2d • General discussion
Endorphins part 2
By now, it should be clear that exercise does not support mental health in isolation. A combination of community, positive habits and goal setting all support the mental health journey, and alongside this, the importance and value of medication and therapy cannot be understated, despite their systemic flaws. Exercise works because it changes the conditions in which recovery happens. Endorphins sit at the centre of that process. They act as natural mood regulators, and their role becomes especially important in chronic pain and mood disorders, where the nervous system is already under sustained pressure.
Chronic pain is not just uncomfortable. It keeps the body in a heightened state of alert, increases stress hormones, disrupts sleep and slowly erodes emotional resilience. Imagine breaking your leg, you get put in a cast - over time it gets sweaty and begins to itch, constantly. Now replace that itch with lingering, intense pain. It is a constant scratch you can never itch, slowly wearing you down. Over time, this creates a feedback loop where pain, anxiety and low mood reinforce one another, which in turn feeds into a cycle of somatic pain. Endorphins have this ability to interrupt that loop by reducing pain sensitivity while calming emotional reactivity at the same time. That shift does not eliminate the problem, but it lowers the baseline level of distress enough for recovery to become possible rather than overwhelming.
Take this as an example. A true feat of endurance and cognitive chaos in many senses, a story that should never have happened due to its relative preposterousness. If you have not already had the pleasure of being introduced to the madman Dion Leonard, let me do so. During the brutal 155 mile Gobi March ultramarathon, which follows the traces of the infamous conqueror Genghis Khan across Mongolia, Australian endurance runner Dion set off on this gruelling challenge.. which we will refer to as crazy decision number one. He was not just battling distance and terrain, which was inevitable given the races geographical location, but as the race continued, he began dealing with extreme heat, worsening dehydration and mounting injury to his foot and ankle which he sustained early on. By the halfway point, his feet were so badly blistered that the soles had disappeared, replaced by blood and raw skin, his ankles were swollen and his body was under every conceivable amount of strain imaginable. Under normal physiological conditions, this is where most people stop. As a on-looker, you would likely respect them for their effort and completely understand their decision to quit, most likely followed up by a enormous round of applause. Yet Leonard kept moving, (crazy decision number two).
What made his experience unusual was not just the physical suffering, but what happened alongside it. A small stray dog began running with him, stage after stage. Leonard later named her Gobi. Gobi unknowingly supported Dion through 78 miles, over half the race, and that unexpected companionship became a psychological anchor that carried him towards the finish. Leonard has since described how the bond helped him push through the most punishing parts of the race, at those times where quitting became the sort after reality.
From a physiological perspective, this is a clear example of endorphin-driven pain modulation. Ultra-distance running places the body under extreme stress, which naturally triggers the release of endorphins. These act as the brain’s internal painkillers, dulling physical discomfort and allowing movement to continue despite tissue damage and fatigue. But Leonard’s case highlights something more layered. Emotional connection appears to amplify this response. Research shows that bonding, care and social connection can increase the release of endorphins alongside oxytocin, a hormone linked to attachment and stress regulation. Together, these chemicals improve emotional resilience and help stabilise the nervous system under extreme pressure.
Leonard later described hallucinating from heat and pain, yet still finding a way to continue, (crazy decision number three). What carried him forward was not just mental toughness or motivation. It was chemistry. Endorphins were buffering pain, while emotional connection strengthened his capacity to endure it. His experience is a real-world example of how the brain can bridge the gap between physical suffering and psychological resilience. When movement, emotion and neurochemistry align, humans are capable of tolerating conditions that would otherwise force the body to shut down, and thus support Leon on all his crazy decision and show how these incredible feats of human endurance continue to occur time and time again. This is not a one-off case, just a monumentally extreme example of the power of endorphins.
As stated, exercise is monumental for physical and mental health, but there is also real value in synergy with medical treatment. When physical activity increases endorphin availability, it alters the brain’s chemical environment in a way that supports treatment rather than competing with it. They become a powerful trio, exercise, medication and therapy, uniting to battle mental health illness ( i can see a 3 part movie franchise coming). They combine to reinforce mental health wellbeing. Research shows that people who combine structured exercise with pharmacological or psychological support often recover more quickly than those relying on a single approach. Endorphins help reduce emotional volatility, soften pain responses and improve stress tolerance, which makes it easier to engage with therapy, follow treatment plans and stay consistent during difficult phases of recovery. Instead of therapy feeling like another source of strain, the nervous system is better equipped to handle it.
These benefits are not superficial. Sleep, self-esteem and emotional regulation are all deeply interconnected, and endorphins influence each of them. When the nervous system becomes less reactive, people are better able to process emotions, tolerate discomfort and respond to setbacks without spiralling. That is not motivation. That is physiology doing its job properly. The key point here is balance. Endorphins are not a cure. There is no pill form of endorphins. They are a chemical reaction to the investment made into yourself. Over-reliance on physical stimulation, or chasing constant highs, can backfire and lead to burnout. But when movement is used consistently and sustainably, it becomes one of the most effective support tools available. This is what gets missed in most conversations about exercise and mental health. The goal is not to fix everything through willpower or movement alone. The goal is to create the right conditions for recovery. Endorphins help do exactly that. They create stability in the system, both physical and psychological, which supports long-term mental health growth.
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Endorphins part 2
