Exercising consistently plays a significant role in improving your physical and mental health and well-being. Unfortunately, many people overlook the impact of exercise on addiction recovery. Yet, exercise can be a powerful tool not just to help improve your physical fitness and support your recovery, but exercising can also be a great coping strategy you can turn to when you do face triggers to abuse drugs. In this article, you’ll learn more about the impact of exercise on addiction recovery so you can improve your physical health and recovery progress.
At Veritas Detox, we are a leading drug and alcohol detox center that helps patients safely overcome addiction so they can effectively progress along their recovery journey. Detoxing is the first necessary step every patient must go through on the path to sobriety. We offer a variety of drug and alcohol detox treatment services so you can feel supported on your recovery journey. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead a healthier, happier life.
How Exercise Can Support Your Road to Recovery
Research supports that exercising can be an effective treatment for substance use disorders. Consistent exercise helps improve mood, lower stress, and raise your energy levels which can ultimately help support your recovery journey. Keep reading to learn more about the impact of exercise on addiction recovery below.
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Supports Physical Health and Well-Being
First, exercise helps support your physical health and well-being. Addiction can play a big toll on your physical health for the worse. Not only can addiction lead to potentially life-threatening consequences, but it hurts your physical and mental health in the process. Therefore, implementing regular exercise into your life in recovery will allow you to prioritize your physical health and fitness.
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Healthy Stress Reliever
Stress is a normal part of life; however, unfortunately, many addicts who experience stress may turn to drugs or alcohol to try and relieve that stress. Therefore, it’s important to find a healthy stress reliever, like exercise, you can do to relax your mind and body. Whether it’s walking for 30 minutes every morning or biking, there is a range of physical activities you do to get your body moving while lowering your stress levels.
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Improves Mood and Energy Levels
Exercise can also help improve your mood and energy levels. Your mood and energy levels can play a role in impacting the progress of your recovery, as well as how you respond to triggers or urges that may come up in your life. This is why having the energy to resist urges or cravings that will inevitably come up in your life is essential.
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Healthy Habit That Creates Structure in Your Life
Another reason exercise can be great for those recovering from addiction is because it is a healthy habit that helps establish a sense of structure and routine in one’s life. It’s important to create a routine in your life as addiction recovery requires a daily commitment to resist drugs and alcohol, regardless of how tired, stressed, or lonely you may be feeling.
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Offers a Healthy Coping Strategy to Resist Triggers
Finally, exercise offers a healthy coping strategy you can turn to when you are faced with urges and triggers to abuse drugs or alcohol. Exercising can be a great healthy distractor by getting you away from thinking about cravings to abuse drugs, and gives your body and mind a task to achieve, such as running around your neighborhood, swimming, going to the gym, etc. In other words, exercising is an easy way to get out of your head when you are thinking about urges to abuse drugs, and gives you something else to focus on other than your triggers.
Top-Rated Drug Rehab in California
Now you know more about the impact of exercise on addiction recovery. Engaging in consistent exercise not only improves your physical health but also helps establish a healthy lifestyle while reducing your risk of relapse. Exercising can boost your mood while giving you an opportunity to work on yourself on your road to recovery.
At Veritas Detox, we understand how difficult it is to detox and progress along your recovery journey. However, you don’t have to fight your addiction all on your own. We offer a broad range of treatment options to ensure you receive the tailored care you need to safely and effectively achieve long-lasting sobriety. Ready to begin your recovery journey? Contact us today!
