Hi
Your symptoms are likely linked to a combination of deconditioning, anxiety, and nervous system hypersensitivity. Since you’ve had anxiety for a long time, your body is more tuned into sensations like heart rate changes and muscle fatigue, which can trigger a cycle of fear and discomfort. When you were actively working out during treatment, your body was conditioned to exercise stress, so you didn’t feel as heavy or weak. Now that you’ve had a break from workouts, your cardiovascular endurance and muscle strength have slightly reduced, making even 10-15 pushups feel more intense. The heaviness in your chest could be due to tight chest muscles, poor breathing patterns, or anxiety-induced muscle tension.
To return to workouts without discomfort, start slowly and consistently. Focus on progressive overload by beginning with modified pushups and gradually increasing reps. Breath control is crucial—exhale while pushing up to reduce chest tightness. Try low-intensity cardio first (walking, stretching) to ease your body into movement. Also, mindset matters—remind yourself that feeling your heart race doesn’t mean danger, just effort. If anxiety is still interfering with your workouts, therapy can help retrain your response to physical sensations. If you want to take online therapy sessions, connect with me on nine two six six seven two six zero six five. I can help you work through these challenges with therapy and coping strategies.
Answered2025-03-09 07:00:58
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