Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us? Learning to cope with an injury can be soul-crushing, especially if being active is a big part of your identity. Petersburg, Florida. Neurotransmitters are flying, your fight-or-flight response is activated, and your brain is working hard to process the physical feeling of injury, too, says Daya Grant, PhD, a Los Angeles-based neuroscientist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant.
Your brain is also trying to process things emotionally, and this combination of things can cause anxiety , depression, and panic, she says. Taking a break from exercise can feel like a loss. You might feel frustrated and helpless knowing your injury is out of your control.
This negativity bias can carry over to everything else in your life, like your relationships , work, family, and other hobbies, causing you to feel frustrated about those aspects, too. A new hobby that stimulates you socially, emotionally, and physically—similar to how exercise did— will help you feel more like yourself.
First, think about why you enjoy working out in the first place. Is it the endorphin rush? Feeling strong and accomplished? Then, your goal is to find other ways to get a similar feeling.
For example, if the social aspect of fitness makes you happy, maybe you can get that same positive energy from a book club or local meetup. If you love the mental and physical stimulation that exercise provides, maybe you can get it from trivia night with friends or volunteering in the community.
