I have decided to join a gym on monday after thanksgiving. I have social phobia along with some others. I tried in vain to find a womens only gym with in walking distance other then curves cause they want way to much money.
I found a gym within walking distance however it is co-ed and that sends my mind racing with all kinds of thoughts.
My plan is to prepay a year because it is cheaper then a month to month and there is no restrictions. you have unlimited access! I figure this way I am forced to go or my money will be wasted.
I don't know what else to do because I feel like I am stuck. I know it is up to me to change it and believe me I am trying.
any advice or ideas that you may have would be great.
thanks for your time.
God bless
DBW

Good for you for joining a gym! I can honestly say working out regularly has made a world of difference in the way i feel.

At most gyms I have been to no one pays any attention to anyone else. You might feel kinda awkward at first as you learn your way around, but after going a few times you will see that everyone else is just focusing on what they are doing.

Plus, i know this sounds mean, but there is always someone there that is worse off than you ;)

Not sure I have the answer here, but I have a thought...what time does the gym open in the morning? The earlier you get there, the less people are there, I would assume, and the less uncomfortable you may feel. Plus, there is a chance that at that early in the monrning (5:30?), the people who go to the gym will be fixated on their workout, and will either not notice your workout, or respect the fact that you are committed enough to get out that early. I have always found that people in a gym are either so interested in themselves that they do not notice you, or are excited that someone else is as into fitness as they are, that they are just looking for a friend.

Good luck getting through this...

I agree that going to a gym is good for anxiety sufferers also that the people there pay little attention to eachother
some valium or similar would help you get used to it, remember to try to relax, dont have any excess tebsion in your muscles and breathe deep and slow
start exercising slowly with a good warmup as a sudden burst of exercise can cause a panic attack, presumably by producing lactic acid

Thank you all for responding. Tomorrow is gym day. I plan on taking a ativan. I have been having alot of anxiety lately and the closer it gets to going the worse it gets.
What if I screw this up??? I need to do this for myself and for my health. The thought of going brings tears to my eyes. I tried to talk to a friend of mine about how I was feeling and the fact that the fear was so intense that I was having a hard time...she responded with how do you think I feel????
Well, When someone says that to me I close down right away. I no longer feel safe saying anything.

dragon -

Not sure if this would help you, but do they have trainers there that could give you sort of an "orientation" and show you how to use all the machines and stuff? I find this helps my anxiety a lot when i go to a new gym.

mjewell,
I went to the gym yesterday. I took ativan (good thing) cause it was busy. My friend and I had 30 day passes. They gave us a tour showed us where all the machines where and then left us on our own. My friend and I went in the curcit training area. Well we couldn't figure out how to use the machine and this lady gets up and says...do you hear that music???? when it tells us to move u have to move..you made that lady have to go around you. My friend said I am sorry ma'am today is our first day. The lady said well there are machines likes these all over the gym I am sure u can find them.
I said to my friend...come on lets go!!
We went in the cardio section. We did 30mins on the bike and then we were done because I had to go to work.

I don't know if I should go again or what. I am just so torn in what I need to do.

Wow, I'm sorry that lady was so rude to you, but I'm glad you still worked out. Did you feel better?

That lady was exceedingly rude! I don't think you should let some low-class individual like that keep you from what you are entitled to do. She should have helped you...what nerve. Maybe you can go back and you'll be in a position to help some other person who's new and needs help. I hope you will go back. Will your friend go with you always, or do you need to get the courage to go on your own? Don't pay any mind to that woman...just ignore her if you see her again.

Mjewell,
yes, when I went I felt ok. The ativan I took was wearing off because I could feel the anxiety comming back up. I have decided not to go back to the gym. I just don't think it is for me and I didn't find the people there to helpful in the least.
Thanks so much for your time and your reply. It means alot to me.

SRMom,
I agree I thought she was very rude. I have a treadmill at home and some workout tapes and I think I am going to stick to those for now.
More then just that lady, My friend will not be able to go as much as I can. There are some machines I won't be able to do without her help due to the fact that I have lost a lot of flexablity. I did not even realize this had happened until I had to try and get on a bike at the gym. With me having CP I should have been keeping up with the flexability part of this.
I figure it is best for me to work on that at home because if they weren't helpful that day, they won't be helpful with anything else.
Thanks for your reply SRMom it means alot to me. Also, thanks for your time it is very much appreciated.

Hey dragonball:

How are you today? I didn't know you have CP and it makes me even angrier about that lady now. Sorry your friend can't go with you. That club doesn't sound like a very good business if it doesn't have assistance available for its clients. Probably just as well that you don't waste your money there. Glad to hear you have some workout equipment at home. Maybe you could buy some light weights/dumbells and one of those big rubber bands for resistance/strength training. Sorry you had to go through a bad day, but I'm proud of you for trying! You are more brave than you know :)

SRMom,
I am good. How about yourself? On the 2nd day of the 30 day pass they called to tell us the prices that they gave us expire. That was not and is not true. We called other gyms as well as the one we went to for quotes about 3 weeks ahead of time and the prices were still the same.
I think that is their way of getting you to pay for a membership without using your 30 day pass.
I think for me doing it at home is a much better way to go although it would have been a great way to challange myself everyday where this phobia is concerned.
Thanks again for your reply it is very much appreciated.
BTW I did get some of those bands you speak of and I do have hand weights. :)

I'm fine...thanks for asking dbw! :)

I know there are a lot of gyms that try to scam people into buying memberships. I'm glad you're onto them. Sometimes it's good to have a phobia about some things...like dishonest, pushy or rude people. Who wants to have to confront that?

Anyway, working out at home is great. If you want to try to overcome your fears about being around people, there are much less stressful places to try it, like going shopping and making small talk with people...eye contact, smiling first so they'll smile back, complimenting the cashier...little stuff like that can help put you at ease, because you make the first step putting them at ease. I just always figure everyone else must be as shy as I am, so I go out of my way to be really nice and I always feel better.

Take care :)

SRMom, you know that is some great advice. I will do my best and see how that goes. thanks again for your continued replies