Do You Have The Signs Of Exercise Addiction?
Are you an addict?
…
Whoa, before you answer that and possibly disclose waaaaaayyyyyyy more information than you should, please allow me to explain what I’m referring to!
Now, regular exercise provides the benefit of helping to improve health and performance in everyday life, as well as attainment of a physique that meets this society’s standard of beauty. Having commitment to the gym certainly has its perks, whether that be personal or social, but that commitment to working out can easily creep from simple dedication to the more extreme form of it, which is obsession.
When one’s dedication to the gym becomes an unhealthy obsession, it’s known as exercise addiction. Although it’s not currently listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), exercise addiction is recognized as a psychological condition where the space occupied by exercise isn’t nominal like it’s meant to be but is instead outsized to the point that one’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior center around exercise to the detriment of other activities and responsibilities.
Basically, exercise addiction involves the pursuit of health and fitness going from something that adds to the quality of one’s life to something that takes away from it, as exercise interferes with things it shouldn’t, such as relationships, and causes harm to the mind and body instead of its intended good. Some examples of the latter issues that can arise as a result of exercise addiction include heart problems, irregular menstruation and possible fertility issues, joint pain, muscle soreness, and increased risk of injury from muscle atrophy and the loss of bone mass and weakening of the bones. Oh, and there’s also headache, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, depression, and trouble falling and staying asleep, as well as difficulty with concentrating and focusing. And as if that weren’t enough, also on the list are the variety of mental and physical effects of the eating disorders and body image issues that are prone to occur alongside, if not cause, exercise addiction, such as anorexia, bulimia, and body and muscle dysmorphia, respectively.1Eating disorders and body image issues sometimes precede exercise addiction and cause it rather than occur as a symptom of it. The same goes for depression and anxiety. Substance use and extreme weight loss goals are also common causes of exercise addiction, as well as exercise itself due to it triggering the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins and dopamine, which someone may begin to crave and become dependent on. Whew, that’s a lot of shit!
Given the adverse effects on your health and wellbeing, you’re probably wondering what the signs of exercise addiction are to prevent some of the worst consequences of it, right? I know, it’s a stupid question. Of course you’re wondering that!2How did I know? Because I’m omniscient, DUH!!!
Being the case that you’re obviously wondering what the signs of exercise addiction are, here are some questions to ask yourself. If you answer yes to any of them, then you possibly need to take a step back from the gym and seek help, if necessary.
Exercise Addiction Questionnaire
• Do you step on the scale every hour with expectations of a different reading?
• Do you have to see if your figure or a body part has changed every time you walk past a mirror or reflective object?
• Do you work out no matter how injured or close to death with illness you are?
• Do you work out for hours on end?
• Do you work out for days straight without a rest day in sight?
• Do you steer all conversations to the topic of diet and exercise?3In all honesty, you’re not all that worldly, let alone educated. So your limited subject matter is pretty understandable!
• Do you miss family obligations, like your child’s birthday party, so you can work out?4In all honesty, they’re only two-years-old. How much of your bad parenting are they really going to remember at that age?!
• Do you miss social events, like your friend’s wedding, so you can work out?5In all honesty, given that 80 percent of couples divorce within the first 4-5 years of marriage and your friend is a supreme douchebag, who can really blame you?!?!
• When you find extra time, do you decide to work out more instead of going to the hospital to sit by a loved one’s deathbed, for instance?
• When you miss a workout, do you get so angry that the rage results in you transforming into the Incredible Hulk?
• Do you pass on attending functions with your friends and family only because the function interferes with your ability to eat according to your diet?
• When you go to social gatherings, do you have difficulty behaving like a normal person by eating a slice of cake, pizza, or any other “bad” food?
• When you eat a slice of cake, pizza, or any other “bad” food, do you calculate the extra exercise you’re going to have to do as soon as you get home to burn the calories off?
• Do you count and track the calories and nutritional value of every single thing that goes into your mouth right down to your partner’s love juices?
Glossary: atrophy, calories, dedicated, diet, exercise, fitness, goal, gym, hormones, muscle soreness, physique, rest day, work out, workout
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