[Llama_Llama44]

I could have put this in a few places. It relates to anxiety / adhd / exercise / chronic pain. If you are an active / athletic person with anxiety, adhd, and / or depression, I'd be particularly interested in any ideas you might have (but others welcome of course!)

So I have a problem with anxiety causing me some pain (headaches, etc.). I've learned various things (including some meditation) to help with that.

But generally speaking, exercise helps my anxiety and my adhd.

I've had a few minor but annoying injuries in the past. But currently I have an issue with an irritated nerve in my foot. My foot had bothered me for a few months and I couldn't really run or walk far without some pain, so I went to a physical therapist.

Currently, I can't do anything weight bearing (because PT says so, and because it will make my foot sore).

I swim a few times a week now, which is helpful. It frustrates me that I can't go outside for a walk when I'm feeling anxious or fidgety though.

Last week, PT said, "I think stress is making this worse". She also said, people just can't exercise unlimitedly. And some other stuff about how more exercise isn't necessarily better and not everyone's body is built for too much exercise, etc.

This is pretty frustrating to me. Basically, anxiety causes pain or makes it worse. Pain means less exercise. Less exercise means more anxiety.

I don't really know what my point is here, I'm just kind of frustrated / upset that one of my very helpful coping mechanisms has been more difficult to do. I'm also kind of worried (slightly irrationally) that I'm going to keep injuring myself and I won't be able to exercise at all and it will just make everything worse). I need to experiment with more non weight bearing activities. But not being able to run / walk / hike is really frustrating.

[Skeezyks]

Until recently I was doing a combination of yoga & some physical therapy exercises I learned for my low back. But I began to develop pain in the right side of my lower abdomen. I had a double hernia repair there quite a few years ago; & I think I may have re-injured that.

Anyway... I won't do anything that's likely to result in me ending up in some doctor's office somewhere. So I discontinued my exercise routine. Fortunately I can still walk. So I can still take my dog out for his daily walks. But it makes me mad that I can't do my exercise routine anymore. This is the way it has always been for me. I'd just get a good routine going & I'd injure myself in some way & have to stop. In the past, it was typically my low back that I injured. But this time it's this other thing.

It's good that you're able to swim. If you belong to a gym of some sort, perhaps there might be some other non-weight bearing exercises you could do. Hope you are able to find a pathway to healing... both physically and mental-health-wise.

[Llama_Llama44]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

I'd just get a good routine going & I'd injure myself in some way & have to stop.

Yeah. So annoying!

I am looking into some available classes. I think I might just have to be a bit more more willing to leave the house to exercise (i.e. go to gym or pool) more often (whereas I would like to be able to go for a walk and come back to work at home).