If the gym is a
modern torture chamber then it is one in which you pay your
hard-earned money to attend. Where you pay yet more
hard-earned money to acquire the services of a
brutal,
sadistic, and
overzealous personal trainer who will do their best to make you hate
life the following
morning.
But really it all depends upon what you want out of it. In modern days the gym can be a place of peace and relaxation with just you; some weights and/or machines; bad music covered up by good music thanks to whatever portable music gizmo you favor, and a handful of muscle-bound cavemen screaming at each other to do one more rep, or it can be a torture chamber if that floats your boat.
Whatever the gym is to you, at the very least you should feel healthier afterwards. If not, you're probably overtraining.