It is often personal low points, moments of rejection, that first cause those affected like Jesko Nuhnen to ponder and then, morbidly, to go to the gym. “That was because I didn’t have that many friends for a long time and I didn’t have much experience with women in a relationship, for example. Then you ask yourself: Okay, what exactly is the problem? Is it because of me, because of my character? Is it because of my appearance? Simply that I’m too thin or too fat. You always question yourself very, very much. Especially when you don’t feel like you’re arousing women’s interest.”
Up to six hours of exercise every day
At the age of 17, Jesko spends four to six hours a day exercising and loses his remaining friends as a result. He only goes on vacation if there is a gym on site. But he suffers under the massive exercise.
“Accordingly, I neglected school a lot because I said to myself: No, I’m not doing so well anyway, why should I focus on school now? Why shouldn’t I just go to sports when I feel so good about sports.”
Disturbance of the self-image of well-trained men
What Jesko Nuhnen describes is typical of muscle dysmorphia, a disorder of the self-image of well-trained men who still believe they have too little muscle. The disease almost always begins gradually, explains Professor Christian Strobel, who researches muscle addiction at the Munich University of Applied Sciences.
“I always say disruption comes from disruption. If the level of functioning is limited by this body self-image or this body self-image that is experienced as a deficit, then one actually speaks of a disorder. For the level of social functioning, for example, this means: I can no longer go to my grandma’s birthday because there is cake and that doesn’t fit into my eating plan.”
The disease usually occurs on the threshold of adulthood between the ages of 17 and 19. Often those affected do not realize that they have a problem. They perceive it as normal that they spend so much time in the gym – which may also be due to their upbringing. “You actually recognize family structures that play a role. These are, for example, very high-performing families where it’s a lot about performance, a lot of control, but also physicality.”
Depression, anxiety and a disturbed body image
Exercising heavily also puts a strain on your mental health. It reduces the quality of life and often causes deep sadness in those affected. It’s a huge one Suffering pressure. And Jesko Nuhnen also has these feelings when he is 17. He develops depression in addition to muscle dysmorphia – a common combination. When he does sports, he feels like he can escape reality and be on a short-term emotional high.
“But it got so bad that I did too much exercise in the gym. As a result, so much dopamine is released that outside of the gym, i.e. outside of the training itself, I actually no longer developed these feelings and thus promoted the depression again.
Risk of stress fractures, cardiac arrest or suicidal thoughts
But not to go to sports; is not an option for Jesko. And as for other sufferers, the spiral can become dangerous: the level of suffering becomes ever greater and with it the risk of stress fractures, suicidal thoughts or the risk of sudden cardiac arrest increases. Often only an attentive environment helps, says psychotherapist Christian Strobel. “I would say, don’t look away, look! Start a conversation and say: Hey, can I talk to you about this? I’m worried, are you okay? And with empathy, with compassion.”
Talk about physicality
Strobel is committed to talking about physicality from an early age. He himself offers courses on this in schools. Both the psychotherapist and Jesko Nuhnen also see the fitness studios and trainers as having shared responsibility. Claus Umbach, President of the German Fitness Instructors Association, is of the opinion: “If the member comes every day and always does this and that. You can only ever give recommendations. Yes, I can’t forbid it in the studio.”
According to Umbach, fitness trainer training does not explicitly explain the disease. But clinical pictures are discussed and, above all, that training is finite and how overload can be avoided. Choosing the right gym can protect you in advance, says Umbach:
“Does the person train in a chain studio? The support there is very little. In a medium-sized sports and health center it’s different. The studio also values qualified support and something like that shouldn’t happen here.”
Therapy helps to accept the body
Five years ago, Jesko Nuhnen was lucky. One of his friends today takes notice and notices that he is not feeling well. The friend speaks to him and also points out the condition to the trainers. He slowly begins to realize what he is doing to himself and his body. Jesko goes to therapy. There we work on three pillars: physicality, behavior and the psychological background.
“Really not looking at yourself in the mirror for a month in a tank top or topless. But when you look in the mirror, you only have a sweater or jacket on. And that was a point for me that helped me extremely. Because you usually look at yourself in the mirror very often and with pleasure. But that’s also the problem that because of that you make yourself worse than you are. And then after this month you see yourself and you think: Wow, you actually have really bad shape.”
Jesko learns to accept himself as he is through therapy. And above all, that he is good the way he is.