When Does Working Out Become an Addiction?
Exercise addiction is probably the most contradictory of all the addictions. Not only is exercise a widely promoted health behavior, it is an important part of recovery from another addiction, and an effective part of treatment for depression and other mental health problems. This is because exercise has many psychological benefits, as well as physical benefits. In fact, the positive effects of exercise, and particularly outdoor exercise are on a par with medications as a treatment for depression, which often co-occurs with or underlies addictions.
Yet, like everything else, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. And it is possible to develop an addiction to exercise, in much the same way you can develop an addiction to behaviors and substances widely known to be harmful, such as gambling and alcohol.
So how do you know whether you are engaged in a healthy lifestyle, or whether you have a problem? Well, the first step is to understand what an addiction is. Think about how you would feel if you were unable to exercise for a day, a week, or indefinitely. Would it bother you? Would it be a nice rest? Most importantly, would you find it hard to cope with life without daily exercise?
If you feel distressed at the thought of not being able to exercise every day, and at a loss for how you would manage your feelings and get through the day and night without exercising at some point, it may be time to seek help. Unfortunately, exercise addiction is not well recognised, so may not be as well-resourced as other addictions, such as alcohol and drugs. However, your family doctor should be able to advise you, and you may be able to access support through an addictions clinic. Psychologists are usually well-trained in helping people manage change in their lives, so finding a psychologist to support you may also be an option.
If you are exercising frequently, but are not really concerned about how it would feel if you couldn't exercise, you are probably not addicted, although it may be worth discussing how much exercise is healthy for you with your family doctor, or someone with expertise in exercise, such as a personal trainer or gym instructor. The amount and type of exercise that is healthy will depend on many factors, including your age, health, sex, and physical condition. If you find it hard to limit your exercise to what they advise, it may be time to seek help.
Great post, Elizabeth! There’s such a fine line between being an exercise fanatic and taking things too far into addiction. You’re right that some people may not recognize it’s a problem since exercise is something we want people to do (and, often, the more the better). Thanks for bringing this into the light.
I absolutely agree. Most people need more exercise, and should be encouraged to exercise daily.
Thank you for this post. I am an addict in recovery that before I came to a 12 step program, I had many years of non-use but no recovery during this time… for me I know about exercise as an addiction along with many other actions that have nothing to do with drugs… ones actions can become just as obsessive and compulsive as any drugs i could ever put into my body…
Good point, and one that has been recognized by some authors. Patrick Carnes, who wrote a lot on sex addiction, says that rather than categorizing the behavior, we should focus on what the behavior is doing for the person.
Many behaviors are used by addicts and non-addicts to alter the way they feel, including food, gambling, alcohol, and high-risk experiences.
When one behavior become depended on as THE way to control feelings, it becomes an addiction.