A few years ago, I worked in a toxic environment and became used to running in the evening to shake off the day. If I had a bad day, I felt that I had to run in the evening and I started doing more and more exercise - then I injured my back. My doctors have told me that running is the worst thing for me and for the most part I can stay away. But if I have a stressful day, I feel compelled to run - despite injuries and pain. I just haven't been able to replace the running with anything else which helps me decompress from the day. My doctors are started to get fed up with me (that the running gives me more pain but I continue to do it) but I genuinely feel like I'm stuck in a loop. I've tried other things - meditation, relaxing, bath, read book, go for walk....but nothing works as well to clear my mind and stabilise my mood as running. I'm starting to hear stories about early onset arthritis and damaging my body ever further but I simply can't stop. Any ideas greatly appreciated, anyone been through something like this?