How Running Saved My Life and Helped Me Heal Trauma

Unraveling the Power of Running: My Personal Journey of Healing and Resilience

Discover the transformative role that running played in my life, from college years filled with endless miles to the profound impact it had on my mental and emotional well-being. Embark on a captivating exploration of how running became a powerful tool for processing trauma, unleashing the runners' high, and providing a gateway to healing. Join me as we delve into the science, stories, and benefits behind running as therapy.

Throughout my college years, a playful nickname—Forrest Gump—followed me, reflecting my unwavering dedication to running. The sheer exhilaration of running became an indescribable joy, and I reveled in the euphoria of the runners' high. My love for this activity blossomed, nurturing my physical and mental well-being.

The Unstoppable Routine: Running as a Lifeline

Post-graduation, my commitment to running intensified. Starting around 2007, I embarked on a rigorous regimen, never missing a day and completing a minimum of five miles each morning, even in the face of sickness or inclement weather. Deviating from this routine would leave me in a desolate state, plagued by a profound sense of misery. The addiction label seemed plausible, but there was more to the story.

Unveiling the Therapeutic Power: Running as Trauma Relief

Running was more than a mere addiction; it became my refuge for processing trauma and managing stress. Research and personal experiences validate the therapeutic benefits of running, particularly in relation to trauma, PTSD, and stress relief.

The Psychology Today article "Running through Trauma" highlights how aerobic exercise elevates levels of essential neurotransmitters—serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine—critical for emotional well-being. Moreover, it combats the detrimental effects of stress and anxiety on the brain. Natural opioids and endocannabinoids, responsible for euphoria, well-being, and decreased pain sensitivity, are also released during aerobic exercise, offering solace to individuals with trauma histories.

The Trauma Response: How Running Connects Body and Mind

Running works on the very system hijacked by the trauma response. Increased heart rate, labored breathing, stomach discomfort, and muscle tension—common sensations experienced during running—mirror those encountered by trauma survivors. By teaching the body that these sensations can be endured while maintaining safety and control, running becomes a catalyst for processing and releasing previously trapped trauma-related sensations. Empowerment and liberation emerge, allowing individuals to confront their distressing thoughts while running, effectively "running through" their troubles.

What trauma was I recovering from? I grew up in a very volatile home, both parents were addicts, unstable and not present in any sense of the word. My parents had a very messy divorce and my mom married another volatile addict. My mom never had a real job, spent all the child support on who knows what. I do know it wasn't on mortgage payments because we were kicked out of every house we ever lived in. I saw a lot of physical abuse, there was plenty of verbal abuse and a total lack of parental support and safety.

I scored a 7 on ACES Quiz. The Adverse Childhood Experiences, or “ACEs,” quiz asks 10 questions about common traumatic experiences that occur in early life. Since higher numbers of ACEs often correlate to challenges later in life, including higher risk of certain health problems, the quiz is intended as an indicator of how likely a person might be to face these challenges.

For now, I’m going to leave my childhood story at that and dive into the information on trauma and how it affects our bodies and brains.

The Price of Passion: When Running Takes its Toll

Around 2015, the relentless pounding on pavement took its toll on my knees, leaving my joints in agonizing pain. Running, which had become an integral part of my identity, seemed impossible. The physical toll forced me to reevaluate my relationship with running, as my body could no longer bear the load.

To running, my eternal companion, I express my deepest gratitude. Not a day passes without yearning for the meditative state, the balance, restoration, empowerment, and freedom you bestowed upon me. Running provided respite from the fight-or-flight response, granting my body a reprieve from relentless stress. Though physically apart, I cherish the memories and anticipate a future reunion.

Witness the extraordinary power of running as a catalyst for healing trauma, relieving stress, and rediscovering strength. As my personal odyssey with running unraveled

Here’s a portion of the Psychology Today article:

Research has started to demonstrate that aerobic exercise not only increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which are important neurotransmitters involved in thoughts and emotions but that it may also combat the effects of stress and anxiety on the brain. The body's natural opioids and endocannabinoids, which are responsible for experiencing a sense of euphoria and well-being, sedation, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects as wells a decreased sensitivity to pain are also found to be released during aerobic exercise (Portugal et al., 2013). You can imagine why naturally triggering these neurochemicals could be important for any of us, especially those of us carrying a trauma story.

Running may also work on the exact system that is hijacked by the trauma response. While running an individual can experience an increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, discomfort in the stomach and overall muscle tension. These feelings are also common experiences of the trauma survivor. In teaching the body that it can experience these sensations, while staying safe and in control the individual can help work through these previously stuck sensations and help the body restore to a balanced state. Running can be an incredibly empowering experience; minus the cost of sneakers it is entirely free and can be done in groups or as a solo activity. While running, one can practice clearing their mind working to benefit from a meditation response or actively think about what is upsetting them, allowing them to “run through” it.