Exercise Is My Therapy

[anthony]

Of all the years I've been chipping away at my own issues and then worse... PTSD itself, nothing has worked as good as A: Valium when needed, and B: Exercise.

I hate medication... so it has to be pretty dire for me to take that shit. Now exercise, it calms me down, it keeps me calm, it keeps me sane and overall, healthy as possible as PTSD otherwise would eat away at my insides from the stress it creates upon the body.

Went for a 10km run this morning, a 30 minute walk and then some walking around the shops and shit... and feel great. The last couple of months since I've ramped up my daily exercise, I've been the most stable I've been in years. Don't get me wrong, shit still eats at me and would otherwise f*ck me over, though daily exercise is keeping me pretty stable... as long as I keep interaction with morons to a minimum, all is well and calm in life.

PTSD sucks... just thought I would toss that in for good measure.

 

[reddevil1111]

I agree it all comes down to stress management. And it still can be a bitch. I'm glad you have found a good way to vent stress.

 

[JarHed]

as long as I keep interaction with morons to a minimum, all is well and calm in life.

I think that should be A on the list. Although, I agree that nothing does it like exercise. I do TaiChi, forms twice daily and interactive classes twice a week. Number one on the list of what to do when doing it is being relaxed, so you can see how that helps.

But anything is good, take a walk, work around the house: something you like, just do something. The worst thing for PTSD is to do nothing, that seems to feed it like steak and potatoes.

It never goes away, though, which can be a bitch to deal with at times but the things you've mentioned help. Especially what I quoted. :rolleyes:

Jar

 

[Friday]

That's my dream (cough, goal). Duct tape me'self back into general working order, and move somewhere I can wake up and run 5mi up the beach and swim 5mi back every morning. Where I live now I generally do best in the winter... When I can wake up, shower, strap on a snowboard, and fall down a mountain for a few hours. Even just a few hours and I'm golden for the rest of the day and often the next. But that's only a couple months a year. I've never really been able to twig if that because of the exercise (cause the gym doesn't help), or because of being up above the (10months of rain)line into blue skies, or happy adrenaline (yeah, yeah, no such thing... Used in place of the chemical stew of unknown composition from happy stress instead of hit someone with a brick stress), a combo of those and others, or something else entirely.

It's more than a little nice to know that maybe, yeah. If I can jury rig myself back together that it would be a good idea instead of just another one of my cunning plans that blow up in my face and anyone can clearly see "Bad. Bad idea!". Except me.

 

[combatgoldfish]

Exercise is great for PTSD. However, it can be difficult to get that motivation to actually go do it. Perhaps it's just me but shit is just killing my motivation overall. I rather just drive into avoidance land. However, when I do go, I feel amazing.

Although, when I take my pre-work out supplements, it intensifies the beast after a workout. I'm tired physically, but there's just that energy still there. I don't know really how to explain it. :confused:

 

[Grizzly]

I'm down with all of this. It had let me manage for a long time I'm guessing. Sadly the past 5 years my body has turned into goo. I can't seem to get past the pain to push myself any longer.

I loved weights. Loved running. Now I'm just a POS.

 

[Friday]

Pain killers & Orthopedic Surgeons = Wuv. Twoooooooo wuv.

Took me a long time to break down and realize that Motrin & Water just was never going to put Humpty Dumpty back together (shocker, and here I thought it cured cancer :rolleyes:). A lotta advances lately, too. 5-10 years ago it was total knee replacement was the only option left to me, and now (if I can fund the sucker) it's a laparoscopic on one and freaking fairy dust on the other.

I know that isn't a solution for everyone... But if you haven't been seen recently by someone good, it's worth checking out.

 

[Grizzly]

Hmmm...someone good. I've tried. I've brought up the Gulf War shit. Doctors can't turn you away fast enough. Brought up CFS, fibro. Nope, won't see me. My blood looks like the blood specimens of a 20 year old. Nothing's wrong with me. I was on the heavy side 5'9 @ 200. Not a big gut, but I'm barrel chested. Doc said BMI says I'm obese. So I dropped 30 lbs. Hmmm...no change. Other than none of my clothes fit.

I have a closet full of pain narcotics. I don't take them. My job won't allow it.

It is what it is.

 

[Chin Strapped]

I now train daily, after the best part of 2 years of failing to be able to motivate myself as CGF said. I put that down to other stressors in my life such as a heavy work load.

Exercising really helps me and and Im lucky enough to not be injured so bad it's too difficult to complete. Importantly it means I'm doing something for myself for once. It even helped me to drop cigarettes a few weeks back, just not quite there yet with my evening hits on the bong:sleep::sleep:

If anyone likes circuit/bodyweight training, fitness blender.com has some excellent workouts that can be done on the spot.

An important thread Anthony, it's one aspect we rarely talk about, and maybe because we have people who are unable to exercise, due to being proper warriors and are carrying the consequences of serious combat injuries and age!

I'd kinda like to hear what PT people get up to, it's motivating.



I am using my phone and accidentally pushed these icons during a brief 2 minute incident, which I am unable to delete. f*ck knows?
:giggle::giggle::coffee::giggle:

 

[JarHed]

it can be difficult to get that motivation to actually go do it

Guilt, it's what works for me. It kinda' goes like this; I've been doing the forms everyday for umteen years now, come hell or high water. To miss a day would set me back to zero................I just can't live with that. :eek:

OK, OK, I know I do it to myself, but for me, it works. I'll exercise no matter how shitty I feel or what's going on. A little bit I have to give credit to the Marine's for the self discipline they instilled in me as well.

 

[dutchiedelta]

An important thread Anthony, it's one aspect we rarely talk about, and maybe because we have people who are unable to exercise, due to being proper warriors and are carrying the consequences of serious combat injuries and age!
:giggle::giggle::coffee::giggle:

Thanks Dan84, it is an issue here.
I know I ought to get back in shape. Used to fit as a greyhound ready for the race.
Several reasons why it's all gone downhill and I felt like such a loser for not being able to step on that routine again.

It's nice to read about people who make use of the benefits of exercise. Both to body and mind.
Uplifting to know something works against PTSD so to say :)

 

[Deleted member 43454]

Somebody I used to have to know would always preach that a fit body is a fit mind.
I used to be all crazy with it. Working out on graveyard shift all night.
Body weight and water jugs. This was right after I had gotten out.
After I broke up with my ex I worked out in my apartment.

Quit smoking for two months. Shit fell apart.
Some more shit fell apart. I have no excuse.
Exercise is great.
I used to take the husky on runs here, but I would come home still not in my right mind.

As of late it's been, "Oh you can still do 42 pushups..." alright your good.
I feel so lazy. Maybe I am lazy. But I used to be motivated as f*ck.
Maybe the trick is drinking N.O. Xplode every morning?