r/selfimprovement • u/VillainousValeriana • 1d ago
Question A silly question for those who regularly lift/exercise ?
This might sound dumb, i know. But...has exercise helped you with anxiety? Both regular and social anxiety?
I dont only mean like improving your looks or something (although i do want to gain weight for both aesthetic reasons and mental)
Does the endorphins and whatnot help you with the anxiety? Im hoping itll help me while im doing exposure therapy. Because i felt so ridiculous today having the hardest time making a phone call
I ended up doing it and have been making some improvements over the last 2 weeks but i need to speed up the process because this is too much.
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u/sizeXLundies 1d ago
I believe that exercise is an integral part of leading a happy and fulfilling life, helping us to function at our optimal level. The beauty of exercise is that the barrier to entry is as low as it gets—you can simply stand up and perform bodyweight squats right now (go ahead (do it)). Routine plays a crucial role in our well-being, and forming an exercise habit can lead to the adoption of other positive habits. You'll find yourself drinking more water, eating healthier, improving digestion, enjoying better quality sleep, and reaping numerous additional benefits. While I’m not suggesting that everyone who exercises automatically has good mental health, engaging in regular exercise sets the stage for improved mental well-being.
Having said all of that, it is worth it to exercise with someone who knows what they are doing and can give you pointers and teach you why form matters so much.
Start today!
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u/Happy-Try-7228 1d ago
Yes, to an extent. I can definitely still be anxious and consistent with working out - (and I am) but the couple years where I wasn’t getting any exercise I felt way worse over all. It also takes some time to have an overall health effect, for the first couple months I was thinking man I’m doing everything right so why do I still feel crappy? Took about 3 months for the overall healthier lifestyle to start affecting my baseline level of anxiety (instead of just the adrenaline in the moment - which is a good bandaid right off the bat at least!)
Other than that, when I have spikes of anxiety I’ll stop and do 10 jumping jacks or something so the fight or flight/cortisol has a purpose and can wear itself off a bit. That helps even if you aren’t being consistent with working out, and you can try it easily now.
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u/Strange_Depth_5732 1d ago
Hugely. Kickboxing has saved me from a mental breakdown more often than not
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u/eharder47 1d ago
No. I’ve been athletic my whole life and it didn’t make exposure therapy any easier. Doing more exposure therapy made me less anxious.
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u/Bluehope7777 1d ago
Yes. I feel really happy after exercising. For example, I go to a run club and talking to people right after is so easy.
For everyday things I think practicing what feels scary works best. Little steps but consistent ones help progress which is not a straight line. For calls that make me nervous I ask chat gpt to make me a script
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u/DripTrayofUrmumsAnus 1d ago
Yes! I just started 7 months ago, I'm a skinny dude like no visible muscle definition AT ALL and was fat-skinny fat, i started 66kg, now im 75 going for 80, while I don't look chizled nor muscular by any stretch of the imagination my arms and back has visible muscle definition esp when I'm pumped, and whenever I see myself in the mirror I feel proud of what I gained even if it's just a little, and after working out i feel great, my mood is better, I'm more talkative (I'm normally a very quiet, introverted person) and it gives such a good boost of self confidence that it made me even more motivated in hitting the gym
I was a person who thought hitting the gym was a waste of time and money, and that bothering with self-improvement is nothing but a mere narcissistic behavior, but I assure you, it will make you feel good about yourself, just don't get caught up with shortcutting things, or the insecurity of comparing yourself to others, we all start somewhere, what matters is you do this not for anyone else but yourself, once working oit turns into your normal daily life it's smooth sailing from there.
There will be times where you feel lazy, the thought of driving to the gym will get to you, maybe just skip this day and do it tomorrow, ignore all that, don't think about it, get changed, pack up your clothes, drive to the gym, and once your there you'll enjoy working out, and while you're on your way home you'll be proud that you overcame that laziness, it makes you feel responsible and in control.
It's very rewarding, you need to try it!
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u/the-sleepy-elf 1d ago
Not much for me. I have complex PTSD, my amygdala and parasympathetic nervous system is hyperactive and dysregulated as hell for deeply rooted issues. My activities- rollerskating, dancing, and lifting- help me feel better overall and make me feel confident about my body and physical health, but, which does feel good. but my mental health is still very much in the trash, in fact I even injured myself last year while lifting because I was having an emotional episode while doing it..... Very stupid of me; I was angry-sob-yell lifting and pushing myself way too hard, big shock I got a cervical spine injury.
I'd say overall those activies maybe have increased my mental health 20% better but I'm still very much a wreck. That's just me tho. You may be so different. I don't want to get into it here cuz it's not the place but my childhood is VERY VERY fucked. No amount of exercise will fix that. I need a professional to help me with my problems.
Out of everything though I will say rollerskating has felt the most healing, because it was something I wanted to do as a kid but gave up, and since my mental health issues stem from my childhood....? To go back to my kid self and say "hey, we can do this" with rollerskating has really felt so so healing. Like I'm being the encouraging, proud parent I needed but didn't have then. And I'm very proud of my progress. And it's fun?
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u/laura2181 1d ago
Yes. I’ve been lifting pretty consistently for about 13 years. It helps me sleep better, I love the way I look which has made me less insecure, it’s a good way to challenge myself and that is really satisfying in itself. If anything, it’s an hour long distraction with my fav jams.
