Anyone use running/lifting (exercise) to medicate themselves?

[marmasatt]

So anyone else use endorphins or whatever to medicate themselves? You know - to deal with a spouse, maybe a personal situation, maybe pain? I say this more serious then tongue in cheek. I've been a pretty active guy my whole life- triathlons, lifting, basketball literally 2/3 days a week, competitive soccer, when not playing sports - mtn biking or running 20-30 miles a week. Well, I just turned 40 a couple of months ago, and I'm like broken. It's like my body said, "hey your 40, so here's what comes with it."

I've got 4 bulging discs in my cervical spine. Apparently it's pinching a nerve that goes down the outside of my shoulder all the way to my fingertips. My neck locks up to the point where I have to turn my whole body to look either left or right (anyone had one of those?) and about a dozen times a day, the nerve pinches and I get the sensation like when you sleep on your arm wrong for a few hrs at night and it tingles so bad it almost hurts. Sort of related to the whole shoulder thing, I've got symptoms of a torn rotator cuff. I can't bike, I can't swim, I can't lift, I can't play hoops. Basically all I can do is run and a little bit of soccer. Thank god.

Well now, because I'm running so much, I've got this small lump forming in the back of my achilles that is sore to the touch after I run. Probably an overuse injury. I've had these symptoms for about 3 months. On Vicodin and going to PT. Have an appt with a neurosurgeon next week.

For some reason, I still feel lucky I can run. It's almost like a drug at times. My body aches so bad in the morning, and I can run pretty pain free. It's almost like using it to medicate myself. I'm pretty thankful really. But I've been feeling all depressed and sorry for myself lately and all of a sudden I had the epiphany. Sorry for the off topic rant. Just got me thinking today.

 

[Megatomic]

I don't know if I'd call it "medication" but yes, I do run for emotional and psychological relief. Sometimes my family even sends me out to run because they know I'll come back in a much better mood.

I'm glad you are seeing the appropriate medical professionals for your conditions my friend, I'm hoping for the best for you.

 

[KlokWyze]

Absolutely. I agree that "medication" might be the wrong word for me. Meditation definitely.

 

[marmasatt]

I get what you guys are saying. I think for me it literally is, however. For instance, I find myself going running instead of popping another Vicodin. I feel better after, and if I feel better without popping schedule III narcotics, I see that as a plus.

 

[Lamont Burns]

It's absolutely medication for me, for several reasons both physical and mental. It works better than any meds I've taken, I guess I should say that.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I don't necessarily agree once you hit 40 your body gives out. I'm only 30 but I see no reason I can't stay physically active and pain free for another 20 years.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Exercie gets your mind off of things. It's a great stress releiver.

 

[GoNiners!]

I have been lifting weights since I was 19 (11 years). At first it was purely for recreational and cosmetic reasons. I wanted to lift weights because that's what guys did and I wanted big muscles. Needless to say the first couple of years of weightlifting weren't my best as I was a total noob and was there to stroke my ego and talk to chicks more than anything.

After the first couple of years I took my weightlifting more seriously and cut out all of the ego/chatter/socializing and really began to focus on getting stronger. I stopped going to the gym for a period because I was an auditor and was always out in the field staying in a hotel somewhere and could never make the time to workout. I actually stopped lifting weights for roughly 2 years in that interval. I would go in maybe once every couple of weeks on a weekend.

About 5 years ago I almost lost my job because I had a nuclear meltdown inspired by rage. Very unprofessional on my part and I am surprised they let me stay after that. I still feel pretty embarrassed just thinking about it.

I went to anger management and acknowledged my anger issues. What has worked the best for me in regards to mellowing out my attitude and putting me in a positive frame of mind has been weightlifting. I start out each morning with some type of weightlifting exercise during my work week. I literally wake up every morning in a craptastic mood so I have to get my 1-2 hours of gym time in before I step foot in the office. I am still a super intense individual but now I take out my anger and frustration in the gym and leave it all on the gym floor in a pool of sweat. At this point, I use weightlifting the same way someone would use a prescription drug for depression or high blood pressure.

