'Why do I still struggle with my mental health if I exercise regularly?' mentalhealth
. The narrative is that if you are going to the gym or getting through a run, you must be fine – you’re over the anxiety, or at least keeping it at bay. Maybe that stems from the belief that you must be strong to get through a workout, and mental health is still seen as a weakness. But that ignores the very real fact that there have been days where I’ve done a workout in the morning and had a panic attack in the afternoon.
My friend tells me that she often finds the stereotype of exercise and happiness can actually make her anxiety worse. “I go in to classes thinking something is supposed to make me feel better and then it doesn’t, which only further heightens my anxiety,” she says to me. And this is the problem: the stereotype of exercise being all about grit and determination and coming out the other side full of happiness – you wipe the sweat from your forehead with a huge smile.
Maybe it stems from the belief that you must be strong to get through a workout, and mental health is still seen as a weakness, but it doesn’t make the symptoms go away,” says another friend. “While working out makes it easier to coach myself through intrusive thoughts, nothing that makes you feel ‘good’ – even exercise – can get rid of OCD.
The truth is, on the whole, I am less anxious now than I was before I started exercising regularly. I can notice that impact when I take an extended break from training, like at Christmas, for example. But I am not free from anxiety – and I don’t think I ever will be. I write that because I have assumed so many times that those who have their workout schedule down must have their mental health under control.
Maybe exercise is just there to help me manage my mental health, and I’m fine with that. But the world needs to stop promising it as a cure, because what happens when it doesn’t work?
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'My neighbour works at my kid's school - she tells teachers about my home life'An outraged mum has taken to the internet to ask for some much-needed advice after her neighbour, who happens to work at her child's school, shared private details with other teachers
Read more »
Tell us: are you returning to work in the office in England?We would like to hear from people in England who will be returning to the office or other workplaces following the lifting of Plan B restrictions on 26 January
Read more »
Schoolboy loses both nipples after dare to freeze them with two cans of LynxThe then 15-year-old schoolboy was dared by a friend and accidentally 'froze' his nipples off in front of a crowd, before going to his next lesson
Read more »
This ‘flicky’ blow-dry hack is going viral on TikTok (and it only takes 5 minutes)Users are comparing it to using the Dyson Air Wrap, except it doesn't cost any money 😱
Read more »
'Prince Charles doesn't trust me' Eamonn Holmes opens up on breaking Royal protocolEAMONN HOLMES has opened up about his cheeky kiss with Camilla Parker Bowles and how 'he's not sure' what Prince Charles thinks of him.
Read more »