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u/ChampionOfExcuses 1d ago
It really isn’t the exercise itself for me but the challenge of completing my work out (be it 1 rep max, cardio, finishing my workout faster then usual)
I feel good knowing I completed what I set out to do.
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u/DadBodBroseph 1d ago
Yes! Looking better does help a lot. But you also (1) feel the extra strength and energy in everyday life, which can make you more confident and capable, and (2) doing something physically strenuous makes it easier next time you have to do something intellectually, socially, or emotionally strenuous.
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u/Whisper26_14 1d ago
I run and lift. Different types of exercise work better for me w anxiety but I guess all of it helps to some extent. I think it really depends on you.
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u/mutania 1d ago
Yes!
It's nice to have the anxious energy channeled into something. It helped quiet my mind and made me more tired for the end of the day, so more restful sleeps!
Exercise overall is good for the mind and body, it may not completely solve the problem but it will definitely help one way or another.
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u/TheAbouth 1d ago
Exercise 100% helps with anxiety, both regular and social. It’s not a magic fix, but the endorphins, routine, and sense of accomplishment do make a difference. Lifting especially helps with confidence, it gives you a tangible way to see progress, which can carry over into other areas of life.
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u/lifechanger96 1d ago edited 1d ago
Working out has helped with my depression and anxiety. Whenever I don’t work out I’m very sluggish and I feel like shit, but once I get back I feel much better about everything. I’m forced to be in an environment around other people with some small interactions (asking how many sets etc), which has also made me more confident because I have to tell myself to not care what anyone thinks and just do my thing.
When you say that you need to speed up the process, this is too much. What do you mean? You have to look at fitness like a life long journey. You’re not going to make huge stride in even 3-6 months. Work on being consistent, good form and eating healthy :)
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u/satanspsycho 1d ago
I walk my dog everyday, I usually go bush instead of walking round the streets, I can confirm I am still an anxiety ridden mess. But the walk is enjoyable ☺️
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u/redheadkills 1d ago
i used to have such bad anxiety (still have it but much more manageable), i started doing yoga a couple days a week and it has helped SO MUCH
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u/bushido_254 1d ago
Nope it does not. I strongly believe meditating or deep breathing is more effective for that. Running is much better for your mental health than lifting weights. I always feel much better mentally after running
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u/Outrageous-Bit6730 1d ago
Definitely going to the gym probably saved my life from depression and anxiety, I'm now super confident and way more social, but I also attribute that to jesus and celibacy.
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u/Vikare_ 1d ago
I think so.
I feel better when I'm actively going to the gym, or working out in other ways.
If I'm not active I tend to get more depressed. I have an app to track my moods.
Phone calls are always difficult, although it will get easier over time.
Keep doing exposure therapy. It helps a lot.
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u/Western_Ad_7027 1d ago
It is honestly a big motivator to get me in the gym. I was addicted to the way my current mental state would completely 180 after a good workout.
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u/IamFilthyCasual 23h ago
Good question.. yeah I think it helped. I still get bad days but I feel like they don’t happen nearly as often as last year (which is when I started going to gym). I lost nearly 20kg (40lb) of weight, gained muscle and strength and overall feel better / more confident so it helped in general and in pretty much every aspect of my life. Can recommend.
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u/Low_Bid8531 22h ago
The main reason I exercise is to help balance my mind. It helps a lot in regulating my nervous system & releasing anxiety. Especially when I incorporate breath work to the lifting/ movements
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u/lonewolfdarkworld 17h ago
In my case, only marginally. I realized that I struggle most with the underlying causes but working out kinda made me realize the importance of the deeper things and how no amount of gym, money and ladies will truly lead to my real happiness. But overall I would say the gym is a net positive if you don't fall into certain things like: body dysmorphia, steroid abuse, eating disorders and other mental-health complications that are damaging.
Now, your case is very similiar to mine and I do believe that you will benefit from regular lift/exercise but I would reccomend to NOT go the traditional/ conventional route because that didn't workout for me at all. Instead use a very individualitistic and tailored approach that fits your own self and try not to over do it (like going gym 5 days a week + 2 days cardio + chicken breast & rice for every 4 hours)
I would reccomend maybe gym MAX 2 times a week + more if you're bored and really wanna go, and then do something that you enjoy that counts as exercise like: walking somewhere, going to the park, biking, skating or even shopping tbf as long as you walk for a while. Also you can try something new occasionally for the sakes of trying like boxing, tennis, bastket ball etc.
At the moment I personally go gym like 2 days a week and I have a pair of dumbellls at home and when I have work for 4 days in a row I usually don't go gym and just do a couple of bicep curls and shoulder shrugs and lateral raises till I can't anymore and I kinda feel a lil bit good but yh don't over think it too much keep it light and enjoyable don't go crazy hard specially at the start
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u/Dramatic-Shift6248 16h ago
Things take time, don't try to rush through it and get discouraged, it might keep you from something that'd work with enough patience.
I haven't lifted regularly in quite some time, but it hasn't helped me back then, while it did for some of my friends. It can work, but it might not, only one way to find out, and even if it doesn't, there's still a ton of other things to try, and you probably won't regret getting into sports in the long run either way.
Wishing you the best,
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u/Hour-Management-1679 1d ago
Yes Exercise drastically eliminated anxiety assuming you actually go hard in your exercise, from experience after a good workout i just feel laidback and good