Social Anxiety Support

ayyak · 09-02-2009, 03:15 PM

Hello

Pls tell me

Thanks

drealm · 09-02-2009, 03:23 PM

Are you asking whether exercise itself will decrease anxiety? Or whether being in a gym's environment will decrease anxiety?

In my experience, exercise whether done at home or at a gym will improve your self image.

As far as going to a gym, I'm pretty self conscious so I only work out at home. Going to a gym and competing with other really buff body builder guys makes me anxious.

zomgz · 09-02-2009, 03:31 PM

yeah i agree, it makes me nervous when there's a bunch of other really fit people hanging out and working out. plus no one at my gym ever says anything, making it even more awkward xD

rockst4r · 09-02-2009, 03:33 PM

working out in general produces feel good chemicals (endorphins) ...i hear working out is good if you have anxiety, but im not sure if it reduces it.

deeds14 · 09-02-2009, 06:40 PM

Yes, it helps. I joined a gym in March and it has been a great stress reliever. It's also a good exercise in exposure because I have to be around other people.

LaRibbon · 09-02-2009, 08:26 PM

Just try it and see...i go to a gym, i'm not anxious or self concious when i'm there. Everyone's just doing their own thing.

wassubie · 09-02-2009, 09:04 PM

It hasn't helped me with anxiety/depression, but it can't hurt to get in shape.

STKinTHEmud · 09-02-2009, 11:20 PM

When I first started, I was pretty anxious that people were judging me because I didn't know much of what I was doing. But after I learned a bit and got a bit stronger, I didn't feel anxious anymore. Now, I judge the loud, enormous muscle heads, they don't judge me.

mixolydian · 09-03-2009, 05:42 AM

Definitely helps with the depression and self esteem which I guess is linked in with the anxiety. Since I started going to the gym I'm no longer so self-conscious about my body which is cool.

Happ2beme · 09-03-2009, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Since I started going to the gym I'm no longer so self-conscious about my body which is cool.

Great news! I started to do a little exercise myself at home. Going to a Gym myself takes a nerve.

Proud of you!

mixolydian · 09-03-2009, 06:30 AM

Thanks

ayyak · 09-03-2009, 08:36 AM

no just going there will it help me to decease even excersiceing will it help me to decrease it

since I have a fear for going to gyms

Makaveli · 09-03-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixolydian

Definitely helps with the depression and self esteem which I guess is linked in with the anxiety. Since I started going to the gym I'm no longer so self-conscious about my body which is cool.

Good for you!

I joined about the same age as you. I was a bean pole. It was intimidating at first when there were fit glamorous ppl everywhere but ppl are all there for their own needs. The weights area would be hard esp on busy weekday nights so I'd ease my way into it with quieter days first. Plus I'd find it hard to exert all my energy and show emotions (grunting etc) because I felt I was being watched.

Not sure if you felt this way or if anyone else does/did on here but you do feel better.

To answer the inital question of the poster, I would recommend it. Just be weary of fees (it's an issue in Australia with one of the major companies).

btw i havent been to the gym in years lol.

TheDaffodil · 09-03-2009, 10:06 AM

It definitely couldn't hurt! It's a positive thing I think. But if I were you I'd exercise at home first till I felt like I was comfortable in my abilities and then join the gym. I mean...unless you are already comfortable with your abilities outside the gym, haha. Then join! If it doesn't work out you can cancel your membership, I'm sure.

ayyak · 09-03-2009, 12:09 PM

Thanks to all of you

socially inept · 09-05-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayyak

Hello

Pls tell me

Thanks

exercise and healthy eating can decrease your anxiety. as for being in a gym it should build your confidence cos you will probably feel a bit anxious about it but once its over you'll realise that it wasnt too bad and that you handled it

korpa · 09-05-2009, 09:33 AM

Before i joined a gym i couldnt work out in front of people, but since i was forced to i eventually got used to it. It also helps with similar situations where you may not be able to do certain things in front of others.
Its also a decent stress reliever.

SuperTodd · 09-11-2009, 11:21 PM

I think it does decrease anxiety in a way. You learn to focus on yourself more and others less. At least in the gym. I have kept it up for a couple years now. At first I would try to block out everyone with headphones and baseball cap pulled low and show up early or late in the day. I remember feeling like I was center of attention and like people where judging my technique and weights and everything.
I'm pretty desensitized to that now. Not to say I am striking up conversations with other members. I do feel like it helps build confidence in a certain way because of the gains I have made in time. I started working out with a friend recently who is a self conscious beginner and it feels good to encourage him since I remember that anxiety clearly.

Thunders Muse · 09-11-2009, 11:27 PM

Exercise helps me with depression and anxiety but I do it at home, not a gym.

kev · 09-12-2009, 04:28 AM

Not sure about the gym part of it, but exercise in itself is proven to reduce anxiety and depression, as long as you get your heart rate up and do it on a consistent basis. The effects aren't always immediate but it actually should help a little.

