Ammi Midstokke: What goes up must come down - The reality of endorphin addiction

Endorphins are the smack of the athletic world. All those cute articles about how you’ll eventually achieve “runner’s high” are like a dealer on the corner offering a freebie. No one ever warns you about what happens to long-term users of these hormones.

No one tells you that after your first 5K, you’ll be so elated you’ll sign up for another. Or a 10K. You’ll want more of the same, only better. In fact, one can probably assess their level of addiction by how many cotton t-shirts with weird logos they own.

Physiologically, the release of endorphins is a delight and, as far as I can tell, one of the great joys of owning a human body. When we do things that stimulate the release of endorphins, our opiate receptors are activated. This makes us feel happy – and sometimes a little numb, typically to the misery of the marathon one is running.

In the world of athleticism, or what I might refer to as embracing the mediocrity of my ability with the obduracy of my training, the gradual adaptation to high levels of endorphins makes us rather addicted.

If our endorphin release is primarily from exercising and training, increasing a training load can mean increasing endorphin release. We excitedly throw ourselves into our events and come out of them reeling with joy and achievement, even if we have not met our goals. The endorphins have been released.

I know at least half the Spokane population is still reeling from Bloomsday hormones. And likely already thinking about what their next fix will be (even if it is just Bloomsday 2017).

But what happens when we stop? What happens when we have to take a break from training? Or we’ve completed the Big Event and need to recover? Or worst of all, what happens when we’re injured?

While the release of these miraculous little hormones shows all kinds of other benefits, sports medicine also acknowledges that a reduction in production leads to withdrawals and associated symptoms like depression.

Anyone of you who lives with an injured runner knows exactly what I’m talking about. They aren’t very fun to be around.

Unfortunately, it is not possible or healthy to continually increase our training load or race t-shirt collection. So how can we find a healthful way to produce those happy-making hormones when we’re in recovery or off season or maybe just a normal human being?

Go outside. Studies show that the color green greatly increases our release of endorphins, not just while we’re exposed, but after the fact as well. A morning walk in the park or the scenic bike route to work will do the trick. Even a snack in your back yard will help.

Laugh. Laughing produces the same endorphins that your runner’s high brags about. Surround yourself with good humored folk of classy wit.

Eat spicy foods, a little chocolate, or take your partner to bed early. Maybe not in that particular order, although if you throw in some Frisbee golf that sounds like a pretty great date night.

Accept it. Your body will eventually adjust to fewer endorphins and recover just fine, but recognizing the biochemical reality of what is happening might make you feel a little better about it.

If you’re dragging post-race or summer adventure, find some new fulfilling activities to replace the positive energy. You don’t have to wait until next Bloomsday either. There’s always the Bare Buns Fun Run in July – not to mention a t-shirt worth owning.