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Exercise has many benefits, but addiction to it can interfere with daily life. Signs of addiction include prioritizing exercise over other activities and feeling anxious when missing a workout. The cause of exercise addiction is unknown, but it can be linked to eating disorders. Seeking help from a healthcare provider is recommended.
Exercise offers many benefits, including increased energy levels, increased self-esteem, and an increased sense of physical well-being. However, it is possible to become addicted to exercise. While an addiction to exercise is quite rare and not as dangerous as addiction to heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed in a timely manner.
Technically speaking, an addiction is something that is interfering with your work, relationships, or other important daily activities. If you plan your entire day around your visits to the gym, you may be addicted to exercise. If the people around you say that they feel like your exercise routine is always their top priority, you may be addicted to exercise. If you miss your child’s dance recital and cancel plans with your friends to go for a run, you may be addicted to exercise. It’s okay to enjoy exercise, but not to the extent that you neglect other aspects of your life. Balance is the key to determining whether or not a behavior is a healthy habit.
Another potential way to tell if you have a problem with overexercising is how you feel when you skip a workout. Do you feel irritable and anxious? Do you try to punish yourself for a missed workout by pushing even harder when you get back to the gym? If you’re having trouble letting yourself miss even one day of exercise, you may have a problem.
The cause of an addiction to exercise is unknown. Unsurprisingly, some people overexercise because they are trying to get in shape or make up for perceived physical flaws. Others, however, simply enjoy the “runner’s high” that occurs when the body releases beta-endorphins after an intense workout. Sometimes people who are addicted to exercise can have problems with eating disorders. Young women suffering from anorexia, for example, often develop extreme exercise regimens in an attempt to further accelerate their weight loss. They will exercise for hours at a time, even if they are injured. Bulimics will also sometimes exercise for long periods to help offset their binge episodes.
If you think you may be addicted to exercise, the first step in addressing the problem is to talk to your health care provider. He or she will be able to assess your exercise habits and determine if counseling or other treatment options may be necessary.
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