From my experience, it is especially helpful if you have generalized anxiety disorder. Social anxiety is a harder barrier to break through from my experience.

09-02-2009, 03:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
ayyak Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24	Will Joining a gym will help to decrease my anxiety? Hello Pls tell me Thanks

09-02-2009, 03:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
zomgz Status: Wherever The Winds Fly Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Washington Gender: Male Age: 19 Posts: 600	yeah i agree, it makes me nervous when there's a bunch of other really fit people hanging out and working out. plus no one at my gym ever says anything, making it even more awkward xD __________________ Chained to the bottom of the ocean floor, it's like running underwater. Feel free to add me to: Myspace \| Facebook \| Mindviz

09-03-2009, 10:06 AM	#14 (permalink)
TheDaffodil Status: Antsy. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Maryland Gender: Female Age: 19 Posts: 1,166	It definitely couldn't hurt! It's a positive thing I think. But if I were you I'd exercise at home first till I felt like I was comfortable in my abilities and then join the gym. I mean...unless you are already comfortable with your abilities outside the gym, haha. Then join! If it doesn't work out you can cancel your membership, I'm sure. __________________ "Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt." - William Shakespeare NotForSaleCampaign.org \| StopTheTraffik.org \| SlaveryMap.org

09-02-2009, 03:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
drealm Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: California Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 292	Are you asking whether exercise itself will decrease anxiety? Or whether being in a gym's environment will decrease anxiety? In my experience, exercise whether done at home or at a gym will improve your self image. As far as going to a gym, I'm pretty self conscious so I only work out at home. Going to a gym and competing with other really buff body builder guys makes me anxious.

09-02-2009, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
rockst4r Status: sp chick Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brooklyn Gender: Female Posts: 141	working out in general produces feel good chemicals (endorphins) ...i hear working out is good if you have anxiety, but im not sure if it reduces it.

09-02-2009, 06:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
deeds14 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 256	Yes, it helps. I joined a gym in March and it has been a great stress reliever. It's also a good exercise in exposure because I have to be around other people.

09-02-2009, 08:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
LaRibbon Status: Temporarily Banned Join Date: May 2009 Gender: Female Posts: 487	Just try it and see...i go to a gym, i'm not anxious or self concious when i'm there. Everyone's just doing their own thing.

09-02-2009, 09:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
wassubie Status: SAS Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 60	It hasn't helped me with anxiety/depression, but it can't hurt to get in shape.

09-02-2009, 11:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
STKinTHEmud Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CA Gender: Male Age: 27 Posts: 357	When I first started, I was pretty anxious that people were judging me because I didn't know much of what I was doing. But after I learned a bit and got a bit stronger, I didn't feel anxious anymore. Now, I judge the loud, enormous muscle heads, they don't judge me.

09-03-2009, 05:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
mixolydian Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Perth, Australia Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 72	Definitely helps with the depression and self esteem which I guess is linked in with the anxiety. Since I started going to the gym I'm no longer so self-conscious about my body which is cool.

09-03-2009, 08:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
ayyak Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24	no just going there will it help me to decease even excersiceing will it help me to decrease it since I have a fear for going to gyms

09-03-2009, 12:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
ayyak Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24	Thanks to all of you

09-05-2009, 09:33 AM	#17 (permalink)
korpa Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 18	Before i joined a gym i couldnt work out in front of people, but since i was forced to i eventually got used to it. It also helps with similar situations where you may not be able to do certain things in front of others. Its also a decent stress reliever.

09-11-2009, 11:21 PM	#18 (permalink)
SuperTodd Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Gender: Male Posts: 33	I think it does decrease anxiety in a way. You learn to focus on yourself more and others less. At least in the gym. I have kept it up for a couple years now. At first I would try to block out everyone with headphones and baseball cap pulled low and show up early or late in the day. I remember feeling like I was center of attention and like people where judging my technique and weights and everything. I'm pretty desensitized to that now. Not to say I am striking up conversations with other members. I do feel like it helps build confidence in a certain way because of the gains I have made in time. I started working out with a friend recently who is a self conscious beginner and it feels good to encourage him since I remember that anxiety clearly.

09-11-2009, 11:27 PM	#19 (permalink)
Thunders Muse Status: I will not be defeated. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Gender: Female Age: 37 Posts: 30	Exercise helps me with depression and anxiety but I do it at home, not a gym.

09-12-2009, 04:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
kev Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 25 Posts: 1,299	Not sure about the gym part of it, but exercise in itself is proven to reduce anxiety and depression, as long as you get your heart rate up and do it on a consistent basis. The effects aren't always immediate but it actually should help a little. From my experience, it is especially helpful if you have generalized anxiety disorder. Social anxiety is a harder barrier to break through from my experience.