Is regular exercise a necessity for Aspies?

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Hi! I am new here. I don't have an official diagnosis, but after, well, lots of reading and writing, and questioning... I'm quite sure I share of a lot of traits... When I started reading about this, I read about meltdowns and thought I didn't have them... But oh! wait! I've realized I do have meltdowns. I call them migraines. Had them all my life. I get in a sonophobic, photophobic, any stimuli phobic state, that state preceding the pain, sometimes there is no pain... Happens quite often. I gobble ibuprofen as if it were candy. Should buy the company.

But there was a period in my life when I went on for a long time having very few of them... I was working out an hour a day, really hard, keeping my pulse over 150 all that time...

So, I'm thinking, maybe "aspie machinery" needs to be more finely tuned than most... Or maybe it's just the endorphins doing their job (best drug ever). What do you think?

Meanwhile, since empirical method has proved useful before, I'm going to work out.

Exercise is good for any and everybody regardless of whether they are on the Autism/Asperger's spectrum or not.

It improves overall health, circulation, muscle and bone strength, and yes, it does generate mood boosting endorphins. So, yes, it can help with some issues for those on the spectrum.

Exercise and a generally active lifestyle should be mandatory for everyone.

From an AS point of view, for me exercise is essential and is a big part of my daily life. At the moment I no longer belong to a gym but I have in the past and very much enjoyed it. I didn't do group classes apart from a few occasions for obvious reasons but I did enjoy the gym, the nice thing about gyms is you don't have to have any interraction with other people if you don't want to.
I walk a lot, I don't drive so I walk everywhere. On average I walk 30+ miles a week, (not including walking I do with my parents or dogs. I love walking, I love the movement, walking sometimes is a stim for me and I do it a lot when I am anxious. I'm also hoping to get a crosstrainer soon because I love the movement of it.

I run six miles every morning and genuinely find that it helps with reducing anxiety and 'calming' my mind. If i don't run, I get stressed a lot more easily and have more meltdowns. It also makes me feel more 'real' (not sure if that makes sense), like I'm more engaged with things instead of slightly removed from people, especially at school/work.

I get migraines and I get meltdowns. To me they're not the same thing. But they do seem related, I sometimes get migraines as a result of meltdowns, or any other kind of stress, and my migraines can sometimes be triggered by sensory triggers like bright light or color patterns. But usually there's some other stressor at work as well as the sensory issue, such as a strange situation, fatigue, hunger, and so forth.

Maybe it has to do with holding a meltdown at bay, as that can take a lot of effort, is internalizing the feelings, and it does seem that could result in a migraine. So yeah, maybe. (I'm also self-diagnosed btw.)

Exercise stimulates endorphins and helps people's stress levels stay more even. It could reduce sensory issues, I suppose. Hadn't really thought about it. It also regulates blood pressure, which can be a part of what makes a migraine happen. So maybe you have something there.

+1

Also, if you are prone to depression, then exercise helps. I am prone to depression and have used antidepressants before, but I feel like I am in a stable emotional place with regular exercise even without medication. I would be a mess without it.

+2

I once rang my Mum on the verge of a meltdown. She's only just really coming to understand autism and didn't even believe I had it at first. But this time she says "I've been reading about AS - have you been for a run today? Go for a run! Go on - get your shoes on, get your ipod and call me in half an hour!" Lol, it was actually quite funny. Well, I did it and half an hour later I was feeling a lot better. Sometimes mums do know best, I guess

i have been sick for 3 weeks and havent workout since 3 weeks. and i started to have meltdown, like incredible one since 2 weeks. i am pretty sure its linked to the fact that my brain dont get is fix of endorphines as it used to.

workout is good for everybody but i think its even more important for us, aspie, as we tend to have meltdown and anxiety a lot..

I try to exercise an hour a day. Usually it's walking and running. I get about three miles in. If I am feeling really energetic I can get 4.5.

I have to exercise.

I have exercised every day for a little while now. I feel so much better in almost every way.

If I don't exercise I get trapped in a cycle of getting weak and out of shape, and that makes me feel depressed, so I don't feel like exercising, and there begins the circle.

So I have to keep doing it. Even if it's just a little a day. It makes all the difference. If I don't exercise I am so unhappy.

I love to play sports like bowling, and ride bicycles. I would like to play softball or baseball for fun, but haven't in years and years.