Running

When I developed a dependency on running, it took a long time for me to. Admitting it means you know something is not right and I didn’t want to know something wasn’t right

In my darkest hour, my eating disorder tried to use running to destroy my life. It failed. Running showed me recovery is possible.

When I’m out pounding the pavements, I don’t have to worry about anything else in my life. It’s become my relief, my refuge and my replacement for booze.

I never really entertained the idea that exercise could help my mental health but what persuaded me to go for my first run was the motivation and inspiration from my community psychiatric nurse

Adventuror, author and mental health campaigner Alex Staniforth describes facing his bulimia head on as he attempts to run a sub three hour marathon.

The novelty of running early on a Saturday morning without a hangover has never worn off. It always fills me with gratitude and pride and kick starts my weekend with an amazing endorphin rush.

I had spent 10 years avoiding attention due to mental illness and my embarrassment, now I was telling my Invictus story to the BBC

Exercise had taken over my life. I lived to get faster race times and would feel depressed if I didn’t improve. Nothing else mattered.

Psychosis for me feels like someone has taken control of my actions and all I can do is sit and watch. Running helps to ground me and prevent any form of psychosis.

What happens when you incorporate running into a psychotherapy session? Read our interview with the founder of Dynamic Running Therapy