Exercise impacts cortisol levels. Over-exercising can wreak havoc on the sympatho-adrenal system. A story of an ultra-marathoner using cortisol to self-medicate is a good example of this. Nickademus de la Rosa. De la Rosa had a troubled childhood and, for this reason, likely had low cortisol during adolescence. He became one of the most accomplished ultramarathoners at the age of 19. After 10 years of elite competition and prizes, he was diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder.Because chronic stress is inflammatory, the pituitary gland will reduce the secretion of ACTH, leading to blunted cortisol levels. Researchers call this Addison-type overtraining syndrome because the adrenals cannot make the necessary cortisol levels to withstand exercise. We know that endurance sports raise cortisol levels in the form of adrenaline. The magic runner’s high people talked about in the 80s is an unhealthy cortisol level that other kinds of stimulants can get. It can be just as addictive. A young person under stress will certainly need stimulants—be they drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or sports—not to feel depressed. Both low and high cortisol cause depression, but high cortisol always leads to low cortisol. High cortisol is inflammatory, and the pituitary gland must suspend or reduce ACTH signaling to the adrenals to force it down. The result of this is the kind of hypersensitivity associated with PTSD and bipolar disorder.
This young man is no longer racing. He is now on mood stabilizers. He has said he “cleaned up his diet” by going vegan. Both of these are the worst possible ways to treat low cortisol and bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers are supposed to increase the inhibitory GABA neurotransmitter and decrease glutamate, the excitatory neurotransmitter. However, we know from research on benzodiazepines, anti-depressants, and cannabis that, over time, the GABA system responds to the drug-related up-regulation of GABA by making the receptors less responsive. Over time the inhibitory GABA will be decreased to compensate. The synapses burn out from overstimulation.
Exercise is great. It increases stability, mobility, and agility. But overtraining is a real issue because of how this affects cortisol levels. It must be treated and supported with diet and lifestyle changes rather than medications.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/sports/ultramarathon-mental-illness.html. Accessed February 26 2024.
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