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This paper explores exercise as an addiction. Although many scholars and clinicians tend to differ in their meanings with addiction, this paper examines the many characteristics exercise addiction shares with addictions associated with alcohol and drugs, as well as substance dependence. Exercise addiction shares the same characteristics with other addictions such as withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, control, and an escape. Just as substances can do, an unhealthy behavior like excessive exercising can begin to take over one’s life like any other addiction. It can lead to a point where the person understands there is a problem, but they cannot quit the behavior, which is common with addictions. The researched used in this paper explains that those …show more content…
Often when someone is addicted to drugs when they stop taking the drug they experience a certain set of symptoms because of the withdrawal. This also happens with exercise. “When unable to exercise, the individual experiences negative feelings, such as anxiety, restlessness, sleep issues, and/or irritability” (Van Pelt, 2016). Basically, when the person does not exercise they feel a sense of imbalance and are typically thrown off. The addict is not able to cease his or her excessive exercising habits, as it has become a part of their every day lives, which leads to very unhealthy lifestyle. They are often compelled to continue as they are addicted and cannot moderate their …show more content…
“Exercise has numerous health benefits and is generally viewed as a positive behavior, so patients and clinicians may overlook the dangers of excessive exercise and addiction” (Hausenblas, Schreiber, & Smoliga, 2017). We often shed a positive light on exercise as it usually a healthy behavior, however it is possible for people to take it out of hand and over exercise leading to addiction. Exercise addiction shares many common characteristics with other addictions. As the frequency and intensity continues this behavior becomes a main part of the person’s life. Soon after, the person’s life begins to revolve around exercise and addiction sets in. It is important for people to realize that dedication is not the same as addiction, and that although many scholars and clinicians do not always agree it is possible to be addicted to
This is disturbing, not only because so many people are missing out on the physical benefits that result from exercise, but on the mental benefits that result from exercise as well
In the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and The Brain by Dr. John J. Ratey, MD (2008), Ratey discuses how exercise can help treat many mood disorders and how it can help strengthen our brains. This book is divided into ten chapters all with five to ten subsections in them. The chapters include: Welcome to the revolution: A Case Study on Exercise and the brain, Learning, Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Attention Deficit, Addiction, Hormonal Changers, Aging, and the Regimen.
The need to exercise is more of a necessity today. People are enrolling into gyms, though they are unable to continue. Why? It’s because people want rapid results. They go after strength exercises (because biceps and abs are cool), but soon realize that they are unable to continue. What’s
The problem is, is there a biochemical explanation for this "runner's high," or is it a purely psychological event (although one can also say psychology is biochemical)? Exercise addiction, similar to substance addiction, seems to suggest that jogger's euphoria could be biochemical. There have been accounts of runners who experience withdrawal symptoms when not exercising - such as edginess, anxiety, and other unpleasant feelings. Research shows that the body produces its own opiate-like peptides, called endorphins, and like morphine, they can cause dependence (Farrell et al. 1982). Thus, this is just one hint suggesting that these "endogenous morphine" compounds may be the chemicals causing all these psychological effects of exercise. In general, endorphins are known to be responsible for pain and pleasure responses in the central nervous system.
Addiction in itself is very complex, there are many components to comprehending how addiction can affect a person’s well-being and livelihood. There are times when a person is undoubtedly dependent, for example on food and water for survival. There are additional fundamentals in a person’s life they may feel are vital to their survival. Low on the scale of impairment is exercising, a person can become addicted to exercising, but there will not be extremely harmful consequences, unless taken way too far, unlike if the person were to become addicted to a harmful drug such as methamphetamine, that would negatively affect their life in an extreme way. Eventually, the substance becomes the most important object in the person’s life, and it is their
George F. Koob defines addiction as a compulsion to take a drug without control over the intake and a chronic relapse disorder (1). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association defined "substance dependence" as a syndrome basically equivalent to addiction, and the diagnostic criteria used to describe the symptoms of substance dependence to a large extent define compulsion and loss of control of drug intake (1). Considering drug addiction as a disorder implies that there are some biological factors as well as social factors.
It is commonly known that everyone should spend at least one hour a day getting some sort of exercise. Being physically in shape can overall reduce health risks and expand one’s own life span in a positive way. As being a college student who works out daily, I completely agree with this statement because exercising has brought upon me adequate amount of health benefits as well as bestow positive mentality. It has been also reported that many elderly adults has been told by doctors to exercise as often as possible, for it helps reduce problems such as heart diseases, cholesterol and even cancer. Many younger adults also participate in exercising daily to achieve the toned or muscular body that they desire. This makes perfect sense because I don’t know one person who doesn’t want a well-defined six pack, especially when it comes to beach season.
