Have you ever been addicted to anything, or worried that you were? Have you ever spent too much time and effort on something that was a distraction from your real goals? Tell us about it.
When I was at the height of anorexia, I was seriously addicted to exercise, it completely dominated my time. I never let it interfere with going to school or to work but once I was off the "clock" I exercised excessively, I easily walked at least 10 miles a day and every other day I biked for an hour at full speed. If I wasn't constantly on the move, I felt that I was gaining weight. I only applied for jobs that allowed me the freedom to move such as retail and the cool law firm where I was a floater. Since I couldn't mentally handle the thought of not exercising it took the place of any social interactions that I may have had, it was lonely in hindsight. How do you explain to others that your need to exercise overrides spending time with them?
It took me a long time to get over my exercise addiction. At last I can go through one day, not two though, without exercising and not be emotionally bothered by it. As I say often, it's a work in progress.
laurieanichols 