Addiction is often associated with smoking or drug abuse, but what about the addiction associated with health? People pursuing good health is a great thing, but when the wish to be ‘healthy’ takes control to the extent where it becomes a compulsion, it begins to disturb the balance and leads to an obsession where the mental, physical, and emotional well-being becomes ill.
This blog discusses health addiction, its signs and what can be done to restore the equilibrium.
What is Health Addiction?
Health addiction is another word for orthorexia, it is an insatiable desire to exercise, eat or live healthily to the point where everything else is seen as “unhealthy.” Instead of looking towards achieving wellness, the person singularly strives to achieve ‘perfect health’ through drastic measures.
However, the funny thing is health addiction is often passed off as a proactive approach to fitness and nutrition. While it is great to eat clean and work out, avoiding Best drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility certain foods and being obsessed over working out can become unhealthy.
What Are The Steps In Which Health Addiction Forms?
One of the major issues concerning the health addiction is how slowly it develops, almost staying in the background before becoming the forefront. Here are some ways that it can manifest in peoples lives:
- Overly Strict Food Rules
Scanning or eliminating “unhealthy” food can be one of the symptoms.
These people may completely exclude entire classified food groups such as carbohydrates and fat, check food content very seriously or on the other end, may feel a pang of guilt when they eat foods they consider to be ‘forbidden’.
- Binge Nutrition
Another common sign is the keen desire to workout, even while attending to other daily activities such as work, family time or even resting. People may try to push their boundaries and workout on a daily basis which can be taxing both physically and mentally.
- Misuse of Supplements for Weight Management
The constant urge to try out the new craze of ingredients, pills or workout schedules may sometimes cover a more serious concern. Even though there is a positive marketing around living healthy and reliability on these products, too many people get drawn into obsessive attitudes towards using them.
- Avoidance of Health-Related Fears or Panic Attacks This person may be overly concerned with becoming ill or losing their sporting capabilities Addiction Recovery Facility and as a result may cause her or himself unnecessary strain simply to avoid those perceived health concerns.
What are the drawbacks of health addiction?
Health addiction can have negative effects that may not immediately come to passive people’s minds. It seems like people are making “wise” decisions, yet it is apparent that such people’s bodies and/or mindset have a great cost.
Physical harm
Constantly worrying about keeping a body in shape leads to overworked muscles and joints as well as chronic fatigue.
In addition to other bodily effects, extreme dieting only puts more and more stress on the immune system.
Mental strain
Keeping up with the need to appear “perfectly healthy” more often than not leads to anxiety and a feeling of disappointment if such goals aren’t reached.
Social isolation
Not going to out and about or skipping gatherings because of a wellness obsession results in having little to no social interaction, resulting in even greater feelings of loneliness and misunderstanding.
What’s causing the addiction to health?
With the current state of the world, health addiction is a complex issue stemming from various causes.
Media Pressure
The media obsession with perfect bodies only fuels the idea that there is a goal everyone should aspire to, only hurting themselves in the process.
Diet Culture
Be it intermittent fasting or keto, the “one size fits all” approach to health advice means there will be plenty of misinformation or limited understanding of health boundaries.
Formula for Success Misconceptions About Self-Worth
Some people view attaining extreme health conditions as a symbol of proving themselves as disciplined and hence deserving more regard in return than those who have a less strict regime.
How do you achieve a sensible equilibrium?
The crux of health goals is to uplift you and not to control your activities. A moderate strategy allows you to be sane while taking care of both your body and your mind without slipping into compulsive behavior.
- Refrain from overindulgence.
Abandoning certain items such as sugar or skipping several rest days is dangerous. Ensure that you are not overly stressed by anything, but are careful about moderation.
- Respond to your needs.
Try to avoid going overboard with whatever you do. It is crucial to change your strategies when feeling eternally hungry or tired after remaining active for an entire day.
- Allow adjustment.
Be realistic and do not ignore social gatherings just because you are working out. It is okay to skip a couple of exercises or indulge in frozen yogurt once in a while. Balance means you are fully engaging in life and not avoiding happiness due to anxiety.
- Reach out.
Being against improvement does not make any sense. They can guide you towards a healthy lifestyle that fits your routines.
- Do not cloud judgement.
Practice the avoidance of external motivation by being selective about the social media information and the accounts you follow. This will ensure that society fails to lay down standards for you.
Indications that help is necessary.
Therapists or nutritionists suggest that exercising alone is okay, but other mental health shapers, especially even slightly difficult work, need more concentration. If you or someone else seems stuck in the cycle of obsession with the getting fit or gaining weight, then a professional needs to be consulted.
If you are struggling with health addiction , it is not insurmountable so long as you seek the right guidance and one can find the right balance.
Liberation From the Clutches of a Healthy Body:-
There is always an advice to do everything in moderation, and it holds significance when the area of concern is one’s health. If you had some good salads for dinner yet decided to grab some fries for lunch, you won’t be meaning the world by center of your being- it is balance that is the key to a satisfied life and endurance movement.
One should never feel strangulated when focussing on well being. In case you feel yourself working towards this, be kind on yourself . Make note of your targets and take baby steps – Don’t shy away from taking support when necessary.
Should more suggestions not focused on obsession seeking are what you are looking for, make sure you stay tuned. We will add more content relating to where one can find and appreciate a balance between different aspects life has to offer.
