anyone else exercise to reduce anxiety?

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does anyone else regularly exercise?

i guess you could say i irregularly regularly exercise.....i will regularly exercise for a month or so ....and then maybe exercise every now and then....I'm trying to keep it regular though because I don't take any meds and working out is one of the only thing that I have available to reduce my stress/anxiety and sometimes depression.....other than naps and kitties...and birdies and doggies.....and the loud locusts bugs outside my window..

soon I will probably start using an anti-anxiety med....today I had a panic attack and couldn't even make myself leave my apartment to go do something that I *really* should have gotten done today...ugh........i just worked out for a little bit though and now I'm going over to my parents' house

...so.....anyone?

When I exercise, I feel better overall. I like cardio exercise best... rollerblading, dance.
Word on the street is that it is better than meds for mental balance...I don't disbelieve this.

yeah i don't think i really believe that completely, but exercise definately helps me feel better overall... i just haven't been on meds for awhile and last i was put on them they put me on everything except anti-anxiety.....so now my anxiety is worse, in particular about taking meds....but i probably will start and anti-anxiety rx soon..been thinking about it anyway

for now i usually just do some sort of cardio...i don't like going outside too much during the day so most of my exercise consists of cheesy video workout tapes .....but maybe with a med I'd be ok to go for a run and start swimming! ....i would love to dance too but whenever i have tried to be in the least coordinated I just end up falling over ...i got kind of interested in belly dance for awhile..

Yes, definatley.

With the kind of dyspraxia I have, exercise actually makes me feel worse. I have to take it slowly and do lighter exercise. But I know it benefits most people anxiety wise. I used to hang out on an anxiety board and people there used to recommend exercise, yoga and meditation/relaxation sessions.

Swimming is the best overall for me.

However, if I'm angry, it's usually weight lifting. The angrier I am the more I bench!

I do, it makes me feel so much better. I usually do yoga, pilates, ballet or tai chi. This semester I'll do everything except for ballet since its not offered at my school's gym, the classes are too much money elsewhere.

i find exercise helps me get out of depression and helps keep it at bay. i'm getting depressed right now, i've been off rowing for the past 3 weeks and i feel like crap. i would go for a bike ride but i can't be bothered, and my bike needs to be tuned up. i would run, but i hate running, i've got bad knees, flat feet, short legs, and a wide torso, not exactly ideal for running. i've got a training camp that starts on tuesday, i hope that gets me out of this, today's the worst i've been in a while, completely unmotivated, uninterested in things, just crappy all-round.

Yeah it works.

Absolutely, it does work. I've been in a funk lately and I know it's because I haven't been to the gym in a while, but my car needs repairs and it's way too hot to bike my way there. (it was 115 degrees yesterday, I live in the California desert).

Problem is, it's a vicious circle: the more depressed you get the less you want to exercise, and the less you exercise, the more you get depressed.

Exercise releases endorphins that counteract depression and are natural but powerful mood elevators.

I do it to keep in shape along with clearing my mind of different thoughts and my anxiety level if needed.

Exercise definitely helps me reduce anxiety. It also helps alleviate depression and keeps my mood stable.

I have found that exercising helps me to wake up in the mornings, get some energy when I feel lazy, or get my mind off of things. The type of exercise I generally do is long hikes in the foothills just north of town or in subdivisions near where I live. I sometimes walk/hike for an hour or so.

I had an entire course basically on the psychological benefits of exercise. Studies have shown its effect on depression and anxiety is comparable - if not superior - to medication. Ironically, I dropped out of school that semester because I was depressed and not exercising.

I consistently exercise now, and I feel pretty great. I train kung fu, parkour, kettlebell lifting, and powerlifting style barbell lifting. I also have gotten myself in the habit of doing a daily morning routine of joint mobility, dynamic stretching, and qigong. Even if I do no other exercise all day, that's enough to make me feel awesome and keep me injury free.

Yes, I ride a bike. Yesterday, I got in almost 23 miles. Although I pay for it by being sore for a few days. I also do some light weight lifting & use some large elastic bands for resistance. Seems to help me a lot with anxiety. I've noticed that exercise also helps me with all my aches & pains...maybe from raising my level of endorphans.

I find it works I feel depressed when I can't do any.