By Birgit Buerkner
Mareike (35) brought herself to the lowest point in her life with a mixture of speed, ecstasy and cannabis, Jeffrey (35) brought herself to the brink of the abyss with benzodiazepines and opiates. Both are now running away from their addiction.
Big steps away from dependency. Twice a week the therapists Joe Runge (53) and Franz Kuhnlein (61) start the running therapy with the patients of the Hartmut Spittler Weaning Clinic (Schoeneberg).
Goal: Replace the artificial toxic rush with a natural bliss rush. “The messenger substances that the brain releases when running have the same effect on the reward center as addictive substances – only biologically,” says the clinic’s chief physician, Dr. Alexander Stoll (49). “Addictive pressure and tension are reduced.”
It’s not about: Faster, further, better. Many participants are already out of breath when they arrive at the meeting point. Whoever starts has already won!
Mareike and Jeffrey are physically fit after twelve weeks of training Photo: Christian Lohse
The training starts with one minute run, one minute walk. This interval is increased each time.
Mareike remembers: “The first time I crawled half on the ground.” At the age of 16, she came to amphetamines through cannabis and most recently suffered from hallucinations. After her inpatient detoxification, she reported for running therapy. “Every time I felt better,” she says, adding proudly: “The training is proof: I can do something!”
Jeffrey reports: “In the beginning it was hell.” Growing up in a household of drug-addicted parents, he never knew a life without intoxication. “Running helps me find inner balance.”
After twelve weeks, most participants manage around five kilometers without a break! “They have not only improved their fitness, but also strengthened their self-esteem and feel self-efficacy,” says Runge.
And that’s what it’s all about. “After completing rehabilitation, patients should be able to regulate themselves in difficult situations in everyday life and remain abstinent,” says Stoll. Instead of going to the dealer or the late night shop, just put on sports shoes and start walking…
Info: Running club for ex-addicts, Saturdays, 10 a.m., Tiergarten, corner of June 17 and Klopstockstraße.