The only time I am able to find any sort of peace with myself and the world around me is after I have physically exhausted myself in the gym.

I will be the first one to admit I have issues and exercise in the form of weightlifting has truly been a gift from the Almighty. For those wondering, I do not and have never used steroids. Roid rage coupled with my personality would probably give me a stroke during one of my foaming at the mouth ragers I occasionally still have outside of the workplace.

**Edit**

For those wondering what it is like going through life in a constant rage, it sucks. You literally have the greatest moments in life spoiled and marred by anger and constant guilt. It truly is a miserable existence. If you have anger issues, go talk to someone about it. If I could erase this part of my personality I would and would consider myself better off for it.

 

[jiggyest]

Absolutely. I agree that "medication" might be the wrong word for me. Meditation definitely.

This. Meditation for me.
I go for a run or a hike alone. I find it mentally calming.

 

[marmasatt]

I don't necessarily agree once you hit 40 your body gives out. I'm only 30 but I see no reason I can't stay physically active and pain free for another 20 years.

Ha, spoken like a true 30 yr old, We all said that. And when we all heard it in our 20's and 30's we were like - yeah whatever, old man. Just you wait, dude. Once you hit 29, it's pretty much all down hill. You're not as fast, not as strong, can't jump as high, etc. You get injuries, etc. You are an anomaly if you can do in your 40's what you did in your twenties. With the exception of like maybe endurance sports, where people actually peak or stay competitive at a later age...

@GoNiners...

Finally, a similar story - someone who knows what the frik' I'm talkin' about here....

 

[brad310]

Ive been working out 5 days a week religiously now for 18 months, and when I dont get to exercise first thing in the morning, my day is definitely affected. I look forward to going every night to see how hard i can push myself again, and after i get done, i feel awesome ready to go to work. Its probably a hormonal or chemical thing...and its my time to myself.

On the days i have to miss, not only do i miss the exercise, but it usually means i jacked up my diet that day as well.

 

[Megatomic]

Ha, spoken like a true 30 yr old, We all said that. And when we all heard it in our 20's and 30's we were like - yeah whatever, old man. Just you wait, dude. Once you hit 29, it's pretty much all down hill. You're not as fast, not as strong, can't jump as high, etc. You get injuries, etc. You are an anomaly if you can do in your 40's what you did in your twenties. With the exception of like maybe endurance sports, where people actually peak or stay competitive at a later age...

I'm more an exception than a rule. At 30 I was morbidly obese and my cholesterol was sky high. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. At 41 I'm none of the above. I'm far better off now than I have ever been.

But by and large most men do decline as they near/pass the big 4-0, but I think they sabotage themselves with self imposed negativity. Retirement accelerates this even further.

 

[RagingBITCH]

All runners use running as medication. Unfortunately, for a lot of us, it's more cocaine/heroin than it is vitamins. (The other end of the drug spectrum) The amount of money some people spend on it...the things that they do when injured, or what lead up to that injury.

 

[Doppel]

Lots of people do this. I have been around many runners, read much by them, been one (still am, but very little miles). It is a highly "addictive" activity, one that must be at the top of the list or near it for activities people engage in that are destructive. By this I mean if you're running pain free by all means have at it, but how many runners run through injuries month after month, year after year?

I ran for a long time at a high pace and developed a permanent knee injury. But at the time I kept telling myself hey I just need to get over this hump. Well, that never happened. Ignored it for too long, mis-diagnosed (I don't take all the blame!), and here we are. It literally took me years after this point before I could get to the stage where I'd see a runner on the road and not feel regret, sadness that I couldn't be doing it, too. I'm glad I could exercise some restraint. I've come upon others who have run themselves into the surgeon's office more than once. Get a meniscus cut up, keep going! Debride some shin splint paints, get right back out there! These people have lost so much perspective they are no longer able to make responsible decisions about it.

I don't necessarily agree once you hit 40 your body gives out. I'm only 30 but I see no reason I can't stay physically active and pain free for another 20 years.

