love to hear from you guys before I have to build up the courage to call or go to the gym and get a membership, haha.

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 541]

I wouldn't run out and join a gym right away. But yes, just moving, doing things and NOT thinking about ourselves does help. Exercise of any kind gets the endorphins going.

Walking will help, lifting some small weighs. Working with what you have at home for now, and if you start to enjoy exercise, then yes, join a gym..

 

[ladee]

Yes, I also have chronic pain in my back and knees... and of course have PTSD.... just simple walking helps.... I don't do exercises... some stretching , but am not physically able to do too much... walking in nature if you can is double rewarding.....relieves stress, helps you to relax.... grounds you to here and now... and helps loosen all those hurting joints and muscles... I do have to use a cane if I am on uneven ground.... but hope you can find something you like and enjoy.. it it very rewarding.

 

[desiderata310]

As someone who *usually* trains for ironman and other races and currently finds myself sidelined with a broken leg and a TBI, yes, I have noticed a huge difference in how I deal with stressors with compared to without exercise.

 

[Joan]

Exercise is one of my best coping mechanisms. Does it make it all better...No, but moving, going on a walk is often a good change to shift my thinking. I started doing some weight training at home about 9 weeks ago, I feel much stronger, have lost weight and feel a bit more positive about myself. I agree not to run out and join a gym...start easy. Best wishes.

 

[Friday]

Yep.

Both one of my best ongoing stress management tools (regular, daily, keeping things on an even keel); as well as one of my best ways to deal with spiking anything (anxiety, rage, fight/flight, what have you), by burning off dumping adrenaline & other chemicals hitting my bloodstream; as well as one of my favorite grounding tools. Killer trifecta.

 

[candletea19]

Thank you everyone! Your advice and insight is helpful :)

I should have mentioned, I do go for walks around the neighbourhoods when I can, but I find walking outside often increases my anxiety, and I have a lot of stranger anxiety. I was talking to my doctor a couple months ago, and we were talking about the gym and exercise and such, and basically we figure the gym is easier because of multiple reasons, but some including I am in one secure inside area (which also has cameras in the main public areas), I am able to go any time of day or night, without the worry of not being able to see people properly or people hiding in woods (it's happened, not on purpose towards me, but they have frightened me which didn't help my anxiety about going outside for walks), and I often can't have someone walk with me outside. So all in all, we concluded if I were to start exercising, it would be best to try at the gym until I can get a better handle of my anxiety.

 

[Tornadic Thoughts]

It makes a very noticeable difference in my world. I can really feel it, in more ways than one, when I skip my morning exercise (I call it daily purposeful movement), breath work, and hydration routines.

One of the best investments I ever made was purchasing a gently used mini-trampoline and making it part of my living room decor, right next to the stereo speakers. An Urban Rebounder brand. Lady sold it for $50 on craigslist after realizing she had a serious hip issue preventing her from safely using it any longer. Walk, run, bounce, twist. It even came with a few instructional dvds and a safety bar. (I'm not very graceful, so I highly recommend the safety bar! And I still fell getting on mine one day....ouch! lol)

Another good investment of my time and about 40ish bucks, initially for supplies, was learning how to make my own hula hoops and how to finally keep the damn things up and going. lol I didn't try until I lost my first 50 lbs. I had to practice every single day for two weeks at least 20 minutes a day, and I finally did it. It took another week or so to last through a whole song. It's one heck of a workout. Then I took a hoop dance class through the local parks and rec and learned a few tricks, too. I've since taught some kids through a home school organization how to make them and have fun with them. Kids are much more open to trying than most adults are. lol

All of this was discovered and done in desperation as a result of me drastically switching my consumption habits to a whole food plant-based vegan lifestyle as a result of a trip to the ER nearly requiring surgery, eventually losing 110 lbs as a result, and finding low impact work outs throughout that journey that didn't hurt me more than they helped me. I got parts of my life back that I was convinced were long gone according to the docs telling me to just get used to the ever increasing misery as it simply comes with age.

I previously weighed over 300 lbs. and was damn near bed ridden. I also have bone spurs on both heels and various other areas and had been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, depression, c-ptsd (eventually), adhd, anxiety, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, etc., etc. All being labeled as severe. I have a severe life, apparently.

I previously took LOTS of meds trying to find just the right combinations, joined the gym twice, both times ending up in a nice little honeymoon period initially, where I felt like I was making progress, but eventually became me just donating to their cause while worsening my own. Plus I'm pretty grossed out and easily sickened by public showers and all the smells of the various hygiene and cleaning products. There's no place like home ain't no joke in my world.

I had to make exercise fun enough to look forward to every day, readily accessible for when the urge hits, and affordable long-term. Both the hoops and the mini-tramp were less than what it costs to just sign up at our local gyms. They usually charge a $100 sign up fee plus the monthly rate, depending on what you want access to. Both can be done indoors and/or out. Add some stretching and lifting either big cans, sticks of wood, buckets of water, 5 lb. bags of potatoes or produce, or various gardening tools and such for weights, and there you have it. Those resistance bands are handy to keep around, too.

Sorry for rambling on and on. I get excited wanting others to find the joy and relief in exercising that I did. I never ever thought those words would come from these lips. Hope something in that wall of text is helpful. It's been a powerful game changer in my life.

 

[Changing4Best]

There are a number of free exercise videos on Youtube and in other places around the 'net that you can access and participate in. Look for ones for Senior Citizens, as these will be less strenuous and will be things that you can do easily. As you progress in ability, you can upgrade to ones for younger more fit people.

 

[zoie33]

I love going to the pool. Sometimes I swim and sometimes I just do walking and stretching exercises. It is so relaxing and therapeutic. Not only is it good for my body, but it provides me time to work on mindfulness and relaxation. I also use this time to talk to my parts. It takes me about an hour to have a good conversation with everyone so it makes the time go by faster.

 

[anthony]

Yes, it makes a huge difference. Just get out and go for a walk every day, an hour or more, you will rapidly see a difference.

 

[Gamera3000]

When my toddler is in preschool (not now because it's summer) I go jogging with my pit bull.

It's dangerous for me to jog in intervals because I have 1) bad knees and 2) a neurological disorder that makes me fall sometimes. But walking doesn't help all that much. Jogging helps because I am *getting away*. I do it only armed with at least a knife but optimally also a firearm. I take my pitbull, who is another weapon, and also works like a metronome to keep my pace.

I have recently found that listening to pleasant upbeat music and running when I feel the upswell in the song works best. I used to listen to more emotional music, but I have gotten more out of simply listening to a Pandora 80s station than anything else.