Does anxiety affect your muscles, make you more tired, stiff and also feel more strained during a workout? Anyone ever feel this?

[jjaybrazil]

I've been working out each day
Mainly a simple but intense High-intensity Cardio or Calisthenics circuit
as those are the ones that give you real internal strength over weights
and also lean you out faster from my experience.
However I've had some restless nights and been a bit anxious lately
Noticed that my chest feels tighter, I feel a bit more foggy, yet surprisingly
I don't feel gassed out or out of breath. Yet that tightness makes it uncomfortable for me
to workout. I guess it will go away once I've dealt with my long term anxiety issue huh?
I have that sunken, heavy heart, chest, pit of stomach tightness feeling each day when I'm anxious.
It rests and relaxes when I'm calm and mindful. The minute I experience an anxiety trigger, the throat, esophagus, stomach muscles, chest tighten up and I feel a bit light headed, like the way you would with a panic attack and more drained, so it's a bit more challenging to workout but I still push through it.
I like to be able to workout harder but I want these symptoms to subside first. Any advice from chronic anxiety sufferers who cured their issue or tamed their symptoms is of help. Thanks

 

[Vic]

Hi, I understand what you mean. In my anxious episodes I find that my muscles are stiff and I get breathless quite easily. I usually work out 3 times a week but today I've had to switch to a walk as my energy is so low. I think your body burns a lot of its energy through your anxiety and all of the physical symptoms so you end up feeling like you have been hit by a bus!

If you are concerned you could always ask your GP but be easy on yourself, do what you can and exercise self care whilst you are not feeling 100%!

 

[Marianda]

@jjaybrazil I have suffered from anxiety all my life and the only way for me to fight the symptoms you describe is taking medication. I take alprazolam. It acts very fast and stops the anxiety.

Other alternative I have used in the past has been drinking alcohol but I just did it a couple of times. I prefer to stick to my pills.

 

[jjaybrazil]

Okay glad it's working for you.
I don't want to take drugs.
I never have, never will.
I've just used my mind, meditation, herbs, vitamis, eating right, exercise, etc

 

[Marianda]

Okay glad it's working for you.
I don't want to take drugs.
I never have, never will.
I've just used my mind, meditation, herbs, vitamis, eating right, exercise, etc

Good !! Taking meds should alwYs be the last resort. Im glad you have other techniques to control your anxiety.