Things just creep up on people, particularly inactive ones, but even active ones will have pains. I'd say it's a very small percentage of the population at 50 who are not either in some constant level of low pain or at the very least it frequently pops up.

With the exception of like maybe endurance sports, where people actually peak or stay competitive at a later age...

Those who can stay in them, that is. When you're young your body recovers fast and overcomes whatever. When you hit 30 or 35 or 40 that mild problem you've developed in how you move can compound over time until you have a nearly unsolvable (or literally unsolvable) orthopedic issue. The average 20 year old who is untrained could be told to run a mile and they'd be out of breath but that's it. Do it with a 40 year old chances are they'll have pains in lots of other areas

 

[Powermoloch]

The gym is amazing, alters my mood, keeps me healthy both body and mind. I go to the gym on avg 5 times a week, If I didn't go to the gym for 2+ days or longer, it affects me and I'll get agitated and anxious.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Ha, spoken like a true 30 yr old, We all said that. And when we all heard it in our 20's and 30's we were like - yeah whatever, old man. Just you wait, dude. Once you hit 29, it's pretty much all down hill. You're not as fast, not as strong, can't jump as high, etc. You get injuries, etc. You are an anomaly if you can do in your 40's what you did in your twenties. With the exception of like maybe endurance sports, where people actually peak or stay competitive at a later age...

@GoNiners...

Finally, a similar story - someone who knows what the frik' I'm talkin' about here....

Tell me about it. I'm 30 and my inner high is torn to shreds from sparring while cold and my lower and upper back is already giving me trouble from being mushed/tied up in knots from grappling - all from indiscretions made in my 20's catching up to me now.

Ugh.

Having said that, all it means for me is no more splits and just warming up/stretching a little bit more before/after practice. As far as self-medication as a justification for exercise, I'd say that in itself is definition of exercise - it's proper maintenance of the body to prevent breakdowns, sometimes physical, emotional or social (assuming it's done in moderation).

Now if you're exercising as an escape/distraction from your normal life where it skews your priorities beyond recognition, that would go into realms of addiction.

 

[stargazr]

Yes, but not running or lifting. I love hiking and playing the drums. I injured my back several years ago and had two surgeries - the last one fused my lower vertebrae together.

It helped a great deal but I still have chronic pain. I can work and do a lot physically, but have limits on how much activity I can get away with before a flare up of my symptoms of muscle spasms and nerve pain.

I'd say for me exercise helps on a psychological level as well as with the pain. When I get pissed about my back there is nothing like getting outside with the dog and hiking on the trails at the nearby park. Or getting behind my kit and playing for an hour or so. That's something Vicodin cannot do.

What sucks is too much and it makes everything worse, but I'm grateful I have something to steer my mind from a negative spiral.

 

[hans007]

i'd say i do.

i mean, when i'm sad... i go work out. or i play basketball or something. when im mad i tend to lift weights, and when i've just got too much to think about too.

i think for me i like working out, and i don't mind going to the gym. it just sort of focuses your mind on the task at hand , so it lets you escape all that other stuff and just focus on working out. so its a break for me.

so as someone else said it is like meditation.

but yeah i hope to not break down at 40. i'm 30 now, and part of why i am pretty into going is hoping to keep my body together so i can still play sports at 40. most of my friends post college , well let themselves go a lot and i'm sure are much much less athletic now. so i'm hoping working out and staying in shape will prevent that as long as possible not break me down faster.

 

[killster1]

wow this sucks i watch television while i work out and i dont really feel any thing except tired. I certainly dont feel high afterward just tired and sweaty. Sigh, all this talk and i guess im missing out on what ever it is you feel. oh well. maybe i dont work out enough just about 2 hours every other day now with a 30 mins of cardio on the off days. And swimming. (today my arm is tired from throwing kids up in the air int he pool more than any lifting ive done so far :/)

 

[Megatomic]

killster1, playing with the kids is the best workout going. You'll all look back on it and smile.