Exercise and Addiction Recovery Benefits

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When exercise is used in addiction recovery the person may have an easier time recovering all together. A few benefits of exercise and addiction recovery include overcoming physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, helping the body to overcome damage that the addiction may have caused and being therapeutic. Exercising creates feel good endorphins and helps the person keep a positive attitude.

Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated or involve any marathons or other competition. When we talk about exercise, we simply mean physical activity that the makes the person feel whole and feel motivated to do more. There are some goals that should be in place and the person should try to meet the goals. Exercise goals should be personal and appropriate for the person trying to obtain them.

Commitment / Schedule

exercise and addiction recovery

Commit to exercise and addiction recovery!

Commitment to exercise and addiction recovery is important because it gives the person a set time for exercise. When a person takes on the commitment to exercise, they will have less time to fill their time with negative activities such as addiction relapse. Many recovery centers will offer different types of exercise activities in a group setting to encourage social involvement, team work and improved health. Keeping exercise on a schedule keeps the person’s life organized and planned out. This can help them keep busy and help to prevent relapse from occurring.

Positive Attitude

When a person exercises, it can help them keep a positive attitude. When the person keeps up the positive attitude, it can help them overcome their addiction. Before recovery, they may have used the drug to overcome their depressed thoughts and stresses. During recovery, they will learn new ways to overcome these feelings and use exercise to help them get the encouragement they need to stay positive and moving forward.

Heals The Body and Brain

Studies show that exercise helps the body and brain. Exercise during addiction recovery is important to help the body overcome the destruction that has been encountered. When exercise is done properly, it can help with depression, diabetes, the immune system and the vascular system. Exercise also helps burn up the fat that was stored during the addiction phase.

Creates Structure

An exercise routine can help create structure in the person’s life. Structure is something that is important since the addiction more than likely caused a lot of chaos and havoc in the person’s life. When a person becomes more structured, they will be less likely to turn back to drugs for any type of relief.

New Set Of Friends

In addiction, the person would typically hang out with friends who shared the same addiction as them. Once the person goes into a recovery program and picks up exercise as a new hobby, they will start to make new friends. Working out with other people is great because the group of friends will be able to motivate each other and each person will be accountable for setting and accomplishing their goals.