Some Days I Struggle Too: Mental Health and the Gym
You know I'm a personal trainer.
The kind who talks about motivation, resilience, and the power of moving your body.
You also know I live with mental health challenges.
And some days, I struggle too.
This isn't about toxic positivity or pretending exercise fixes everything. This is about honesty. About meeting yourself where you are. About learning to care for your body when your brain feels like it's working against you.
This is for anyone who's ever wondered:
"How do I exercise when I'm mentally exhausted?"
"Why do I feel guilty for missing workouts?"
"Can fitness and mental health actually work together?"
The Myth of the Always-Motivated Trainer
Here's what people assume about personal trainers: we're always energised, always ready for early mornings and green smoothies, always grinning while lifting heavy things.
The reality?
Many of us quietly navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other challenges.
For me, some days look like dragging myself out of bed, feeling anxious or emotionally flat, wanting nothing to do with training.
If I feel that way with all my knowledge, access, and experience, of course you might feel that way too.
Remember these three things:
You are not alone
You are not lazy
You are not failing
When Personal Trainers Struggle Too
I've had days where putting on gym clothes felt mountainous. Days where facing people, noise, and mirrors was overwhelming. Days where I trained not because I wanted to, but because I knew movement might help.
That's the reality behind the Instagram posts and workout routines.
What Actually Helps (and What Doesn't)
Let's be real: telling someone with depression to "just go for a run" can feel insulting. Sometimes we don't need cheerleading; we need compassion and a realistic plan.
Here are strategies I use with myself and clients navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, or chronic stress:
1. Lower the Barrier to Entry
When a full workout feels overwhelming, scale it down drastically:
Get dressed in activewear. That's it.
Do 5 minutes of stretching in your kitchen
Walk around the block (not a 10k hike)
Choose one exercise, one set
The win is showing up for yourself, not crushing a workout.
2. Build Flexible Routines, Not Rigid Schedules
Mental health doesn't follow a calendar. Create routines that bend without breaking:
Instead of: "Cardio Monday, strength Wednesday, yoga Friday" Try: "I move my body three times this week, however that looks"
Instead of: "6 AM workout every day" Try: "Morning movement if I sleep well, evening walk if not"
Routines should support you, not become another source of failure.
3. Manage Sensory Overwhelm
If you're neurodivergent or sensitive to stimulation, gyms can be a lot. The music, lights, people, smells—it's overwhelming.
What helps:
Noise-cancelling headphones or loop earplugs
Off-peak hours (mid-morning, early afternoon)
Comfortable, familiar clothes
A clear plan so you're not making decisions while overstimulated
You're allowed to curate your environment. You don't have to "tough it out."
4. Use Movement as a Tool, Not a Cure
Exercise can improve mood, energy, and sleep. But it won't erase trauma, replace therapy, or cure mental health conditions.
Think of movement as one tool in your mental health kit, alongside rest, medication (if applicable), therapy, journaling, and connection.
Some weeks, movement keeps you grounded. Other weeks, rest is the most radical self-care. Both are valid.
5. Find Your People
Isolation feeds shame. Connection lessens it.
This is why I speak openly about mental health, why I created Not So Typical Fitness; to build a space where you don't have to pretend you're okay to belong.
If you're not ready to share publicly, that's fine.
But try opening up to at least one safe person. It makes the weight a little lighter.
A problem shared is a problem halved.
The Bottom Line
I'm not here to tell you to get up and "crush it." I'm here to say I see you. I've been there.
Movement can be a soft, supportive space when we remove the pressure and focus on care. Fitness isn't reserved for the mentally well—it belongs to you too.
However you're feeling today, you're worthy of care. You're allowed to take up space in a gym. You're doing your best, and that's more than enough.
Want support that actually gets it? I offer 1:1 personal training (at the gym, at home or online) and beginner-friendly classes at JD Gyms in Wolverhampton for people navigating mental health and fitness.
Not ready yet? Join the free Not So Typical Fitness community on Heartbeat; no pressure, just connection.
