24/10/2020
Couldn’t agree more.
Someone asked me about panic attacks during exercise, and I think a lot of people probably need to hear this today...
If you have developed any type of autonomic nervous system imbalance whether from trauma, environmental toxins, or long-term stress you may not be able to expect your body to perform at the same level it used to. And that’s ok! No matter what we are capable of, our capacity changes over time.
Autonomic nervous system imbalances (which almost everyone has these days) affect our heartrate and also how our brain perceives our heartrate.
If you are having panic attacks, meltdowns, or shutdowns when you exercise, your body is telling you to slow down. If your body says No to your workout routine, it usually means the type of exercise you are attempting is too demanding for the energy reserves your body currently has.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, exhausted, or depleted, gentle movement may be better for your body than pushing through a workout
Movement practices are an appropriate replacement for heavy workouts if you body system is saying No to exercise.
Any movement is healthy. Movement helps the body rebuild and repair by spreading nutrient dense fluids throughout our cells. If we don’t move at all because we can’t do the big workout, our fascia constricts and dehydrates and causes soreness.
It’s ok to walk instead of run. It’s ok to do yin yoga instead of high movement power yoga. Turning on some music and moving your body however it wants to is a very healthy form of exercise. It’s ok to just lay on the floor and wiggle.
I’m not saying never go for the big workouts, but when you do, be sure you’re nourished and well rested and have time to gradually warm up and time to recover. Try to listen to your body as you exercise. If you can track what you feel in your body right before a panic attack, you can use that feeling as your signal to stop your workout for that day.
Lightheadness, hot flashes, dizziness, shortness of breath, sharp pain, nausea, skin discoloration, and yawning can all be early warning signs that a nervous system stress response is beginning to be triggered. These are signals that your body is saying No to the routine your mind thinks is such a good idea.
Let’s change the story about what we need to do in order to be healthy, considering the current state of the world and how the majority of us are dealing with some kind of nervous system imbalance from various causes.
It’s not cardio or nothing. Movement is helpful and healing at any level. A little dance here and there or a few sit ups and some stretch breaks are better than feeling bad about yourself because you couldn’t run a mile today (or this year).
It’s ok to go slower and listen to your body.
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