| I was already exercising fairly regularly before I | | | | need no self-discipline to keep up with the |
| got help for my anxiety problem. Although it | | | | program. |
| would ease my worries temporarily, it did nothing | | | | For this to work, don't schedule your exercise for |
| to cure the high anxiety that kept haunting me | | | | a particular time if that time isn't when you |
| for most of my waking hours. When I got into a | | | | normally get an anxiety attack. Do it when the |
| systematic program (the Linden Method) to fix | | | | panic hits, and do it EVERY time the panic hits. |
| my anxiety, I realized why exercising in a | | | | Don't allow yourself a single moment alone with |
| haphazard way improved my health but did | | | | your anxiety without trying to do something to |
| almost nothing to cure my anxiety disorder. | | | | distract yourself. |
| The way to use exercise to overcome anxiety is | | | | For exercises during your work hours, type in |
| to develop a highly-structured program for | | | | "office yoga" into a search engine and learn a |
| yourself that would extend into all parts of your | | | | bunch of quick exercises for when anxiety hits |
| daily routine. Make up a program that combines | | | | you at the office. Being a chronic worrier, you |
| vigorous exercise with yoga, tai chi or qigong. You | | | | might think your boss would fire you for this but |
| can do vigorous exercise during off-work hours | | | | on the contrary, most companies encourage |
| but you should also learn quick 5-minute stretching | | | | these exercises because it cuts down on |
| and breathing yoga exercises that you can do at | | | | repetitive strain injuries and office stress, which is |
| work or at home when panic strikes. | | | | a heavy cost for businesses in terms of sick |
| The following is crucial so pay close attention: | | | | leave and health insurance. Your boss might even |
| Your anxiety disorder works on a fixed routine. | | | | assign you to teach everyone else in the office |
| You get panic or anxiety attacks at certain times | | | | and hold group exercise sessions. |
| of day or in certain situations. Office workers | | | | These exercises can be done in five minutes. |
| may get it during staff meetings and housewives | | | | Resist the urge to do only one or two minutes |
| get it perhaps before the kids get back from | | | | otherwise the anxiety will quickly return. At least |
| school. You must find an appropriate exercise to | | | | five minutes should hold the anxiety at bay for |
| distract you during each of these moments or | | | | another hour. Again, try not to let any time go by |
| situations. | | | | when you are just stewing in your anxiety. |
| For vigorous exercise during off-work hours, pick | | | | Also check out qigong (sometimes spelled chi |
| something solo like jogging, or hook up a punching | | | | kung), which are sort of stationary tai chi moves. |
| bag in your garage or basement and take up | | | | Qigong is fantastically relaxing. Learn it from a |
| kickboxing. The reason for going solo is that you | | | | certified instructor if you can but if not, just get a |
| can do the activity when the panic hits you. If | | | | good DVD. Done correctly, it will move waves of |
| you took up tennis, it would take too long to get | | | | supremely-relaxed energy through your body. |
| a partner and find an available court. You need to | | | | No matter how busy you are, find the five |
| set up something that can be done at a | | | | minutes like your life depended on it. Because of |
| moment's notice. | | | | the nature of anxiety disorder, you will ALWAYS |
| The great thing about this is that your abnormally | | | | feel you don't have time. That is how your |
| high adrenalin levels will keep you exercising. Once | | | | anxiety maintains itself. The road to permanent |
| you experience that incredible feeling of the | | | | recovery is to break that thought pattern. |
| exercise melting away your panic attack, you'll | | | | |