Exercise Addiction
Exercise Addiction: When Healthy Turns Dangerous
Exercise addiction is a psychological addiction to exercise, where the sufferer has an unreasonable dependence on exercise which they are unable to control on their own. Exercise addiction is extremely rare, but it can be just as extremely debilitating as well as dangerous.
When a person develops an addiction to exercise, they exhibit many of the same types of behaviors that are associated with other psychological addictions. Basically, exercise addicts feel that they absolutely have to exercise every single day, and sometimes more than once a day.
Exercise addiction is much more than a desire to stay fit and healthy, which is perfectly normal and beneficial. Being addicted to exercise involves an uncontrollable need to workout all the time and a deeply felt fear that failing to exercise will bring on terrible consequences.
Think you know someone who is addicted to exercising? Here are some of the most common symptoms that are found in an exercise addict:
• Exercise is one of the most important things in their life.
• Exercise routinely takes the place of other everyday activities.
• Daily exercise commitments will interfere with normal relationships.
• They are a perfectionist when it comes to exercising and body image.
• An exercise addict will often workout despite fatigue, illness or injury.
• Failing to exercise is seen as a weakness.
• Missing a workout is simply not an option, even if it means sacrificing something else.
• Normal signs of a balanced life, like friends and hobbies, are missing.
• The overall quality of the person's life is not considered to be very good.
While an exercise addict will more than likely have a fit appearance, there will almost always be hidden problems underneath the surface. Since the addict is unable to say no to exercise, it is not unusual for them to exercise through minor injuries that could easily lead to more serious injuries. Additionally, since they always want to get that exercise fix, they are likely to workout to the point of extreme exhaustion or injury.
Many addictions have their roots in two things: environmental stressors and past experiences, and exercise addiction may be the result of this type of stimulus. If a person develops a negative body image at an early age, that thought pattern will persist no matter what their body actually looks like. It is common for a person with an unrealistic body image to become obsessed with exercise because exercise is seen as a good way to change their body, which they view in a negative light.
Treatment for someone who is addicted to exercise is similar to what would be used for cases of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help an addict see that their thinking is inaccurate and develop new ways of behaving that reflect more realistic thought patterns.