Question:
is it possible a small amount of exercise,
like walking up a stairs, can provide just enough
stimulation to start a panic attack?
I have a person who has had all the usual medical
tests, and has been pronounced healthy. However, he
has incredible fatigue, and when, say, walks up
those stairs he will get really really winded.
I seem to remember someone saying that nervous
conditions can cause fatigue.
Answer:
I *think* I know exactly how he feels. If I'm feeling fatigued (usually
I am) a little bit of exercise may cause me to get out of breath. So
since my mind is so conditioned to "being out of breath"="panic
attacks", that I begin to panic. Then my heart feels like it's going to
pop out of my chest, the perspiration begins to roll off my forehead and
so on...
Concentrating on some deep belly breaths before climbing the stairs
sometimes helps me in those situations.
Has this person been screened for fibromyalgia? That can, and usually
does cause constant fatigue, and has been linked to anxiety/panic attacks.
now that is an excellent question!!! Some people say that
exercise is great for depression and anxiety. But in my life, after the
age of 26, I noticed that any kind of exercise that speeds up the heart
causes me to get fearful...and there were times when I suffered a panic
attack. I don't do much exercise now at the age of 52, so when I climb
a flight of stairs, I get winded a bit, and if I am not careful with my
thoughts, I could suffer a panic attack. A fast heart rate for me is
not good for me at all. I am 6 feet tall and weigh 195. Certainly not
overweight, but I do feel kind of old and really out of shape if I
attempt to ride a bike , or jog a little, or walk up stairs. So..for
me, exercise is a negative experience for me, whereas other folks say
its the best thing for you. I have a friend who also has panic,
anxiety, and depression, and he swears that he thinks all of us who
suffer this malady has some kind of hidden heart problem. I have always
suspected this, but the doctors say otherwise. I have no answers for
this, but your question is an excellent one. Food for thought here.
When I was first diagnosed with Panic Disorder I would often
hyperventilate. I was constantly monitoring my breathing and this
would be enough to trigger hyperventilation.
It is known that exercise is beneficial, as part of an overall
treatment package for anxiety, but in my case I needed medication and
strategies to control the hyperventilation first.
It can cause physical experiences that *mimic* panic attacks
(hyperventilation, feeling lig ht-headed or dizzy, heart racing etc.).
The *panic* is a matter of *intepretation* (cognitive distortion, wrong
analysis of the physical phenomena).
When I first got back into exercising I would think I
was having anxiety but in time I became more aware of the need to deep
breathe and self positive talk. You have to consciously remind yourself
that some of the feelings are from exertion and not panic related. It's
like when you are ill and feel dizzy or lightheaded then you have to remind
yourself that you are sick and not having a panic attack.
