I got a cross trainer today and I spent most of my day on it, exercising (haven't done so in ages). The reason I kept going back on it was because the 'high' it gave me temporarily relieved my anxiety. It lasts about half an hour. I think I may have found a way of dealing with it, and I really hope it keeps up.

Is anyone else's mood improved with exercise?

My mood is always improved if I run a few miles or do some strength training. I love it.

I find anything that challenges me relieves anxiety. When I used to lift weights I'd find after each session I'd feel a lot better than I did before. I notice the feeling now after I practice guitar for a long period of time or even playing a challenging video game (but I guess I don't get the same feeling of useful accomplishment).

l work out every other day and it's really helped with my social anxiety and depression. l now work out with a friend and that's helping loads with rebuilding my social skills.

I always feel accomplished after a weight lifting session. I also like getting the "runner's high" when I go for a run. Sadly I very rarely have the motivation to do these things.

This.

It's so hard for me to convince myself that I'm actually going to feel better if I close my computer and go to a gym packed with other people. Or ride my bike around the city. don't like the idea of other people seeing me when I'm sweating, or engaged in any type of physical exertion, so, eep. But yeah. Sometimes if I pace around my house for a while, I feel better. I think doing something physical just ... helps you disengage with your brain a little bit, because you're focusing on another part of you, so to speak.

Yea, I need this more than ever.

I always feel a lot better after a work and just am in a better mood in general when I'm regularly active. By regularly active, I mean working up a sweat.

I'm pretty heavy right now, so exercise tends to be very painful to do. Also, the only times in the past when I have been able to stick to working out consistently is when I am exercising in a group setting.

I actually think a tough manual labor job would be the best thing for me. I really need a lot of activity to ward off anxiety and depression.

I also think manual labor is the best type of job for me.

There's this exercise that I do when I am feeling anxious or sometimes negative, It's called EFT. or emotional freedom technique. it basically is tapping on some pressure points and affirming something like, i love my self, or I am calm...

This is true for me too. Anything challenging or anything that distracts me from over-thinking and stressful things that can weigh on my mind and cause anxiety. Going for a swim or having a light-hearted conversation with someone are good ways to disrupt a negative state of mind.

But really there's nothing that compares to the endorphin rush I get from intense exercise like climbing a steep mountain. Better yet, when I exercise regularly and get in shape, I'm in a much better mood in general. I'm trying to get myself into an exercise routine now. It's harder than I expected because I'm used to having a dog as a hiking companion. Now that I don't have a dog, I'm a bit less motivated. I should start by offering to take other people's dogs hiking with me.

I also bought a cross trainer sometime in May. Been working out 6 days a week since then and my mood is very balanced now. I'll never stop excercising like I did a few times before because of the harsh winter here. I used to go jogging outside but now I can get my workout done at home easily.

I always feel better after going for a long run. I used to run 8-10 miles every day but haven't been able to lately because I wore away all the cartilage in my hip so I can't run more than a mile or two max without being in serious pain.

Exercise is great for you when it comes to anxiety.. Not only that but it keeps your body fit as well... Helps you both physically and mentally..

When you're mad.. It helps to not take your rage out on somebody or on an innocent object.. There's no benefit to that.. Jump on a treadmill or any cardio/weight machine and let the anger flow out of you...

I can vouch for this today as I was pissed that I arrived at the post office like two minutes after they closed. I jumped on the treadmill pretty much as soon as I got back home.

Arm yourselves with knowledge:

http://www.fitness.gov/mentalhealth.htm

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/300

http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0898.htm

A great number of studies on this, I didn't link actual peer reviewed scientific literature because unfortunately you have to pay for the full articles most of the time.

Exercise greatly helped with anxiety at first, but after doing it everyday for years now , it doesn't even give that temporary high feeling anymore, it's like
I wore it out.

Yeah, exercise isn't doing it. Haven't exercised in a while now. Blaaaaaargh.