The Addiction to Running
The runner’s high: every athlete has heard of it. The notion of getting a ‘high’
from running is not simply an idea; it is factual. More often than not, physical exercise is
viewed commonly as constructive and favorable for the mind and body. Countless
scientific studies have proven that running is one of the best activities. The release of the
naturally produced chemicals, called endorphins, travel the nervous system to reduce
stress, relieve anxiety, enhance mood, decrease the perception of pain, and encourage
good views of self image. Yet, maybe it isn’t as harmless as once thought (Basson 3). If
endorphins are so powerful as to be such an amazing product with optimistic results there
must be some type of undesirable effects. Nothing is good ignoring moderation. So what
is the danger of too much of the good thing when it comes to workouts? While casually
there are no significant complications associated with exercise, recent inquiries display
that negatives do exist from excessive excursion. The most specific example is long-
distance running. Running may be taken quickly to an extreme by the individual, and
soon become an addiction. The effects of running begin mentally which can be
detrimental physically, and the addiction is proven through chemical dependency.
Psychologically driven by a pursuit of fitness most people begin exercising.
Regarding personality and addiction it has been suggested that there may be underlying
similarities in the mental profile of addicts. Investigation of the personality profile of the
addicted exerciser, especially the runner, exhibited results of obsessive-compulsive and
anxious traits. These characteristics are cited as common to the general addict. If an avid
runner begins the activity as a form of compulsion it makes sense that it would become
an addiction (Basson 6). Persistent exercise can be considered a positive addiction,
however only to a certain degree. As the process in mental desire for wanting a
continuous gain of an ideal fitness level proceeds, physical effects soon may take place.
High levels of physical activity can lead to the development of eating disorders,
most commonly anorexia nervosa, which can be proven in two ways: sensation of
starvation and reduction in appetite. Underlying anorexia nervosa is the addiction to
starvation (Eisler et al 379). Similarly, the extreme dieting of some athletes narrows
consumption of food. In addition to diets, the natural effects of activity result in a
reduction in appetite. Between 38-75% of all cases of anorexia nervosa may be activity
induced. Anorexia nervosa (AN) and excessive exercise (EXE) form distinct diagnostic
groups. Yet a combination of the disorder’s symptoms are placed within the diagnosis of
exercise anorexia nervosa (E-AN) which is the mindset of working-out to continue
