|
|
Article: Staleness Syndrome; The Peril Of Too Much Exercise
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- August 8, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
|
It's the dark side of exercise. The swimmer or runner or gymnast
pushes harder and harder, perhaps preparing for a big competition.
Performance improves. Things are going great.
Then, without warning, a simmering melancholy takes hold. Mood
starts to wobble over a period of days or weeks, then goes into a
tailspin. Performance drops, and no amount of adjustment in the
workout schedule helps. Feeling irritable, tense, angry and confused,
the athlete falls short of all expectations and in some cases
requires counseling or antidepressants for months.
You won't find it in a dictionary of psychiatric conditions, but
in sports circles it is known as "staleness syndrome."
Staleness is common among ...