I worked out today...

[[rc...]]

Holy mother of god...

 

Up untill my ct, I had become very active. I was working out every day for about a year and a half. I had lost all of my remeron weight (about 45 lbs.) And was really starting to feel like my normal, lean, physically fit self again. I was an All-state wrestler in high school and I really loved to push my self physically.

 

For the first time in a month and half since my ct, I finally felt like I could start heading back to gym so I met one of my buddies up there. We just did some bi's, tri's, and some ab work... My benzo wd symptoms started going CRAZY. My brain felt like there was some kind of storm going on in there. I could barely talk to my buddy in clear, concise sentences. I did, however, push through and complete my workout. Two hours later, and my symptoms are starting to settle back down again. I'm about to take my nightly remeron dose and that should calm me down some as well.

 

My question is, is this normal?? And can i just push through it again and get a workout tomorrow?? I want to start getting back in shape. Being fit is something that makes me happy and helps with my depression and feel good about myself. I want to continue working out. I don't want to let the benzos win.

[[Wi...]]

Exercising always ramped up my symptoms so i stopped exercising. Gonna start again soon. Let me know ho it affects you.

[[rc...]]

Will do. Going to get another work out in a few hours. Probably just gonna continue to power through it and hope that it will eventually get better. I just hope I'm not making things worse.

[[rc...]]

Just got back from the gym from workout number 2. Did some chest workouts (bench and some cable work) and then some abs. I will say, it wasn't nearly as bad as yesterday. Still havent worked up to doing any heavy cardio yet (i like to use the stairmaster.) It was kinda rough at first but I was able to power through it. I think if I can just keep powering through then it will get better and better (and might even help me heal.)

 

One thing, though, is that I had horrible anxiety on my way to the gym. It almost made me turn around, but I didn't want to leave my workout partner hanging. Maybe the accountability will help me push through.

 

Will post anything that comes up for anyone that cares. I have to believe that working out will help our healing.

[[Do...]]

exercise can amp up symptoms because it temporarily increases both GABA and glutamate (the excitory chemical).  That being said, even though it can set off symptoms for people, it also helps your brain receptors kick back into normal gear, which can lead to healing faster overall (even if in the short term you seem a bit worse).  Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon!

[[pi...]]

We just did some bi's, tri's, and some ab work... My benzo wd symptoms started going CRAZY. My brain felt like there was some kind of storm going on in there. I could barely talk to my buddy in clear, concise sentences. I did, however, push through and complete my workout. Two hours later, and my symptoms are starting to settle back down again

 

Im at this stage as well I think. Like I can exercise LIGHTLY (like 3 sets of light weights, arms and legs) but its cashing cheques that my body pays for later. I trade feeling good in the evening for 2 days of physical symptoms. I get hit with a bunch of old symptoms being turned back up.....Muscle pains, stiffness, headaches. I've done this like 2 times a week for 3 weeks and Im feeling like its not having the positive returns people say it does over time. It feels more like diminishing returns. I just remember reading that exercise is like fertilizer sprinkled on brain cells to help rewire and grow so I keep going. Not sure if this is the best idea if we all seem to be struggling with it. Maybe wait another few months Im thinking personally

[[rc...]]

I've been pushing through. Worked out every day for a week and will get another workout in today. The anxiety on the way to the gym and the beginning of the workout really sucks. I have found that it's like a 50/50 shot whether the workout is going to rev up my symptoms or make them better. I have even begun mixing in some cardio (on the stairmaster.) I will keep pushing through. This is part of who I am. I want to stay in shape and I don't wanna put back on the remeron weight. It's not worth it. Being in shape helps my mood. When I look in the mirror and I am gaining weight it makes me feel s**tty. Onward we go! Will let you guys know if anything really good or really bad happens.

[[be...]]

give it time I start seeing improvement till the 6th months but only walking long distances. don't know about weight lifting.

[[er...]]

Exercise is the best thing one can do to help themselves in my opinion.

 

At least, for me, it has been..  check out the book "Spark" by John Ratey.  "Exercise is like miracle grow for the brain".  I always feel better after a workout- hard cardio is best for our brains

[[rc...]]

exercise can amp up symptoms because it temporarily increases both GABA and glutamate (the excitory chemical).  That being said, even though it can set off symptoms for people, it also helps your brain receptors kick back into normal gear, which can lead to healing faster overall (even if in the short term you seem a bit worse).  Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon!

 

Interesting that you say that exercise increases both GABA and glutamate. For me, I feel like half the time the exercise is getting my GABA going and other times it's pure glutamate lol.

[[Su...]]

I used to love working out prior to coming off benzos, I was in the gym most days. Ive slowed down since coming off but havent stopped, now I do around 3 days a week rather than 5-6. I actually find weights good because I can sit down while doing them which helps with the dizzyness I get. My advise listen to your body and dont push yourself to hard at first, It can really spike your cortisol levels. I believe a moderate amount of exercise could probably help with some symptoms, general well-being etc if your able to do it.

[[pi...]]

. My advise listen to your body and dont push yourself to hard at first, It can really spike your cortisol levels. I believe a moderate amount of exercise could probably help with some symptoms, general well-being etc if your able to do it.

 

Well said, I agree with this and have a similiar experience. The tough part is when Im firing up to do excercise the whole point is im pushing my boundaries and listening to music to fire up, otherwise I get bored and barely do anything. So I get this flirting with the cliff edge feeling and usually i just have to "give up" as the tingling or dizziness or whatever starts to creep in which is annoying as hell. Its depressing, I miss being able to push my limits, but the after affects tend to be awesome. Hard to feel calm these days, have only ever noticed it in the hours post light excercise really. Anyone got advice on environment, like is heat going to push me over the edge? thinking of doing adding cardio runs but its hot as hell right now 30C (90 F) and up