Anxiety Attack while Exercising?

[xanaxed]

Have any of you experienced an anxiety attack while exercising?
Lately while i've been running, I start getting shortness of breath and it feels like i cant quite catch my breath, then I'll need to slow down and when i do i experience a panic attack.  I've been exercising on a regular basis for about 2 years now and only recently i've been experiencing this.  I've had anxiety attacks for about 2 years also.  Has this also happened to anybody??

[danny225]

I have never had panic attacks before but since Dec.2010 I have had them several times and once when I was exercising.I am afraid to exercise now or sometimes even drive.I have been taking clonapam and atenelol but they don't always work.If you have any new advice please feel free email me at:***@****.
I am desperate for help I have gained about 30-pounds!

[buttondownlip]

I just had this happen to me for the 2nd time...always while I run.  I wasn't feeling anxious either so it really caught me off guard, but I will try again tomorrow.  

[compnet]

It's probably your electrolytes/minerals: Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, and Calcium.  Athletes have been known to drop dead from extreme shortage of Magnesium.  That's why they tend to use "sport drinks" -- they have electrolytes, though in small amounts, and I only know of one new brand that contains magnesium as well.

Magnesium and Potassium are very important for proper muscle function, and in your case, breathing muscles and the heart muscle, which relate to shortness of breath, hyperventilating or air hunger; anxiety, panic, etc.

You can ask your doctor and look into foods rich in these minerals, supplements, and/or Epsom Salt bath soak (magnesium sulfate.)  

Good foods for potassium include: bananas, OJ/oranges, potatoes, etc.  Dried seaweed has a lot of minerals.

[snipes909]

sorry compnet but panic attacks have nothing to do with your vitamen levels, it is a severe disorder that can't be taken lightly, it is actually more a phsycological thing then a medical issue, although there are some tips.  I reccomend trying a book its better to get to the source on why your having them and embracing them rather than to fear them otherwise they'll always be there.  Im not a medical doctor but ive been fighting panic disorder for almost 8 years now and finally learning to cope.

[ellylikeslemonyogurt]

I am training for a marathon having been keen on fitness for several years and have recently for the first time completely out of the blue experienced exactly what you describe whilst running. My chest went tight and I had palpitations, I couldn't breathe properly and when I realised I couldn't breathe properly my throat closed even tighter and it felt like I was trying to breathe through a pinhole. I was able to continue my run but only at cooldown pace, and since this experience I have worried about a repetition so much that it has happened (though to not such a bad extent) an subsequent runs. I am a very anxious person. For me, while running my mind clears and I really start thinking about the stressful aspects of my life in detail where I usually avoid thinking about such things. Most likely controlling your thoughts while running and especially at the onset of symptoms is the only way to deal with this. If anyone with a similar story has experiences with medications I'd be very interested.

[thinkerg]

im a 20 year old male, healthy, fit, no social anxiety. ive been working out for almost three years intensely with cardio and weights and ive never had a problem untill just the other day i lifted weights an then a little cardio, i was fine throughout the whole thing till i stopped, it seemed like my heart rate wouldnt go down so it freaked me out and it went up more causing a full out panic attack ( ive had anxiety for almost three years now but only several attacks)  now every time i work out im still fine during the work out but then it feels like my heart is beating so hard an i can feel it through my chest an then i panic....i cant just not work out forever idk what to do. am i alone on this? does anyone's heart feel like its beating to fast after they work out, i dont know if its normal an im just freaking myself out or if i should get seen. id appreciate feed back thanks!