this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2026
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Mental Health
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You are right, I agree with the results but there is also nuance.
From an anecdotal perspective, I have first hand felt the benefits of exercise on my anxiety. Yes it works. However, from this same perspective (and also my mental professional and research), exercise, especially cardio or high intensive training put your body in the same state of a panic attack. Elevated pulse, sweat, rapid breathing, etc. This in turn can be very taxing on your motivation to continue doing so if you have anxiety. I don't say that to say "lazy" but you brain will simply not rewards you for what you are doing.
Also, the physical strain on the body afterwards, combined with the experience of the effort itself can (and it was the case for me) spike you anxiety levels higher than they were before doing the regular exercise.
Of course, these effects will correct themselves with time for most people and regular exercise will for most people help them manage their anxiety.
Please, be kind to people, I understand the frustrations when people seems to resist this seemingly easy solution. Of course they are people wear a mental illness like a badge of honor, but they are also people with commorbidity (depression, PTSD, social anxiety, obesity, physical handicap, etc.) which make these first step and their challenge even harder.
It's extremely hard to put yourself in very uncomfortable situation, make an effort, get bad outcome and doing it again, for weeks, fighting your own brain chemistry, pain, your powerful emotions (fear, shame, sadness, etc.) to finally get results.
I'm not saying it's not working, I'm not saying to give up, I'm only asking for empathy. Shaming people who are already suffering will not help. And, for a portion of the population, this will not work unfortunately. I'm not speaking about me. It's my current challenge to get back to the gym, I have experienced the benefits of it so I know it's good for me, but life is hard right now and I'm doing my best.
I hope you get my message, I'm not trying to scold you or anything. You are right about the message and I'm sure it comes from a good place of trying to help people. No doubt in my mind. But please, if you care, be also nice about the people who might resist it. Maybe they tried and failed, maybe they can't right now or never. These people also exist, it is not only people that want to feel special.
Have a great day ๐