How to Rebuild a Healthy Relationship with Exercise After Exercise Addiction

Recovering from exercise addiction is no small task, but it is possible when you find the fun in moving againStatistics show that exercise addiction affects approximately 4% of school athletes, 8–9% of fitness enthusiasts, and 21% of those with an eating disorder (1Trusted SourceThe condition often exists alongside an eating disorder or body image issue, and sometimes substance abuse. Fortunately, it is curable with time, patience, commitment, and supporHere are 10 tips on how you can mend your relationship with exercise and find joy in movement again.

The Good Brigade/Getty ImagVocalize your feelinTry not to sit alone with your thoughts. If you’re experiencing anxiety around exercise, feeling stressed about a particular issue, or need help feeling comfortable, attempt to communicate that to someone you trusAs lonely as this journey of healing your relationship with exercise might feel, you don’t have to go through alone. If you need a friend to ride to the gym with you, ask them. If you’re struggling to fill the void that cutting out constant exercise has left, communicate thaRemember that no one knows how to help you unless they know what you’re going through, so keep your loved ones in the loop.

They might not understand how you feel, but they can offer emotional support. Even when you get frustrated with them wanting you to control your addiction, in the future you’ll likely look back and appreciate what they didDistract yourself when you feel the urge to exercise for the wWhen you feel an urge to exercise for the wrong reasons — like feeling a need to compensate after a meal or while having a bad body image day — find a way to distract your minDistractions can include offering to wash the dishes after a family meal, watching a comfort movie, Facetiming a pal, or meditating. They can be a really useful technique for managing those loud voices pushing you to work out, when actually, what’s best for you is rest.

Endorphins released in the brain of someone with an exercise addiction create feelings of achievement or pleasure following a workout, but the endorphin rush happens so frequently and intensely that the brain begins to downregulate endorphin production (2Trusted Source)That means the comedown as you stop exercising intensely can feel drainingExercise with people Exercise doesn’t have to just be about working out. It can be a social bonding experience with people you love.

Whether it’s a countryside walk or following along with a virtual fitness class together, make exercising enjoyable again by involving people who help reduce your anxiety, crack jokes with you, and have deep conversationsWorking out can be a time to make memories — more than a time to burn caloriesIf you’re focused on being present in others’ company, you’re not preoccupied with how your movements could be altering your body, what you might be doing wrong, or how you look while exercising.