It’s normal to avoid things if we feel it will hurt. Therefore it is natural to feel anxious about exercising. It is important to manage your anxiety and fear of re-injury in order to regain normal muscle function. The basis for feeling anxiety about lower back pain lies in the central nervous system, which responds to pain by instructing the muscles near the affected part to protect against further injury. Only appropriate physical training that specifically compels the muscles to improve their function can overcome this neurological barrier to normal muscle function.
Remember that exercise releases the natural chemicals — such as adrenalin — that accumulate during stress. Exercise relieves chronic muscle tension, reduces insomnia, and decreases depression and anxiety. So it’s best to get back on that horse. For example, someone who has a history of panic attacks doesn’t mind jogging and uses it for stress relief, but some anxious people fear that exercise could trigger a panic attack. There is good research showing that physical exercise improves physical and mental health, including anxiety and depression. People who exercise are less likely to have an anxiety disorder, and exercise naturally increases some of the brain proteins that help us learn that we are safe.
