Understanding the Essentials of Chronic Exercise Syndrome
In the realm of physical health and mental well-being, compulsive exercise stands as a lesser-known but significant issue. This condition, characterised by an uncontrollable and excessive behaviour around exercise, can lead to a host of negative consequences.
Compulsive exercise is often a coping mechanism for managing negative emotions such as tension, stress, anxiety, guilt, anger, and loneliness. People may unknowingly rely on exercise to suppress or avoid these feelings, leading to a dependency where exercise shifts from a pleasurable activity to an avoidance of emotional pain. This behavioural pattern is often linked with mood disorders like anxiety and depression, which can both precede or result from excessive exercising.
The symptoms of compulsive exercise are multifaceted, encompassing both physical and mental signs. Physical symptoms may include persistent soreness, injuries that do not heal properly, and fatigue despite rest. Mental symptoms, on the other hand, might present as anxiety or distress over missing workouts or feeling compelled to exercise excessively. As the dependency deepens, individuals may experience increasing tolerance, requiring more exercise to satisfy the urge, and withdrawal symptoms when exercise is stopped, including mood disturbances.
Effective treatment for compulsive exercise aims to reduce exercise to a moderate amount, identify triggers, and develop more positive thinking and behaviour patterns. Common approaches include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, mindfulness and stress reduction techniques, physical therapy, support from skilled professionals, and the development of healthy coping mechanisms.
CBT helps individuals identify and reframe negative thought patterns related to exercise dependence and develop healthier behaviours. Psychotherapy provides a space to explore and process emotions that drive compulsive exercise, such as anxiety and depression. Mindfulness and stress reduction techniques help manage anxiety and reduce the compulsive drive to exercise. Physical therapy treats injuries caused by over-exercising and restores physical health. Support from dietitians, exercise physiologists, or sports counselors can help create balanced workout plans that incorporate rest and recovery and support mental well-being. Developing healthy coping mechanisms is crucial to replace the reliance on exercise for emotional regulation.
It is important to note that people with compulsive exercise often resist treatment because they enjoy the activity and may not recognise the underlying emotional causes. Recovery usually involves learning to tolerate uncomfortable feelings without resorting to excessive exercise and working towards balanced, sustainable exercise habits.
Compulsive exercise is not currently recognised as a psychiatric disorder, and it is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, it is crucial that people seek professional help if they, or someone they know, may be experiencing problems with compulsive exercise.
If someone has a loved one who is experiencing compulsive exercise, they may be able to offer help and support by setting aside uninterrupted time to talk in a private place, using "I" to explain observed behaviours, staying calm and caring, avoiding making ultimatums, reassuring the person there is no shame in compulsive exercise, and encouraging them to seek professional help.
Compulsive exercise may be linked to certain traits or conditions such as eating disorders, perfectionism, neuroticism, narcissism, and obsessive compulsive traits. It is essential to approach this issue with understanding and compassion, recognising that it is a complex and often hidden struggle.
References:
[1] National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). (n.d.). Compulsive Exercise. Retrieved from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/compulsive-exercise
[2] International OCD Foundation. (n.d.). Compulsive Exercise. Retrieved from https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ocd-info/compulsive-exercise/
[3] Mayo Clinic. (2021, January 11). Compulsive exercise. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-exercise/symptoms-causes/syc-20374724
[4] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
[5] Behavioral Tech LLC. (n.d.). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Retrieved from https://www.behavioraltech.org/cbt/
Eating disorders, such as those resulting from compulsive exercise, can be closely interconnected with the disease. Science and health-and-wellness professionals often advocate for the necessity of mindfulness and stress reduction techniques as a means to combat the mental health implications related to compulsive exercise. In fitness-and-exercise communities, understanding and compassion for those struggling with excessive exercising can encourage seeking professional help and recovery, even if compulsive exercise is not officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder in the DSM-5. Mental health advocates stress that support from loved ones and skilled professionals, combined with the development of healthy coping mechanisms, can play a crucial role in overcoming compulsive exercise and fostering sustained well-being.
