Summary
What is the latest alternative to harmful addictive drugs? According to a story on MSNBC , it is the endorphins and dopamine released from intense excercise. The story stated that excercise can be as addictive as heroine. Doctors, according to the story, are beginning to research intense workout schedules as a way of recoverying from drug addictions. Apparently the chemicals released by excercising are comparable to that from drugs, and provides a "natural high". Even though the story claims that excercising can be addictive, it also clarifies that as long as it's not interfering with other aspects of a persons life, than it is a non-harmful alternative to a drug induced high.
Response
As someone who is an avid excerciser, and has been for over twenty years, I agree totally that excercising is addictive. The natural high that I obtain after an intense weightlifting workout, or after running a few miles on the treadmill, is greater than any high I may have experimented with at a younger age. Alot of people claim that they donot have enough energy to workout, but the more you workout, the more energy you have to do your workouts. Also, alot of people I talk to, say they don't have time to workout, but I work full-time, go to school full-time, and I have six children. I get up at five in the morning just to go workout before I have to go to work, and instead of making me tired like you think it would, it leaves me energized to accomplish the rest of my tasks throughout the day. I am glad to see researchers coming to the same conclusion that I arrived at along time ago. Working out is the only "high" worth seeking after.
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I know for some exercising is a great thing. But for recovering drug addicts I am not sure if it would work. I mean I don't think the natural high would be as intense or addicting as drugs. But hey it is worth a try right
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised. If I miss a workout, I'm going through withdrawls bad. I am physically affected by it, as well as mentally and emotionally. My whole self image is distorted, and I feel fatigued, and even guilty for missing a workout, regardless of the validity of the reason why. I think it is harder to get 'hooked' on it than narcotics, but once you're 'hooked' you are hooked.
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