severe anxiety about free weights?

I have autism and with that comes a severe anxiety of public places
I've forced myself to go the gym for about 8 months now
I haven't noticed much progress on my upper body and it's most likely because I'm not using free weights or squats racks I just machines
Idk what it is maybe scared of embarrassing myself with bad form or having to use the smallest dumbells/plates on racks I'm not quite sure what to do to even start

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  1. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Shut up no one cares about you just go lift weights

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      I also hate the free weight section, but I used the hack squat machine at my gym for the first time (it's in the middle of the free weight section for me) and now I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm still too scared to use the squat racks, but a month ago I never would have dreamed that I would feel confident enough to even use the hack squat machine.

      I know nobody cares and nobody is paying attention, but it's very hard to feel that way when you're actually there.

      https://i.imgur.com/ZtlCRtn.png

      Anxiety is honestly just another type of narcassism. Literally NO ONE and i mean no one gives a frick about you. Get over yourself and lift.

      People are paying attention and judging though, especially if you have shit form and look like you’re going to hurt yourself.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Your form has to be elaborate suicide tier or you have to be a skinny fat trying to bench 4 plates for anyone to stop you. If someone actually feels a moral imperative to step in. Otherwise NOBODY CARES! Or anyone who does you shouldn't care about.

      • 1 year ago
        Anonymous

        Only spergs will notice unless you are actively injuring yourself

  2. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    i love you op. it'll be ok. just do it and don't be afraid

  3. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    >I haven't noticed much progress on my upper body and it's most likely because I'm not using free weights or squats racks I just machines
    No, its because you are fricking around. You are not training properly and you are not eating properly.

  4. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I also hate the free weight section, but I used the hack squat machine at my gym for the first time (it's in the middle of the free weight section for me) and now I feel a lot more comfortable. I'm still too scared to use the squat racks, but a month ago I never would have dreamed that I would feel confident enough to even use the hack squat machine.

    I know nobody cares and nobody is paying attention, but it's very hard to feel that way when you're actually there.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      https://i.imgur.com/lMInYqJ.jpg

      I have autism and with that comes a severe anxiety of public places
      I've forced myself to go the gym for about 8 months now
      I haven't noticed much progress on my upper body and it's most likely because I'm not using free weights or squats racks I just machines
      Idk what it is maybe scared of embarrassing myself with bad form or having to use the smallest dumbells/plates on racks I'm not quite sure what to do to even start

      You don't need to be confident to use free weights, literally:
      >wear headphones
      >zone out everyone else
      >remember no one is looking at you they are focused on themselves
      >remind yourself that one day (soon if you aren't too moronic) you will be impressing random gym goers with your physique/how much you lift

      Most people I've met understand you are just trying to improve, even the most shredded guys unless they are huge insecure homosexuals are more than happy to help and they are extremely nice and supportive. Everyone started out the same as you, skinny and moronic or fat and moronic.

  5. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I had the same problem. I was tiptoeing around
    Took pre-work out
    Helps loosen you up, lower inhibition
    Made me aggressive and didn't give two fricks about others
    Worked for me

  6. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I'm autistic in the sense that everyone on IST is autistic, not in the medically diagnosible sense.

    Free weights were scary for me too at first.

    You have 3 options.

    1. get a gym buddy. since youre an autist, ideally someone you already know from outside the gym so you're comfortable. having a partner helped with the nerves for me.

    2. use cope machines like the hack machine or smith to gateway into free weights.

    3. suck it up and do it. everyone looks dumb and weak at first, but unless your gym is full of tikthots, nobody is watching and judging you.

    best of luck brah.

  7. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    I feel this as I don't use a barbell for bench due to there not being spotter arms on any of the benches.

    At the very least use a smith. And also dumbbells aren't as scary as you think, just cause there's some monsters in there hurling big ones doesn't mean shit, most people starting out struggle with them cause it's just you and the iron.

  8. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Anxiety is honestly just another type of narcassism. Literally NO ONE and i mean no one gives a frick about you. Get over yourself and lift.

  9. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    What worked for me is go one or two times when no one was around, like super early in the morning or middle of a weekday. Then just frick about, do all the lifts with just the bar or the smallest weight possible. Then go when there are more people about and progressively overload yourself socially to victory. You got this.

  10. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Didn't you feel the same way the first time with machines? Just do a few uncomfortable sessions with new movements and it will wear off

  11. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Everyone’s been there, you just gotta swallow your pride and do it. If you stick with it, you will make exponential gains and after 3 months be lifting a respectable amount.

    • 1 year ago
      Anonymous

      Not true, I was never nervous to use the free weights. In fact I didn’t touch the machines for months because I was so disgusted by the pathetic DYELs that were always occupying them while listing after my curls.

  12. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    the sooner you stop being a little pussy and hitting the racks the better. no one cares about some stupid little twink fumbling around in the gym

  13. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    trust me anyone who cares can already tell you're a clueless noob because you only use machines

  14. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    Thwn stay out of the men's section of the gym.

  15. 1 year ago
    Anonymous

    People aren't paying that much attention.

    But remember this: get in the habit of alternating adding or subtracting the bigger plates on a barbell on either side. Let's say you want to try to do some shrugs. You work up to 315lbs, 3plate, for 20reps. You're elated. You decide to put up the weights and do your cool down. You take of one plate off the left side, then the next two and....BAM. Barbell catapult. People WILL notice that.

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