Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Clare Egan's avatar

I had an incredibly difficult time rebuilding my relationship with exercise. I’ve practiced yoga since my late teens. In my twenties, I was one of those annoying people who actually enjoyed going to the gym, but I lost both of those habits in the tailspin of trauma. Exercise left me feeling incredibly anxious and dysregulated. It wasn’t uncommon for me to have to stop exercising because I was sobbing uncontrollably. Or to be so wired and strung out on adrenaline that I couldn’t sleep for days.

I wish I could point to some easy solution that turned it all around for me, but that’s not how it was. I had to very slowly rebuild my relationship with movement and my body. It took years and to be honest, it’s still a work in progress. One of the hardest things was feeling like I was completely over-reacting. All public health messaging talks about the value and importance of exercise. But I couldn’t find a single resource that acknowledged that exercise isn’t an option for everyone. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to have this conversation: to bring some much needed information to an under-discussed aspect of recovery.

Expand full comment
j.e. moyer, LPC's avatar

I understand that discussions around exercise and mental health can sometimes feel frustrating. When someone is going through a tough time, a well-meaning friend might suggest something like, “Have you tried yoga?” While they have good intentions, such suggestions can sometimes come across as dismissive. That’s why I prefer to talk about movement instead. The word “exercise” often brings to mind feelings of obligation and performance, whereas movement can feel more like a gentle act of self-care and nurturing. Exercise is often offered as a silver bullet or panacea to those desperate for relief, particularly for those already marginalized. I gently ride a recumbent bike six days a week for an hour. That works for me, and I realize there's no single solution for everyone.

Expand full comment
28 more comments...

No posts