WHAT WE TREAT
Our exercise addiction treatment programme is designed to be practical and supportive, focusing on harm reduction and providing a personalised approach. We work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your unique needs, giving you the tools and support to break free from the cycle of addiction.
Exercise addiction can be one of the hardest addictions to notice because exercise is so critical for our health. Unlike most other addictions, we are encouraged to exercise. However, when we exercise, our brains release endorphins to make us feel good. These endorphins can become addictive given the right biological, genetic, and environmental factors. Exercise addiction occurs when our work out regimes become maladaptive. When this happens, exercise is weakening our health and increasing our stress levels. If we work out excessively, it can also lead to a tolerance for these endorphins. When this happens, we need to work out more and more to achieve the same ‘high.’
There is no single root cause of exercise addiction, but it is closely linked to eating disorders and shares similar psychological and behavioural patterns. Excessive exercise activates the brain’s reward system in a manner akin to substances like drugs, releasing increasing amounts of dopamine that reinforce the compulsion to continue. For many, exercise becomes a way to control body image or weight, making it deeply intertwined with disordered eating behaviours.
While exercise is typically seen as healthy, excessive exercise can lead to severe physical and emotional consequences. It places immense strain on the body, increasing the risk of injuries, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, and immune system suppression. The stress caused by this addiction can also heighten the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Critically, exercise addiction often co-occurs with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, where compulsive workouts are used as a means to compensate for food intake or achieve an idealised body shape.
We specialise in addressing the complex relationship between exercise addiction, eating disorders and other co-occurring conditions through a combination of medical, psychological, and personal care.
bespoke treatment
How we treat exercise addiction
We can’t tell you exactly what your four-week stay will involve, as every individual’s path to recovery is unique. At Paracelsus Recovery, we understand that each person’s experience of exercise addiction is deeply personal and requires a tailored treatment approach. There is no pre-defined treatment plan for our patients, nor do we adopt a specific treatment model. Instead, we advocate for a completely pragmatic approach to addiction; whatever works best for you to achieve your goals.
Your time with us is carefully structured, with each therapeutic element handpicked to support you in overcoming your reliance on exercise as a coping mechanism for whatever pain you are navigating in life. The therapies included in your programme are designed to complement one another to help you break free from the cycle of addiction and heal your relationship with exercise and your body. See below for further details.
Our approach considers the whole person: mind, body and soul
We do not adopt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Instead, we adapt each programme to each client’s unique set of needs. While our approach prioritises cutting-edge modalities and holistic care, your unique needs ultimately guide our work together.
Our 360-degree treatment approach begins with extensive testing to uncover why you have developed an exercise addiction and what to do to put an end to it. From there, we develop a personalised treatment plan that integrates cutting-edge therapies, each carefully tailored to address the root causes of your addiction and restore your psychological, cellular, and biological well-being. To treat exercise addiction, we include treatments such as nutritional therapy, personal training, biofeedback, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), psycho-education, art therapy and sleep therapies.
We go far beyond addressing the underlying causes of your exercise addiction. We also focus on any impacts, such as neurological or physiological damage, that may have arisen as a result of your addictions. Our treatments typically involve a combination of intensive psychotherapy, biochemical restoration, and complementary therapies. Such an approach is designed to support lasting recovery and promote a healthier relationship with physical activity.
15+ team members, all dedicated to your health and well-being
A team of more than 15 experts will be dedicated solely to you and your health. This includes a personal psychiatrist, medical doctor, addiction specialists, and a live-in therapist who will be available for emotional support and therapeutic assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter the unique blend of treatments you receive, they will be delivered with the Swiss medical excellence we are known for.
Comprehensive programmes as unique as you are
Our exercise treatment programmes are guided by our principles of humanistic pragmatism and curated to meet your individual needs.
We can provide treatment for exercise addiction and any co-occurring dependencies and mental health conditions at our private treatment centre in Zurich.
FURTHER READING
