The Runner’s High Makes You More Socially Connected

Chemicals released in the brain during exercise help us form strong bonds and reduce social anxiety

Kelly McGonigal
Elemental
Published in
5 min readJan 6, 2020

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Werner Dieterich / Getty Images

NNiki Flemmer, a 37-year-old nurse practitioner in Seattle, Washington, had gotten into a rut running a 5K on the treadmill at her gym every day. She was sick of doing the same workout by herself all the time when…

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Kelly McGonigal
Elemental

Psychologist and best-selling author of The Joy of Movement, The Upside of Stress, and The Willpower Instinct.