Running is so addictive because it releases endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good. Running also boosts confidence and self-esteem, and can be a great way to clear your head and relieve stress. It also helps to create a sense of accomplishment and can be a great way to track progress and set new goals.
As runners, we’ve all gone through intense training phases where our focus is like a laser and we work hard to get the best of ourselves. Since I was in college, I have followed strict race schedules and ambitious competition goals.
Like most people facing major life transitions, I struggled. My natural instinct was to increase my mileage and train for a half marathon. So I thought running would be a part of my life after college; it was a natural next step. The long miles and solo workouts were what I was familiar with and provided a comforting routine in my new life.
Reach Out
There is hope for people who struggle with a compulsive mindset. This means that through hard, intentional, and uncomfortable work(running), people change their mindset to become more flexible and free in their choices around the movement.
Experts recommend body analysis meditations for athletes or anyone who tends to detach from their own body. This involves creating a deep connection with physical sensations that might otherwise be left out of movement. By mentally scanning from head to toe, athletes can readjust to their physical body and regain consciousness within them.
What is exercise addiction?
Exercise addiction is a behavior pattern in which a person loses control over their exercise habits, shows total dependence on exercise, and will do so even while suffering negative consequences such as injuries, health, work, and social life.
Surely you have heard or experienced the various benefits and positive effects that running or doing sports have on us, such as the perception of pain.
Increasingly
Physical activity releases endorphins, mood-enhancing chemicals, in the brain. Running and other forms of cardio like cycling release more than other forms of exercise, hence the runner’s high, and therein lies the rub: the more you relax, the better you feel and the more you gain. Running can really become a drug.
«Endorphins provide a pleasurable physiological response: they help explain why we want to repeat the experience,» says Andy Lane, professor of sports psychology at the University of Wolverhampton. “However, this response must be accompanied by pleasant thoughts, a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of well-being. In many cases, runners benefit from social support and, along with the endorphins, this provides the double boost that likely strengthens the connection. »
