Welcome! I haven't exercised since the Pandemic began. You must have gotten lax about it like I did. Calm yourself. Once you start exercising, you'll feel better.

Hello Zimea. Welcome to DS.

I be a hyper-active wench who has a very hard time sitting still. I get grumpy if doing nothing is even asked of me.

Buttttttaaaa. . . Mention "Exercise" and I start getting HS gym flashbacks. Anxiety on high. . . Maybe if you reframe "Exercise" as simply, "Doing things?" Just wondering. . . It remains yours to sort.

Hope you feel safe sorting here. Listening. . .

Welcome aboard.

Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

You've taken the important first step in writing it out.

Rather than think about it, just go do something.

Hi Maria,
I’ve had this problem for over ten years. I have GAD which means I’m high stress all the time, I can’t just relax and enjoy things, there are always ’should haves’ and ’have tos’ buzzing in my head. The things I think would help, like meditation, exercise etc etc give me anxiety attacks, and I have no idea how to stop that.

Hi arfie!
HS gym was absolutely awful for me too, You might be on to something there. Now I have to figure out a new word for rowing on my machine in the living room... hm... any suggestions?
I am your opposite I guess, would be sitting in my chair all day if I didn’t have things to do. When I was younger my fav thing to do was going to cafe, pref w a friend, and just drink coffee and talk for hours.

Thanks Mid!
I would, but the closer I get to the rowing machine the more anxiety I get. And I can’t shut the thoughts off, in fact I think about this all day, partly because Im trying to figure it out, but mostly Im just worrying and feeling ashamed. Sometimes I think Im scared of feeling better.

A famous painting comes to my mind at the mention of a rowing machine. Perhaps a print in front of your machine would let you imagine an ocean jaunt?

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/old-man-and-the-sea-off00133-carey-chen.html?product=framed-print&googleShopping=true&completeProductSku=artworkid%5B1843987%5D-productid%5Bprintframed%5D-imagewidth%5B14%5D-imageheight%5B10.5%5D-paperid%5Barchivalmattepaper%5D-frameid%5BCRQ13%5D-mat1id%5BPM918%5D-mat1width%5B2%5D-finishid%5B0.125acrylic%5D&gclid=CjwKCAjw9MuCBhBUEiwAbDZ-7rEZS51O6XTcJQ3JVrbzy4wyVl0WTyRKLjviGYCnUbt_4AkuLICC7xoCzE0QAvD_BwE

For what it's worth
Workout machines give me HS gym flashbacks, too. I always have the sense that gym rats are the same HS brats who bullied me as a teen. The grown-up versions are not an improvement on the theme in my shell shocked senses.

Welcome to the group, Zimea! :)

Thanks SweetairandRoses

Oh, smileys dont show :(

arfie, thats an awesome picture! Wouldnt that be cool, to feel like Im out to get some nice fish. Wow, I wish I could go fishing for real instead of using that stupid machine!

I am quite good at visualizing and might try hanging a picture to help me visualize the actual experience, but there is no substitusky for the real deal. Are there any boat rental places in your neighborhood?

Kayaking is a rocking way to ring in the dawn. Literally. It sure is easy to rock a kayak.

Welcome Zimea!

I am wondering if a lesser form of exercise, such as walking, would be a good way to start? And there's the benefit of getting outside, getting sunshine and fresh air.

I think just starting somewhere is just fine.

Hi Zines!

Welcome aboard!

I agree with people on this thread: just doing any activity that is remotely "moving" seems to help take that place of excercise for me.

Don't get me wrong, nothing takes the place of the mental benefits of cardio or weight training, but yeah, like mentioned here, not everyone's a gym person or is crushing out laps at the local track.

For me, I've always loved to garden to keep myslef out of my head. Its very therapeutic for me. Even if I don't have much planting or whatever to do (this is pretty early in the season for upper lattitude people), I'll mindlessly weed a bed, prune pack some bushes/trees or just tidy something.

I certainly never get a ton of time to do it, but I enjoy it and it seems to help.

GirlinCalif, that’s great advice. Walking and listening to some feelgood music almost always works.