If you have an anxiety disorder, you may find that ongoing stress aggravates your disorder. While we cannot eliminate stress in our lives, we may learn to manage it. By making changes in different areas of our lives, we soon may find that we are better able, mentally and physically, to handle stressful events, with the ultimate result being less severe anxiety symptoms.
Stress is your body's reaction to change. It is an internal reaction, although external factors (such as work pressures) may trigger stress. Exercise helps your body release pent-up stress. It also will make your body stronger and better able to cope with ongoing stress. The best type of exercise for improving the way your body reacts to stress is aerobic. You have many options for aerobic exercising, from walking to racquetball.
Some people with anxiety disorders worry that aerobic exercise will induce a panic attack. Indeed, as your heart rate increases and you begin to sweat, you may feel as if a panic attack is starting. My advice? Start slowly! Try walking a little bit every day, at first. Exercising is a good way to help yourself distinguish between a panic attack and those "false alarms" many of us experience. Of course, always check with your doctor before starting any exercise regime.
For more information on exercise and anxiety, please see our Fitness and Nutrition resources.
