Footbag and endorphins

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 22 Dec 2006 07:30

Ever since my very first footbag sessions, I noticed something. The game made me happy....It made me feel good....It made me sweaty - very sweaty...It got my heart going...It gave me joy... My thought process actually changes. I'm tired - but content. My vision kind of slows down a bit and I become less caring - I'm a bit detached.

Why is this? Endorphins? Are endorphins crucial to enjoying footbag - or rather, REALLY enjoying it..? How closely intertwined is the endorphin experience to footbag?

People talk about "footbag depression" and maybe its caused by low endorphin output.

Now, I don't know what exactly leads to endorphin production. Is it all the physical exertion, mostly? Or is it the hitting of badass tricks that does it? Probably a combination of the two.

Is anyone else affected by footbag so much?

smokefree · Post by **smokefree** » 22 Dec 2006 08:52

I think most people do or they wouldn't be so hooked. If I didn't have footbag i'd probably be miserable right now. You're right about the content feeling, when I play I forget about all my troubles and think life's perfect in that moment.

jay7 · Post by **jay7** » 22 Dec 2006 09:33

I find that footbag is one of two sports that gives me those extreme endorphins, which allow me to not think about anything else in the world.

Everything else just doesn't do it for me, for a long period of time. After the beginning rush is over, it just becomes boring. Footbag didn't.

Psilocybe · Post by **Psilocybe** » 22 Dec 2006 09:51

I usually play alone, so that may effect how much effort one exerts. Sometimes I play with ONE other dude and I barely feel the endorphins. I imagine with 3-4 people it would be even more difficult to approach the threshold....not that footbag is all about the high, its also a good social activity.

Whats funny is if I'm really affected/tired I'll start stumbling around and almost fall over when doing spins. To observers I must look drunk. Thats when I know its time to stop before I hurt myself.

BenRea · Post by **BenRea** » 23 Dec 2006 14:51

vicodin......lol

i can relate to this. i am addicted to pain, i hate it when im doing it but after i do it i just need more and more of it. thats why im a 'workoutaholic'.

PegLegHolly · Post by **PegLegHolly** » 23 Dec 2006 17:39

footbag has done a lot for me. heres my experience, but if you dont care, then dont read.
i used to be big into drugs. i wont go into detail on which ones because thats not what matters. i nearly died about 3 times from overdose... and when i say nearly, i mean my heart stopped. i was depressed all the time. my mind always got stuck in the past. i pretty much dwelled on the death of an old boyfriend. life was constantly kicking my ass.
but i quit drugs finally and footbagged instead. i know that might sound crazy but doing drugs was destructive and footbag is constructive. i like footbag because im doing something good to my body after years of doing harm. today when i shred, i notice im finally smiling. used to be when i was fucked up all the time nothing was funny... i took everything waaay too seriously. back then i was always sick, i couldnt get out of bed for days, my body was weak. but now i feel strong. my legs are finally muscular and toned, rather than just being legs (does this make since to anyone?). when im jumping around and hitting new moves my heart goes faster. i have goals now. before i quit druggin i didnt give a damn what happened to me or the people around me. now i care about others and i care about myself.

i dont know if any of that made since. to sum it all up things were bad and now they are good. and its all because of footbag and brian and the choices i make.

Pyroman924 · Post by **Pyroman924** » 23 Dec 2006 18:16

Holly, that was a great story. You should feel lucky and proud of yourself for getting out of that lifestyle. I know too many people who have not been so fortunate and are currently letting themselves spiral down to nothing. I'm glad you rose above that. I hope things continue getting better for you as well.

As for me, whenever I feel like shit, I always go and shred some. Even if I don't hit anything great. Just the physical exertion calms me somewhat. Even when I'm in the best of moods, footbag multiplies that feeling tenfold.

Footbag Forever · Post by **Footbag Forever** » 23 Dec 2006 19:33

PegLegHolly wrote:footbag has done a lot for me. heres my experience, but if you dont care, then dont read.
i used to be big into drugs. i wont go into detail on which ones because thats not what matters. i nearly died about 3 times from overdose... and when i say nearly, i mean my heart stopped. i was depressed all the time. my mind always got stuck in the past. i pretty much dwelled on the death of an old boyfriend. life was constantly kicking my ass.
but i quit drugs finally and footbagged instead. i know that might sound crazy but doing drugs was destructive and footbag is constructive. i like footbag because im doing something good to my body after years of doing harm. today when i shred, i notice im finally smiling. used to be when i was fucked up all the time nothing was funny... i took everything waaay too seriously. back then i was always sick, i couldnt get out of bed for days, my body was weak. but now i feel strong. my legs are finally muscular and toned, rather than just being legs (does this make since to anyone?). when im jumping around and hitting new moves my heart goes faster. i have goals now. before i quit druggin i didnt give a damn what happened to me or the people around me. now i care about others and i care about myself.

i dont know if any of that made since. to sum it all up things were bad and now they are good. and its all because of footbag and brian and the choices i make.

That's really awesome you overcame it all and came out on top. It takes a lot of character, and rebuilding your life to do that. I actually had a similar experience although not as extreme (there was no death of a loved one or near-death experience)...I was really into drugs for about a year and a half. I had an traumatizing break up with this boy I was with for 2.5 yrs. I won't go into any detail, but I was depressed all of the time, hated life, n pretty much was a waste of life, n my grades were suffering. Then I went away to college this past August things started getting a little better. Then...I found footbag. It has been the most constructive thing I've ever chosen to do with my life. I love it. When I'm playing I forget the rest of the world exists, it's truly an amazing sport. I guess just the feeling of hitting new tricks is addicting, and never gets old, which is only more motivation to keep progressing. Plus exercise in general releases endorphines that make you feel good. Also, I've found all of the people I've met through footbag are real chill people...and tend to also have an interest in Ultimate Frisbee (my other fav. sport) Yay footbag!