A mental health charity is reminding people that while exercise is a good thing, some people are taking it too far, often as an antidote to the stress and anxieties of life.
Mind says some push on, even if they are injured or unwell: keeping fit can become an obsession.
During the first Covid lockdown, exercise was one routine people could still do.
Some, like 21-year-old Catherine, became over-reliant on it.
“Like many people, I was on furlough during lockdown. My days lacked structure and routine so I started exercising.
“In that time we have seen increasing reports that some of us have been coping by becoming overly reliant on exercise as the main way to manage our mental health. This is leading to some people being at risk of over-exercising, or exercise addiction.”
Image source, Mind
“This was helpful at first. After all, we were being advised by the government to spend 30 minutes outdoors doing exercise. However, I started becoming intensely focused on my workouts.”
Catherine started to feel that no amount of exercise was enough: “Sometimes, I exercised in secret. Before I knew it, exercise became the sole purpose for my day.
“I had little physical interaction with people because of lockdown and I didn’t feel comfortable telling them how much I was working out. I was scared about telling those close to me out of fear they’d stop me exercising.”
Catherine eventually confided in her mother, who helped her monitor how much she was doing.
“It was extremely difficult to break the cycle. I found other ways to manage my emotions outside of exercising. I also tried new activities, like baking.”
Estelle (not her real name), who is 31 and from Yorkshire, began her obsession with exercise after losing her job and experiencing suicidal feelings.
“Being alone with my thoughts was impossible for me, and the only coping mechanism I knew that didn’t cause active harm to me was exercise. Within a couple of months I realised that I was starting to lose a lot of weight, and that somehow my hour of exercising a day had spiralled.
“Naturally, with so much wear and tear on my body, I began to develop a series of soft tissue injuries. I would generally train through the injuries, feeling like I had no choice but to carry on despite the pain and damage, until they became so bad I was unable to move.”
The pandemic lockdown exacerbated things for her, but, like Catherine, she received support.
“I still love exercise, and I would never give it up for the world, but learning to cope with negative emotions and understanding where my drive to be active comes from has changed my relationship with physical activity. Health and wellbeing are about balance, and sometimes that means running a marathon, but other times it means lying on the sofa.”
Mind says signs of over-exercising include:
- When you can’t stop exercising without feeling distressed
- When exercise is affecting your job or relationships
- When you don’t take breaks despite feeling tired, injured or unwell
- When you’re exercising hard every day, or several times a day
- When you’re making excuses to be active
- When you feel that physical activity is the most important thing in your life
Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity for Mind, said: “What we’ve seen during the pandemic is that a lack of access to our usual forms of support, including family and friends, as well as more time working from or being at home, has been really tough.
“In that time we have seen increasing reports that some of us have been coping by becoming overly reliant on exercise as the main way to manage our mental health. This is leading to some people being at risk of over-exercising, or exercise addiction.”
Other tips include:
- Mix it up: Try some low impact exercise like walking, yoga or stretching – any activity that doesn’t work your muscles too hard
- Connect: Try activities or hobbies that allow you to have a rest from your normal routine – choose something that helps you feel good
- Set realistic goals: Pick ones that aren’t based around your weight or shape. Be kind to yourself. Not every day will lead to a personal best, and that’s OK
- Maintain a balance: Be mindful of the exercise you do – it might help to keep an activity diary to ensure you’re getting the right mix