Do you have an exercise addiction?
For some people,
exercise can become compulsive, to a degree which is as
physically, psychologically and
emotionally destructive as ingesting
chemicals. Like other addictions (
gambling, work, alcohol), the need to compulsively
exercise is informed by a range of motivations. These can include avoidance, mood manipulation, a desire to control, and as a general method of coping with life.
How common is it?
Exercise addiction is rare but may be on the increase as exercise patterns change, particularly as
exercise is culturally acceptable, even admired. It is widely believed that exercise addiction is linked to the
eating disorder anorexia nervosa, which affects approximately 1% of the population.
How do I know if I have it?
The feeling of having to exercise interferes with all aspects of a person’s life. All addictions are
progressive. Increasingly, exercise can become the ‘organising principle’ in the persons life at the expense of non exercise activities - relationships, family, work etc. There may be heightening
anticipation/preoccupation and an increasing need to create exercise “opportunities”. This is so despite the diminishing efficiency of the behaviour - the addictive ‘high’ becomes progressively less available and depression, anxiety, social/emotional isolation, sleep disturbance become symptomatic. The addict will progressively become devious, defensive and secretive in pursuing/increasing exercise opportunities. The addict will rationalise and justify to safeguard what is increasingly becoming
pathological behaviours.
Can it be cured?
The addiction ‘cycle’ dictates that, in attempting to cope with these problems, the person will more actively and purposefully engage in addictive behaviour. From the addicts perspective, it can seem impossible to arrest this cycle without assistance. Chronic exercise addiction can be a severely debilitating condition meriting
clinical intervention, even hospitalisation.
