strong emotion after intense exercise

I have started to notice that I tend to feel some very strong emotions after intense exercise... frustration, anger, impatience.  Does anyone else experience this?

The opposite for me, I started exercising to balance my moods.  Sometimes a really strong feeling of anger or sadness interferes with exercise and I have to stop.  But exercise doesn't intensify negative feelings for me at all.  Only optimism and cheerfulness.

Often exercise like going for a walk makes me feel happier, but yes stuff like exercising with weights and any really intense exercise often makes me feel really frustrated and easily irritated afterwards, so I know how you feel!

I've been on the verge of tears before while working out - especially when I space out a bit and start thinking about things, etc. I enjoy working out because it gives me time to get away from life and reflect. I tend to keep emotionally contained throughout the day and being in the gym helps me get my emotions and frustrations out. It feels good to let it out sometimes...

thank you for the feedback. 

there is a really scientifical explination for what is happening to you. When you exercise it releases chemicals in your brain called epenephrine, dopamine, and endorphins. these are your body natural stimulants and pain releivers. this happens because by exercising you are shocking your body and its reacts by using its defense mechanisms. These chemicals do not slowly release during exercise. They are dumped in one large amount. After exercise your body's hormones are offset because your body is trying to replace these chemicals in your brain as quickly as possible. The strong emotions you feel are mostly common in males after intense weight training but have been found to happen in females.

What is happening in a nutshell is that woman have estrogen as their main hormone while men have testosterone. However, men have low levels of estrogen and women have low levels of testosterone. The way your body actually stabilizes these hormones is by elevating the opposite hormone and causes a spike reaction within your endocrine system that drastically increases your dominant hormone. This process causes emotions specifically to felt that are not normal. It is merely a defense mechanism. Nothing to worry about.

After a 20 mile hike, I've found myself on the brink of homicide, as my extremely fit, long-distance walker boyfriend is happily chatting, punning, skipping away, fresh as a daisy, while I have my head down, grunting single-word responses to his frivolous comments.

 

Is this the kind of emotion you are talking about?

 

Jasontarin - thank you for your post!  I feel more relieved knowing there is a scientific basis for the way I've been feeling.  You explained the process very well.  It has happened several times now, always after I push myself super hard on a bike ride.  I was feeling kind of confused about it because I thought I was supposed to be feeling 'rainbows and lollipops' after exercising.  Hormones.... they're a roller coaster ride!

linden - those are the exact kind of emotions I am talking about.   'Brink of homicide' is a great phrase to discribe my day yesterday.  I seem to be much better today, but man, yesterday was a doosey.  :-)

Thanks for the support!

Original Post by linden:

After a 20 mile hike, I've found myself on the brink of homicide, as my extremely fit, long-distance walker boyfriend is happily chatting, punning, skipping away, fresh as a daisy, while I have my head down, grunting single-word responses to his frivolous comments.

 

Is this the kind of emotion you are talking about?

 

 I've experienced that too, but usually when an obviously-not-even-30-yet girl beats me down the field YET AGAIN and threatens to score against us during a 30+ game. Can you believe people cheat to win something this unimportant? And that I let myself get all worked up about it? But homicidal rage--yeah, been there!

Usually, however, my hard work brings on the most amazing sense of peace and relaxation. Definitely a high to which I am happily addicted.

not to lower the tone, but after heavy lifting, if im not exhausted, i get horny (well hornier). and also the day after heavy lifting.

uh yeah... anyone else find the comment above this one disturbing and rudely inappropriate? 

not really, I kinda want to meet her, haha

Original Post by jasontarin:

uh yeah... anyone else find the comment above this one disturbing and rudely inappropriate? 

disturbing? really? i've read other places where its documented other people having an increased libido from training. i guess i was just being too honest. but it is one of the things i have actually experienced since lifting more, so its not really inappropriate??. its also been documented that after your body releases endorphins, your body also releases certain hormones that increase sex drive. i guess maybe i should've been more clinical with my post. sorry if i offended anyone. im really not a 'disturbing' person, im no prude but i've never been called disturbing?

 

I tend to get easily 'scared' since working out for me puts me in a daze - my eyes glaze over when I jog, I focus into my kicks with the Eye of the Tiger. Other than that, exercising has put me in better moods in general.

I didn't think the comment about being horny was out of place.  I mean, it's a discussion about how you feel after a workout, and hormones and brain chemistry were brought up. 

I for one agree 100% that exercise of either sort (cardio or weights) tends to increase my libido.  I'm not sure whether it's chemical, or because it makes me feel strong and proud.  Either way I don't question it, I just enjoy it. 

i always get really chatty.  Only other emotional change would have to be like an excited / happy high.

LOl, that's funny.  Someone who has their pelvic bones showing in their profile picture thinks that "horny" is inappropriate in a fitness forum. 

"Increased libido" is definitely a side effect of fitness.  For me, loss of inappropriate libido (compulsive sexual habits) has also occurred after regular exercise.  I'm just a lot more "normal" now. 

Original Post by mrsdagle:

LOl, that's funny. Someone who has their pelvic bones showing in their profile picture thinks that "horny" is inappropriate in a fitness forum.

"Increased libido" is definitely a side effect of fitness. For me, loss of inappropriate libido (compulsive sexual habits) has also occurred after regular exercise. I'm just a lot more "normal" now.

thank you! i dont know now, are you being sarcastic jasontarin? some times that doesn't come through with these posts. cuz surely 'horny' isn't a disturbing side effect, in fact im sure it would help to encourage others to exercise. and i only really get it after i've done heavy lifting (another reason some women should try it). but maybe that sounded too close to heavy petting, which has the same side effect.