Exercising In Addiction Recovery

Addiction changes your body chemistry, leaving a significant impact on the mind and body. Once you’ve escaped the grips of your addiction, it’s possible that you will succumb to some physical and emotional wear and tear, especially if your habit was excessive. While it’s never fun to be in a rut, the good news is that there are many activities that can help shift the tide. Chief among these outlets is physical exercise, which is well known for spearheading physical and emotional rejuvenation for addicts and non-addicts alike. Whether you are new to addiction recovery or are far removed from using harmful substances, there are several benefits from getting regular exercise. Southeast Addiction is a big proponent of finding a catharsis that will motivate you in and out of the treatment setting. Let’s discuss the importance of exercising in addiction recovery.

Reducing Stress

One of the biggest benefits that come from exercising in addiction recovery is the reduction in stress. Being in the midst of a recovery program is already stressful enough, and if stress is allowed to run rampant in your life, it can lead to things like relapse (which we want to avoid at all costs). Physical activity will release feel-good endorphins in the brain and gradually stabilize your stress levels. This particular study in the Health & Fitness Journal further emphasizes the importance of exercise as a stress relief. You can read the whole study here.

Meditation In Motion

The Mayo Clinic has eloquently described exercise as “meditation in motion.” Simply put, by concentrating on the physical, we can also experience the psychological and emotional benefits of meditation. Through constant movement, it allows the user to refocus their thoughts on their own well-being, making it easier to temporarily shut out the noise from everyday life. By approaching it this way, you might discover that you’re in a clearer state of mind, even feeling more optimistic as a result! Finding this clarity while navigating through the stress of life can make things much more manageable.

Exercise Can Improve Your Outlook

Those who are exercising in addiction recovery will begin to have increased feelings of self-confidence and optimism, which seeks to reduce the negative feelings of stress and anxiety. This is due to the body regulating and calibrating itself during exercise, but it’s also synonymous with feelings of pride, accomplishment, and self-worth, due to the transformation of the body. It’s very easy to be overcome with joy when you’ve achieved a personal benchmark. If you’re finding success from a habitual fitness routine, the goal of continued sobriety will probably be easier to maintain as well.

Providing Structure

Part of what makes regular exercise so powerful for reducing cravings is following a set routine. Whether you’re doing solo workouts or joining some exercise classes, exercising in addiction recovery cements a routine for each day. Staying the course with your commitment will help you stay grounded and encourage you to stick with the routine. Allow workouts to give you the much-needed structure that was most likely lacking in the past. Set up an exercise schedule during certain parts of the day. This could be in the morning or in the evening. A routine that healthily distracts you from caving into moments of weakness can make it more feasible to stay on this path.

Addiction Treatment in Atlanta, GA

Southeast Addiction will always encourage our patients to pursue cathartic activities like exercising in addiction recovery. To get started with addiction treatment in Atlanta, GA, contact us today!