Addiction is a disease that causes many neurological effects on the brain. In fact, addiction is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard reference for psychiatric illnesses (DSM-5) and it affects ten percent of the population (Understanding). Most drugs release chemicals that effects the mid-brain and changes its chemical make up. Specifically, nerve cells in the brain release dopamine when humans engage in pleasurable activities, like eating good food, exercise, and sex (Understanding). This causes the person to seek out that pleasurable activity again and again (Substance Abuse). Drugs, from alcohol and marijuana to heroin, also cause the brain to release dopamine, but faster and stronger than most activities. (Mandal) With repeated use, the addict becomes accustomed to this stronger, quicker pleasure sensation and can no longer feel the milder pleases of normal activity. In this way, the brain becomes “broken,” and the addict continues to seek that good feeling only experienced with drugs (Substanc...
Any comprehensive theory (model) of substance abuse has to answer several difficult questions: What environmental and social factors in an individual’s life cause them to start abusing a drug? What factors cause them to continue? What physiological mechanisms make a drug rewarding? What is addiction, behaviorally and physiologically, and why is it so hard to quit? These questions can be answered in the major theories (models) that are described below using an integrative approach that addresses the problem of substance abuse and addiction as an urgent but elusive goal (Kauffman & Poulin, 1996).
Blumenthal et al. (2007) and Diaz and Motta (2008) conducted empirical studies to prove their hypotheses about the relationship of exercise and mental health. Blumenthal et al. looked at a sample size of 202 adults over the age of 40 and randomly assigned them to one of four groups: (a) group exercise setting, (b) home based exercise group, (c) sertraline group, or (d) placebo group. The participants who were assigned to the exercise groups participated in a 16 week moderate exercise program. The other two groups either received sertraline or a placebo pill. All participants were assessed before, during, and after using the Becks Depression Inventory II [BDI] (Beck, Sheer, & Brown, 1996) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAM-D] (Williams, 19...
So, it is clear that addiction is all around us and can attack anyone of us at any given time. Even studies conducted show that people neglect to speak around their dependency for two primary reasons. Foremost, because people do not comprehend, or they bear a total misconception to their addiction, that they do not realize that addictions can be critical to their overall wellness. Moreover, second, many people believe being an addict will never happen to them, but, in reality, most addictions start off as simple little habits. Such as starting with one drink after dinner and before you know it you are drinking several drinks a day. However, one does not opt to be addicted to a substance, because addictions are physical defects in the brain, a disease, and not one’s choice.
Exercising frequently can be a positive habit, but if a person becomes addicted to it, it has negative effects as well. Exercise addiction is not easy to identify because, like any other addict, they tend to deny they have a problem. This addiction is referred to by a variety of names such as exercise dependence, exercise addiction, obligatory exercise, compulsive athleticism, compulsive exercising, and exercise abuse. "Men and women are equally prone to exercise addiction, which affects about three percent of the population, according to a study at the University of Southern California. Exercise addicts usually work out two or three hours a day, six or seven days a week." (Seymour) Exercise addicts, of both genders, do not understand the difference between pushing their limits and overstepping them.
Since the dawn of humanity, exercise has been crucial for physical survival. In recent times, however, exercise is losing its significance to human survival. Some would argue that it already has lost its significance, and as exercise becomes less important, people exercise less. According to fitness.gov, only 33% of adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week (citation). Clearly there is a problem. However, there is still a fraction of the population that exercises diligently. Why do these people stick with it? Exercise has countless advantages that are still extremely important to our lives. So even though the need of exercise may appear to be diminishing, the practical effects should be enough to encourage people
Overexerting the body too much can lead to problems such as heart failure, unnatural weight loss and increases dehydration. “Your levels of cortisol, or stress hormones, tend to increase. It is possible to experience a decrease in testosterone levels, which can have negative consequences for men and women alike. You may also find yourself suffering from a weakened immune system, which can lead to frequent illness.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) A weakened immune system could lead to catching very dangerous illnesses that could lead to death. She also explains a symptom called Overtraining syndrome which is resulted from extreme exercising and how it mentally affects the body. “If you are not feeling your usual excitement for your fitness regimen or sport, or if you do not feel mentally prepared for exercise or competition, you could be experiencing the psychological effects of overtraining syndrome. You might also experience sleep disturbances, or feel drowsy during the day and unable to rest at night. Similarly, you might feel excessive fatigue, apathy, irritability or hostility.” (The Side Effects of Excessive Exercise Erica Perna 2012) The body cannot handle too much stress or it could lead to a complete shutdown and in worse cases death. We must understand the limitations and make sure to not overdue and form of
For people with a conflicting lifestyle of an athlete, the results of exercising are alluring but the authentic work is unappealing. Those who choose not to engage in exercising can have unappealing and less attractive bodies. We look at the athletes of our modern day, their bodies are the textbook examples of the kind of bodies some people want. We look at them and wish we could look the same, but some people just do not try hard enough to push themselves the extra mile to resemble those results. What those who do not exercise need to realize is that the nonexistence of exercise can lead to several different problems. Granting the appearance of your body may not be how you want it, it is a more imperative and different viewpoint that nobody can see that may make people who do not exercise, want to begin. The inside of your body can take a damaging toll. Lack of exercise has been linked to many different health issues. Obesity is obviously one of the main concerns since without exercise, your body can gain weight. Obesity can lead to greater issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or heart problems. Age plays an important role in