I was having this issue earlier this year after about ten years of not enough exercise (with some years excepted). A couple of years ago, a routine physical showed a small blip on my EKG, "nothing to worry about, but here, go see this cardiologist". A (very stressful) stress test and a holter monitor test later, the doc didn't seem to think my EKG issue (a right bundle branch block) was much to worry about, but "you really need to get your fast heartrate down, if it's not a medical issue then you need serious psychological help", so thanks doc! It's known as "white coat syndrome", medical settings scare the crap out of me.

Anyway, for the next couple of years I found exercise in some ways to be stress-relieving as it always did, but the shadow of "what if your heart is bad" was really messing it up. I developed palpitations which persisted for about a year, scaring the crap out of me regularly.

The two things that have at least for now ameliorated it are: 1. I went on antidepressants (lexapro), this is not the first time I've been on them and despite HNsers who think they're bunk, it's pretty obvious they have a positive effect, and 2. I got a personal trainer at the gym. Both have downsides: one is side effects, the other is PTs are incredibly expensive. But the advantage of the PT is, she pushes me so hard that you get to experience levels of cardio workout that are way beyond what I normally would do on my own. So between just experiencing ridiculous, prolonged cardio workouts as well as the heart strengthening effect they have, my resting heartrate is down to 60 at night and I don't generally have palpitations. I wouldn't say the problem is solved, but working out very intensely with someone there who will most likely call 911 if you keel over has been helpful.

I've been there, and meds helped me get over the initial hump. Using an exercise heart rate monitor also helped. For me, the thought of heart failure was a trigger for panic attacks. The heart rate monitor allowed me to watch my heart rate rise as I ran harder and fall when I went back to walking. It had an anxiolytic effect. After a few sessions on the treadmill I no longer needed benzos to get through 30 minutes of activity.

It's not something to beat yourself up over, or to feel stuck because you can't do it. I think the benefit of exercise has more to do with a feeling of accomplishment than the exercise itself. I wish I had a surefire cure for anxiety, but I'm sure it's not exercise.

That's tough and I hope you find a way to manage this.

Regular exercise has all sorts of benefits including (in general) reducing anxiety, but single sessions of exercise often feel like they have negative consequences.

It gets easier...i find when i am running it is stressful naturally because of the physical hardship on your body. However i find the big payoff is how you feel afterwards.

Walking is a good place to start.