Being a professional athlete may seem like a dream job, but intensive training and pressures to perform can have unexpected side effects, including an increased risk of addiction and other mental health issues.
Are athletes more prone to addiction issues? Are they addicted training? If they are addicted to training does that make them more prone to other addictions? These are all questions that need to be explored! As reported in blogs.psychcentral.com.
Theories abound, but a growing body of research shows that exercise can stimulate the dopamine reward system in the brain much like drugs of abuse. While most of us could use more exercise in our lives, elite athletes may develop a compulsive preoccupation with training that resembles addiction.
A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, which tracked competitive runners in the U.S. and triathletes found more than half had compulsive-exercise tendencies.
The heavy physical training elite athletes endure may prime the brain for addiction. Is it such a surprise that an extreme preoccupation with training can mimic the biological effects of drug abuse, leading to withdrawal-like symptoms such as anxiety and depression when the exercise stops. Exercise releases the body’s natural opioids, endorphins, and has long been touted for relief of stress, anxiety and depression. These findings could help explain why athletes often struggle with substance abuse, especially once they leave their sport.
It is more than time to explore this question. Our athletes deserve not to become addicted to substance abuse.