Do you find relief in the gym?

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Clearly team sports can be a b***h given that you're teammates are always expecting you to be razor sharp, and you can't work at your own given pace.

But just wondering, do any of you find relief with training at a gym (either running, swimming or weights)?

For me, it gave me a bigger rush than I think any drug could [then again, having ADHD, I'm effectively immune to the euphoric effects of stimulants anyway].

In a way it does (even though, currently it's being negated by the fact that I need to walk through the cold to visit the gym, lol); clearly it doesn't offer me enough relief.

Anyway; I can relate to this and it did more for me in terms of health than I at first expected. Though honestly, my main motivation was to find something to do at night when I creative juices are running low. Rather spend that time on something useful than staring at a screen.

As a kid I tried numerous sports; soccer, swimming, athletics and a handful of martial arts, all with variying degrees of success, but the entire "team" thing or even "getting along with others" was never my strongpoint. Nor am I one for planning and dealing with a trainer on set times.

The gym makes me work at my own pace, whenever and however I want. If I don't want to do much, but at least attend, I can do a 30 minute generic workout, while other days, I might do a more intensive 1+ hour one.

I think for me, it also helps that the gym I visit is, in a way, quite aspie friendly. It's open 24/7 which for me means that I often end up going there at 2 am or so, and no one else is around. But it rarely is really, really crowded during daytime or so I've noticed... though being there all alone makes me a bit more comfortable though.

Nope, not for me. If I were to die and wake up in hell it would be a gym. Don't care for exercise, swimming or any of that. Perhaps it comes from my bad experiences at school in gym class...which was a nightmare.

That's the best thing about going as an adult. You can do it however you see fit.

Yes same here.
It is something that my brain recognizes as a "real" effect.
The "feel good" chemicals are not simply triggered by conceptual leaps in the mind.

I'm not immune to all drugs, but apparently to some of them, and I have generally experienced quite a bit of anhedonia of various types.

I don't go to a gym, but I do workout & run and kite board when I can, might go snowboarding this winter, mountain biking here and there, hiking etc, bit of yoga stretching - I do really get a lot out being active & fit. Keeps the mind healthy and stable and me in a better mood and so on. Physical health is key to neurological and mental health. Getting outside and really givin' 'er is amazingly head clearing. I also tend to have a clear mind to think through some ideas or situations and sometimes have "eureka" breakthrough moments while I'm running that I otherwise wouldn't have, so sometimes I go for a run to clear my head and end up dreaming up a great idea I can then run with in other areas of my life. So yeah, while I never go to a gym, I do find relief in being physically active for sure.

That is true. I tried going for awhile, lifted weights, worked the machines, took a karate class, etc. Just didn't care for the environment and it was expensive as well. Plus, to me, life is just too short to work up a sweat.

For quite sometime, I did. I had attained a very high level of fitness (for someone with COPD) and was at around 12% bodyfat earlier this year, through a combination of circuits, weights, boxing, running and elliptical. I had a trainer for a time too. Boxing definitely helped with my aggression and as a point of focus and obviously, it put me into a semi-social situation I suppose. I fell out of it a few months ago, due to depression, among other things, but hope to get back into it next year. I also studied a lot on nutrition and fitness, so I suppose in a sense, it became something of a special interest.

LOL you're right there

That's a big part of why I like my gym… it's open 24/7 & costs Free.99… it's called OUTSIDE!

I don't really get the appeal of gyms. Well, they don't appeal to me, anyways. I'd way rather just get outside and do stuff vs. pay to make a trip to a gym to do stuff. Once in a blue moon I will go to a rec centre for a swim & sauna, though.

In a large sense, gyms seem to be for people to socialize.

I think this is a separate issue from that of either exercising or not exercising.
I'm lucky to be able to work out in my home.
It doesn't cost anything, but it also adds to my isolation, which isn't necessarily good in the long run.

I must be doing it wrong then, lol.

I pick my times on purpose when no one is around (or at least outside of peak hours).

Perhaps it's not the socializing that bothers me though; I just hate it when I can't go on with my own routine if someone else is using the equipment