Movement can be fun, exhilarating, energizing, and a good way to let out steam. The body generally likes to move and movement is a beautiful thing!

Surrounded by diet culture, however, we’re taught to view exercise as a measure of self-worth and willpower. As a result, the “high” some of use experience after exercise may go beyond the natural endorphin rush- there can also be a sense of accomplishment, esteem, confidence, or relief.

For some, exercise serves as a compensating behavior to help ease the pain and discomfort stemming from negative thoughts and core beliefs. A nice band-aid at first, but over time, one might start to find themselves in a vicious cycle where exercise does a lot more harm than good.

Signs of Compulsive Exercise

• Your mood is dependent on how much you exercise
• Your self-worth is based on how much you exercise
• You don’t take a break from exercise, regardless of how your body may feel or how inconvenient it is
• You exercise through pain or injury
• You cancel or re-arrange work, family, and social obligations in order to prioritize exercise
• You become angry, anxious, or agitated when something interferes with your exercise
• You sometimes with you could stop but are unable to
• You know that others are worried about how much you exercise, but you don’t listen to them
• You always feel the need to do more (laps, miles, weight, time, etc.)
• You exercise to compensate for eating

In therapy, we will work together to develop a plan for letting go of the grip on exercise so that movement can be joyful again.