Compulsive exercise disorder is a type of eating disorder. Many people struggle with this condition in the U.S. today, especially given our society’s substantial value on being fit. If you or your loved one suffer an eating disorder with an addiction or as a single problem, you need a compulsive exercise disorder treatment program.
Signs and Symptoms of Compulsive Exercise Disorder
Many people start an exercise routine to stay healthy and achieve a nice physique. But sometimes this quest for fitness takes over, just like anorexia or bulimia are compulsive “dieting” to control weight.
Signs and symptoms of compulsive exercise disorder include exercising to the point that it takes the place of other life activities. Maybe you work out when you should be doing other things or after an injury when you should not stress your body. Feelings of intense anxiety, depression, guilt and mood changes when you cannot work out also point to a possible compulsive exercise disorder.
People with an exercise compulsion stick to their regimen even when weather, illness, injury or fatigue should keep them from it. If you feel out of sorts resting or not going to the gym for a short period, or if you manage difficult emotions by working out, you likely suffer a compulsion.
If you feel a strong need to purge calories after eating, work out to allow yourself food or exercise in secret, you may also suffer an exercise compulsion. The same is true if you over-train or feel worthless, slow, or unable to push yourself hard enough during exercise. People with this problem often spend time working out when they should be spending time with family or friends.
How Compulsive Exercise Hurts You
Compulsive exercise has many harmful health effects, even though exercising often sounds healthy at face value. Some of those health effects include bone density loss, menstrual cycle loss in women, relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), long-term muscle soreness and chronic bone or joint pain. Other issues include more injuries, long-term fatigue, feeling sluggish, increased illness and upper respiratory infections.
If you suffer the terrible effects of working out too much or if you love someone who suffers signs of compulsive exercise, you need help from compulsive exercise disorder treatment in PA. Steps to Recovery in Levittown, Pennsylvania provides this compulsive exercise disorder treatment in PA.
The Compulsive Exercise Disorder Treatment Program You Need
Getting the compulsive exercise disorder treatment in PA that you or your loved one needs starts with a diagnosis. That comes from your chosen rehab, an addiction expert, therapist or doctor. But merely trying to quit going to the gym will not heal your problem. As with any addiction, your problem is deeper than the behavior.
The right compulsive exercise disorder treatment program includes mental and dietary therapies with psychological and physical health monitoring. You need a broad range of therapies to treat eating disorders, as well as their root causes. This compulsive exercise disorder rehab includes mental, social, biological and cultural methods of treatment to manage your addiction.
You also need dietary therapy and alcohol and drug education, especially if you suffer a co-occurring problem of substance abuse. Your nutritional therapy helps you plan healthy eating while also monitoring the food you consume. The earlier you participate in a compulsive exercise disorder treatment program, the better your results.
Eating Disorder Treatment in Levittown, PA
Your exercise compulsion eating disorder treatment takes place in Levittown, PA at Steps to Recovery. Steps to Recovery offers multiple phases of rehab treatment for your problem, as well as for addiction. Programs of Steps to Recovery include:
- Outpatient treatment programs
- Individual counseling and psychotherapy
- Group therapy program
- Family counseling program
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Nutritional counseling program
- Individualized treatment planning
At Steps to Recovery, you can manage your mental and physical health with compulsive exercise disorder treatment in PA. Contact Steps to Recovery now at 267.719.8528 for more information on how to begin your journey towards recovery.