Triggered from exercise?

[MuseMesmer]

Hey, loves!

I was wondering, does anyone else get triggered by exercise? I've started running, and I'm trying to run every day, but my longest streak is 3 days. I stop to let my muscles rest OR because I get triggered and have body memories that occur pretty consistently for a couple of days. Sometimes while I'm running my heart will go too fast and that'll trigger me too, but that's less common than the body memories.

(I think) the increase awareness to my body and/or muscle soreness/pain after my run is what triggers me. Does that make sense?

Does this happen to anyone else? Is this normal? How can I overcome it? Should I run less?

I know exercising will ultimately help me and my PTSD, but I need to stop being triggered and get over this hurdle.

Thanks!

 

[LuckyDuck]

Weightlifting does it for me. It's after the fact. My guess it's the chemicals released during and after. The sleep is quiet but the "You're pumped and ready to run, so RUN!" kicks in and it's fight or flight. When I'm not exercising and it hits I do have the blood pooling to my extremities anyways, so my guess is it's my body reacting to the same thing.

LD

 

[barefoot]

Yes...last year when my anxiety/hyper vigilance was constantly sky high, any exercise that raised my heart rate was a no-no. As @LuckyDuck mentioned, I think it was triggering my fight/flight response. My heart starting racing because of the exercise and everything just got confused and went into overdrive – complete high anxiety/panic mode.

A different example, which maybe relates to your point about the increased awareness to your body...I also do physiotherapy exercises. I found these incredibly difficult to do at the start – to the point where it was triggering and very distressing. The exercises were gentle – no exertion, no raising of heart rate etc. For me, I think those exercises were so difficult because they forced me to be in relationship with my body and I didn't like it one bit. I hadn't realised what an issue it was for me until then, so it was useful insight, I suppose... But difficult. I persisted and as I practised more and got into more of a routine with them, it became easier (though never became completely easy). Then I fell out of the habit for a few weeks and now need to get back into it. Now I'm noticing the same thing...I did them the other day, first time in weeks. Hated it. Felt upset. Had to stop. So now I'm avoiding doing it again even though I know I need to do it... There definitely seems to be something around being in connection with my body. And maybe something around body memories perhaps? Not so sure about that.

Is there different exercise you can do, which will have positive benefits but won't raise your heart rate to triggering levels? Being triggered sounds counter-productive! :-) How about starting our with regular walks and building up from there – monitoring when the tipping point is so that you can work within your limits and develop it slowly?

 

[GWhizz]

No thankfully exercise really helps me centre myself. It has nothing I'd associate with my trauma though.

I'm more triggered if I have to try to lie down or sit still for 5 minutes!

Hoping you manage to work through it though. I'd suggest building up your tolerance to it very slowly. Do you have centering techniques to help keep you focused in the moment? Or maybe you're T could help if you have one at the moment.

 

[shimmerz]

Yes. On so many levels.

 

[Chava]

I have had something like this, though I don't run. Probably consider something less intensity and see if it helps, like walking, maybe biking, or making sure you "split" your attention by also listening to music so you don't over-notice body sensations, if that makes sense...although not helpful to totally NOT notice your body (that's how I over-do stuff, pull muscles, etc). What if you try something slower or less intense, or like try following a workout DVD or youtube clip of some sort so you can try a little dual focus, inner-outer, but also try different kinds of exercise. Exercise really helps me but it's taken a while to figure out what works best for my body and my symptoms. You might have to experiment a little, but it's worth it!

 

[DogwoodTree]

Yoga is triggering for me. I don't like seeing most parts of my body, and it's kinda hard to do yoga without seeing parts of it. Plus some poses I just can't do at all because of the triggering. But the overall effect is positive, so I keep at it. However, it's not unusual at all to leave class feeling like shit.

 

[joeylittle]

Yes. When I experience certain kinds of physical weakness, I react. I wish I could find something that isn't problematic. But I'm also struggling with having the motivation to keep trying.

 

[Crow]

Talked about this in therapy today and it came up in group last month. T suggested interval training but taking the slow part twice as long as most people. The goal is to slow the heart to a normal beat.

Exercise sends me spiraling. I was running 3 miles a day (@ 260lbs) a few years ago and my world literally fell apart. I attribute it to the over stimulation. Guess I'll try this new thing.

 

[MuseMesmer]

Yoga is triggering for me. I don't like seeing most parts of my body, and it's kinda hard to do yoga...

Yoga can be so triggering for me, too. I've gotten better but it's still really hard sometimes.

 

[MuseMesmer]

I have had something like this, though I don't run. Probably consider something less intensity and see if...

That's perfect - thank you so much. And thanks so much everyone!

Do you think if I tried running less - like 2 days run, 1 rest, or every other day rest, it might work? Because I'm a traveler right now and can't really do much else in terms of exercise....

 

[Friday]

When I experience certain kinds of physical weakness, I react.

^^^
This

Also... ETA

There are times when every bloody thing is a trigger. Breathing, chewing, swallowing, the way the light hits something else, the way a muscle is pulling, shut the world off, Aaaargh.

Excerise... Has a lot of different triggers in it for me, in different places. Most of them are passing. One off things that hit me hard, but the next time? Don't even blip the radar. Others tend to be more persistent. Those are the ones I attack. Either by coming at them from different angles, or by figuring a way around them. Until, either way, It's a a non-issue.