Empower Your Journey to Recovery
From Punishment to Purpose: My Personal Story of ADHD, Overexercise and Recovery
Discover a safe space where healing begins, guided by expertise and empathy.
A Glimpse into Healing Journeys
Why I Thought Rest Was Weakness, Not Healing
Meet Becky Stone
About Becky
I’m Becky Stone, a qualified eating disorder therapist based in the UK. I work with both teens and adults, offering a calm and non-judgmental space to explore what recovery truly means, on your terms. My work is shaped by both professional training and lived experience, especially supporting neurodivergent clients with ADHD and autism. I believe in flexible, shame-free recovery, and I’m here to help you find healthier ways to feel good in your body.
When Overexercising Becomes a Dopamine Fix
Helping You Heal
There was a time when I believed I had to earn everything, especially rest. The rest had to be paid for. With 10k runs. With numbers on the scales. With relentless cardio. With perfection.
But here’s what I now know: Rest is a right, not a reward. And if you’re stuck in a cycle of overtraining, control, or shame, it’s not your fault. It’s your nervous system, your history, and often, your neurodivergence calling out for help.
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself or a loved one, Becky’s expertise and empathetic approach provide a foundation for lasting recovery and personal growth.
The ADHD Brain and the Need to Keep Moving
The Beginning: When Exercise Wasn’t About Health
In my 20s, I could push through anything. I wore exhaustion like a badge of honour. Running on nothing, fuelling on adrenaline and cortisol, telling myself I was “disciplined.” But really? I was empty.
The gym was my escape. Not because it felt joyful, but because it gave me a hit. A dopamine fix. The height of control. I didn’t realise I was slowly breaking my body.
Back then, I couldn’t sit still. Not from laziness, but because stillness terrified me. I now understand that ADHD played a massive role in this: I was wired for movement, but also wired for self-punishment. Cardio wasn’t healthy; it was an addiction. A coping strategy for the chaos inside.
The Wake-Up Call: My Body Fought Back
Eventually, my hips gave way. My back would seize after just an hour of decorating my office. I couldn’t run without pain, but the guilt of skipping movement felt unbearable.
“You’ll turn into a blob,” my eating disorder voice whispered.
“You’re lazy. You’ve lost your edge.”
But deep down, I was exhausted. I started asking myself: Is this sustainable? What is the longevity of this lifestyle? I realised I was living in survival mode, not thriving. And the longer I stayed there, the more my body broke down.
The Turning Point: When My Body Fought Back
Flexible Solutions for Lasting Change
Healing Isn’t Linear, But It Is Worth It
The Dopamine Trap of Overexercise
What I’ve learned is that many of us with ADHD, trauma, or eating disorders don’t chase happiness; we chase dopamine. And we don’t always realise that we’re stuck in a toxic loop.
🛑 Toxic dopamine for me used to include:
-
Overtraining and cardio obsession
-
Restriction and bingeing
-
Overgiving and people-pleasing
-
Shopping sprees or picking fights
-
Shame spirals after “slipping up”
✅ Now I focus on healthy dopamine like:
-
Hiking in the forest
-
Strength training (with boundaries!)
-
Music, candles, laughter
-
Making time for creativity and rest
I had to rewire what “achievement” meant. Because achievement used to mean pain. Now it means purpose.
What I’d Tell My Younger Self
➔ You are not more lovable when you shrink.
➔ You are not weak if you need help.
➔ You are not failing if your body needs rest.
And finally, you are not alone. I see you. I was you. And now I work every day to help others find the version of themselves that isn’t addicted to punishment, but rooted in peace.
Facing the Fear of Weight Gain
The fear of rest was never really about being lazy. It was about control and worth. If I didn’t exercise, I believed I would balloon. I would be unlovable. I’d “let myself go.”
But here’s the truth: Your body will not spiral out of control when you stop punishing it.
When we give our bodies safety, nourishment, and permission, they start to trust us again. They regulate. They repair.
My weight didn’t skyrocket. What changed was my mindset.
Find Your Path to Healing
For Anyone Struggling Right Now
If you’re caught in a cycle of overexercise, binge-restrict eating, or shame spirals, please hear this:
You’re not broken. You’re trying to feel safe, and your body is doing what it knows. But you deserve better strategies. You deserve to feel good without hurting yourself.
You can start small. Rest for 10 minutes. Choose nourishing food once. Cancel one gym class.
That doesn’t make you lazy. It makes you brave.
Our Core Values
What I Know Now About Movement, Rest and Recovery
Stay Informed with Our Newsletter
If you found this blog helpful, I share honest, trauma-informed insights every single week on recovery, self-worth, and what it means to feel good in your skin.
➔ Sign up here to get weekly support straight to your inbox
No spam. Just words that lift you up.
