As an obese child, I dreaded the days on which running activities would take place at school. For instance, during the Presidential Fitness Test, I always came in last for the timed mile run. About this matter, I self-disturbed quite a bit.
To understand what I’m suggesting, it may be useful to know about the ABC model used in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). This model illustrates the causative relationship between unfavorable beliefs and unpleasant outcomes.
REBT theory maintains that when an unexpected Action occurs and a person uses an irrational Belief about the situation, it’s one’s unhelpful attitude and not the undesirable circumstance that causes unpleasant cognitive, emotive, sensational, and behavioral effects as Consequences.
From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
For example, although I also sustained trauma in the form of psychological abuse from my mom when I was a child, it was physical abuse (Action) that caused bodily pain and bruising (Consequence). From an A-C perspective, punches to the body can lead to bruises.
Alternatively, when my mom called me fat, told me that I was disgusting, and claimed that no one would ever love someone who was as apparently repugnant as I (Action), a B-C connection resulted when I unhelpfully Believed, “I’m worthless and I shouldn’t even be alive.”
By use of a self-downing and demandingness Belief, I experienced thoughts about how burdensome I perceivably was (cognitive), felt sorrow (emotion) and heaviness in my body (sensation), and cried uncontrollably (behavior) – all of which were Consequences of my Belief.
Customarily, people within civil society tend to agree that A-C violence is what causes B-C outcomes. However, REBT maintains – and I agree with its logical and reasonable proposition – that people upset themselves through use of unfavorable assumptions about undesirable events.
Therefore, when it came time to run in elementary school, I was already self-disturbed to the point whereby I became physical ill by the mere belief about heading from the classroom to the field where children were assessed for our physical fitness levels. It was a miserable experience.
Rather than remaining self-disturbed, REBT advocates use of Disputation which may lead to an Effective new belief that’s used in place of an unproductive self-narrative. With the ABC model, a person learns to stop needless suffering which is caused by unhelpful assumptions.
Additionally, REBT uses the technique of unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance, unconditional other-acceptance, and unconditional life-acceptance.
Because I knew nothing about REBT in my youth, I self-agonized about running and largely avoided the activity if and when I could. That was until I joined the Delayed Entry Program regarding my enlistment in the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
Knowing that I’d be required to run once I entered USMC Recruit Training, and thereafter, I began running each evening in my hometown. Unexpectedly, I found that a feet-to-pavement approach to wellness was cathartic—relieving of uncomfortable emotional and physical tension.
The more I ran, the better I felt psychologically and physically. I lost weight, increased stamina, improved my run time, and the residuals of chronic exposure to trauma up until that point seemed to melt away when I ran. About this experience, one source states:
If you’ve ever completed a long run and felt like you could keep going a few more miles, you may have experienced a runner’s high. This sense of euphoria helps athletes feel relaxed and calm. It can also help shield against pain from the long bout of exercise, at least temporarily […]
For decades, scientists believed endorphins were responsible for a runner’s high. It makes sense — they do have a great deal of beneficial effects. But in recent years, research has revealed that endorphins may not have much to do with it after all. Instead, new research points to another type of molecule: endocannabinoids.
These molecules act on your endocannabinoid system. This is the same system that’s affected by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis. Like endorphins, exercise releases endocannabinoids into the bloodstream. If you feel euphoric or deeply relaxed after a run, these molecules may be the responsible party.
Essentially, when I ran prior to attending USMC boot camp I got high off my own supply of endogenous chemicals. It felt wonderful (i.e., physically, mentally, emotionally, sensationally, etc.). This experience continued throughout my military service.
Unfortunately, due to a number of injuries incurred as a Marine, I eventually stopped running and instead chose to lift weights. Although I don’t lift heavily, I continue to experience an improved level of functioning and quality of life similar to the effect of a runner’s high.
Noteworthy, REBT practitioners are less concerned with feeling better and instead focus on actually getting better. Therefore, when conducting psychotherapy (colloquially “therapy”) in my personal and professional life, I use a holistic approach to well-being.
Similar to how the ABC model and UA can improve psychological function, some form of self-care that incorporates chosen suffering in order to develop high frustration tolerance (HFT) while fostering resilience can expand an individual’s physiological function.
For instance, consider the Austin Marathon that took place on February 16, 2025. I was once a runner, having completed a 3-mile timed run in 18 minutes—after having lost my way on the course and crossed the finish line with that time nonetheless. Yet, I never ran a marathon.
I imagine that completing a marathon could be quite challenging. Interestingly, the Austin Marathon was supported by attendees who held up humorous signs to encourage or entertain runners along the way. The above photo is an example of one such sign.
It reads, “Therapy was also an option!” Though a couple of people in the subreddit thread seemed to have missed the point of presumed humorous intent, I laughed a little more than what one may expect when having seen the sign posted on Reddit.
Therapy was, indeed, also an option as opposed to running 26.2 miles in a single setting. What I appreciate is that the sign didn’t propose that therapy was a better, though merely an additional, option. Well done to whoever crafted that one! Still, another person held a different sign.
It reads, “Did therapy not work?” Again, I laughed a little more than what was perhaps appropriate. The inference is that psychotherapy failed and runners instead resorted to the grueling experience of toiling through mile after mile of HFT resilience-building. I dig it!
Aside from daily practice of REBT, I drudge away at lifting and lowering weights in order to increase my level of functioning and quality of life. While therapy is also an option, as a professional REBT practitioner, I’m my own mechanic and physical training is my maintenance.
I imagine that the same is true for those who recently ran the marathon. Undoubtedly, some of the participants receive therapy. Nevertheless, they likely understand that in order to increase HFT, some form of chosen suffering can help a person get better in the long run – pun intended.
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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