Exercise is truly the gift that keeps on giving, what you put in in terms of efforts comes back 10-fold in how you feel. Getting in shape, as the phrase suggests, will also have you looking better. Unfortunately, between looking for drugs, getting wasted or drunk and then dealing with the hangovers and withdrawal those who abuse substances to the point of addiction most likely aren’t fitting in a workout.
Doesn’t land too highly on the to-do list of an addict.
This really is a shame because working out offers so many benefits and you don’t even necessarily have to incur the costs of a gym membership if money is tight.
Benefits of Exercise in Addiction Recovery
Getting started with exercise may not come naturally at first but going through that initial bumpy batch of getting into the swing of it is absolutely worth it.
Better Mood
Working out releases those feel-good chemicals into the brain, replacing the garbage you were putting in before. A good exercise releases endorphins, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin and leaves you feeling fantastic. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “runner’s high”, that’s pretty much where it comes from and it certainly has the power to put you in a better mood.
Healing the Body
Drug and alcohol addiction don’t just affect the mood though, they devastate the body. Exercise puts you on the path of immediate physical recovery and maintaining a workout regimen sets you up to lower risk for possibly developing other health issues down the road as you get older. Exercise functions to keep your blood pressure in check and make your heart strong to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease.
Structure
An uncomplicated but powerful tool, having a structure in your day means you know what you’ll be doing with your day. Creating a routine that includes dedicated exercise time goes a long way towards avoiding finding yourself in situations that may trigger you.
Dealing with Stress
Exercise is a time-tested coping mechanism and a healthy one at that. There are plenty of not healthy ways to deal with stress as any addict knows but getting the stress out at the gym, or wherever you choose to exercise, by working up a sweat is AOK.
Meeting People
If you used to meet people bars, clubs or other places that revolved around drugs and alcohol and are wondering how you’re going to stay social in sober life, exercise presents a perfect opportunity. A gym is a wonderful place to meet people who are on the right track so to speak and if a gym is maybe a little too intimidating for you, trying a sports league or pick up games at the park. All good options for creating new, healthy connections.
Different Types of Workouts
This is the fun part: figuring out what works for you. Working out comes in so many different forms and finding what you like is only a matter of research and then some trial and error. The big categories are aerobic, strength and stretching/flexibility.
Aerobic
These are your cardio workouts that get your blood pumping and heart rate up. Running, biking, swimming, team sports, HIIT (high-intensity interval training), etc. fall into this category.
Strength
Pretty much what you think it is, strength training is about resistance, things like lifting weights, machine exercises, using bodyweight, etc.
Stretching/Flexibility
Workouts in this area are all about improving range of motion, flexibility and balance. They tend to be more low impact, think yoga and Pilates.
Benefits of Addiction Recovery
The benefits of recovery far outweigh the alternative and exercise is a simple, yet profoundly effective way to keep yourself on track. We’re big fans of working out at Newport Beach Recovery Center and would be happy to tell you all about the positives that come from an active lifestyle in your recovery journey. Call us to learn more.
