i keep up exercise for health reasons and because i do have a higher energy level if i'm in better shape.

however, both during and for two or three hours after exercising, the emotional effect is very negative. i feel much more anxious, prone to negative thoughts, self-critical, pessimistic, sometimes angry.

the benefits are definitely real but I feel like I am paying a very large cost to get them. i've tried lots of different forms of exercise and they all have this effect if i push to a reasonable level of intensity.

i'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience and managed to find a place where exercising makes them feel happy.