Submitted via IRC for chromas
Psychologists say exercise addiction falls under the category of behavioural addiction, in which a person's behaviour becomes obsessive, compulsive, or causes dysfunction in a person's life.
It is thought to affect about 3% of people, rising to 10% among high-performance runners.
Typically, those most vulnerable are amateur athletes, such as Valerie, seeking relief from internal distress, says consultant psychologist Dr Chetna Kang, from The Priory Hospital in north London.
"Often people come to a clinic with a relationship breakdown, anxiety, depression... but as you start to unpick that, you realise exercise is the culprit," Dr Kang says.
"It's not extremely common but it's becoming more so."
[...] Martin Turner, a sports and exercise psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, has worked with and studied athletes for 10 years and regularly comes across people consumed by their athletic identity.
"They form the idea that their success as an athlete reflects their worth as a human being, 'I succeed as an athlete, therefore I am valuable. I fail as an athlete, therefore I am worthless,'" he says.
"Running is now part of who you are. If you don't run, who are you?"
Mr Turner's studies show these kinds of "illogical beliefs" are associated with greater exercise dependence, depression, anger, anxiety, and burnout.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 10 2019, @08:11AM (1 child)
LOL, white people.
White men are pathetic.
That's why they're paedophiles: can't handle a real Woman.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 11 2019, @02:03AM
Are you Obama Bin Lacking...
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by ilPapa on Tuesday December 10 2019, @11:36AM (9 children)
I believe I can safely say that addiction to exercise is not a problem anyone here on Soylent News will ever experience.
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 10 2019, @11:54AM
Do you even lift brah?
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday December 10 2019, @12:08PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 10 2019, @02:00PM (1 child)
I work out my frustrations in the gym after work almost every day. Usually it's a steady pace but like someone once said, in times of great stress a startling metamorphosis occurs...
(Score: 3, Funny) by deathlyslow on Tuesday December 10 2019, @02:12PM
Dr. Banner is that you?
(Score: 2) by RamiK on Tuesday December 10 2019, @02:24PM (1 child)
Well, to be fair, seeing how the exercising population is just about 5% of the general population and the original study states:
0.15% is rather lacking in practical relevance to begin with.
compiling...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 10 2019, @03:04PM
Proving yet again that Soylent News caters to the fringes... I am one of those who has been addicted to exercise, and diagnosed as such.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by woodcruft on Tuesday December 10 2019, @03:36PM
I did when I was cycling a lot ~20 years ago.
If I didn't get out for a ride of >25 miles at least every couple of days, then I would start to get somewhat depressed and cranky.
I'd say it almost certainly is NOT just psychological either. It's well known that you produce endorphins (aka "natural opiates") with exercise.
These are thought to be responsible for a "runner's high". Withdrawal causes the opposite but nothing remotely as bad as that from real opiates.
:wq!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 10 2019, @08:27PM
Dunno. I come here very regularly to get my hackles up and opinions taken three times around the dance floor. I prop up my ideas and do reading sprints.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 12 2019, @06:24AM
(Score: 2) by Username on Wednesday December 11 2019, @01:20AM
that exorcise is a disease?