So is exercise just like drugs?

During exercise, numerous substances are released that make you happy: endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. They are all neurotransmitters, substances that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other. But sometimes the effect can be similar to drugs...

And bye(fine)

During exercise, numerous substances are released that make you happy. One of them is endorphin. Also called the "runner's high," "feel-good hormone," or "natural feel-good drug." This morphine-like substance creates a blissful and euphoric feeling and reduces pain and anxiety. It's no wonder that exercise addictions are usually caused by the production of this substance. And it happens quickly, because after just 20 minutes of exercise, these neurotransmitters surge through your body.

Did you know that you can even experience withdrawal symptoms if you're addicted to exercise? You might experience increased muscle tension, heart palpitations, and dizziness if you can't exercise due to injury or illness, for example. Exercise addiction even has a name: "bigorexia." You feel like you can't live without exercise; you practically want to go every day. Your social life is planned around workouts, and you can't really go on vacation without working out.

Happy with serotonin

And then there's serotonin, which is also released when you exercise. It's also known as the "happiness hormone." It makes you feel happy and regulates your appetite, sexual drive, sleep, and mood, among other things. That's why you might not feel hungry or be able to sleep after exercising. It might sound like a drug, but this too is "just" a neurotransmitter.

Dope

And finally: dopamine. Your body also produces dopamine during exercise. This keeps you motivated to keep going, makes you feel happy, and gives you that pleasant feeling of reward. The substance is therefore part of the brain's reward system.

In short, we can enjoy sports very much, so much so that it can become an exercise addiction.