Exercise

Movement is praised in our culture. Discipline is admired. Pushing through discomfort is celebrated. For many young people, especially athletes, this creates a dangerous illusion: A strong body can hide a strained nervous system. Research shows that disordered exercise is common and closely tied to eating disorders, anxiety, and depression.¹² It is not rare. It is not a phase. And it is often invisible until it becomes ingrained. A 2025 study of over 7,500 adolescents found:

Movement is often framed as medicine. For many people, it is. It can lift mood, build confidence, and help you feel more at home in your body. But for some people, movement stops being a choice and starts feeling like a rule. It becomes rigid. Compulsive. Punishing. Emotionally loaded. You might feel guilty when you rest. Anxious when plans change. Like you have to “earn” food. Like your body is something to control rather than inhabit. If that sounds familiar, you are not br