Can Exercise Help With Addiction Treatment?

Written by: Tim

In simple words, addiction treatment means a process through which a person tries to discontinue his craving for the substance or behavior he was addicted to. Addiction treatment can involve medication, counseling or just personal willpower. So the question we are targeting in this article is whether exercise can help with addiction treatment, and the answer to that would be a resounding yes. Let’s look into it more in detail.

How does exercise help with addiction treatment?

The problem which most people, under going addiction treatment, deal with is that of mood swings or mild to acute depression. The body, of an individual who is trying to recover from an addiction to substance, is trying to make adaptive changes to its physiology to compensate for the lack of the substance which it had gotten used to, like in case of a nicotine addiction. This process can be emotionally draining for that person. It’s common for many addiction patients to face spells of depression, for a few days or even weeks depending on the physical and psychological attachment to the addictive agent. Exercise can be invaluable in helping one enhance his/her mood, and feel more resilient and pepped up to cope with the addiction recovery.

Studies have shown that exercise can contribute immensely to mood improvement and reducing stress, because when you exercise your brain releases endorphins, adrenalin, dopamine and serotonin all of which are “feel good” chemicals for the body. It has also been seen the people who work out feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of it, which enhances their feeling of well-being.

People who are suffering from mild or moderate depression, during their addiction treatment period, should definitely consider joining a gym or take up some form of outdoor exercises like jogging, walking, swimming or cycling. It’s has been found that 30 minutes of rigorous workout can provide the same improvement in mood as provided by a medication, and add to it the immense benefits received by the body as a whole and you have the perfect combination to help you with your addiction recovery.

What are some exercises you can perform during addiction treatment?

There are different types of exercises one can undertake depending on personal preference and physical limitations.

Cardio and Aerobic exercises – It’s highly recommended that you take up some form of outdoor cardio exercises while you are going through addiction recovery simply because of the added value of fresh air, social presence and the sense of well-being that comes from being one with nature. Try jogging along a peaceful trail surrounded by trees, or take hike up a peaceful hillside if it’s present in your area. It’s better to jog in the evenings followed by a hot shower, and dinner to give you a sense of quietude towards the end of the day.

Sports – You can combine entertainment with exercise when you indulge in sports like badminton, tennis, soccer, basket ball or baseball. All these sports entail a rigorous workout which will leave you feeling pumped and pepped up.

Yoga – You can join a yoga class near your place, and schedule sometime in the morning for performing a few Asanas and Pranayama. Yoga is known for its tendency to manifest holistic healing in the body, and there are Asanas which specifically help in improving the blood circulation and mood improvement. Pranayama is known to provide a sense of calm and wellness by regulating the breath.

You can combine all of the exercises mentioned above for greater benefits, you can do yoga in the morning and follow it up with a sports activity preceded by some warm up exercises in the form of walking or jogging. You will notice that these exercises not only help your addiction treatment but go a long way in enhancing your body’s ability to readjust its physiology.

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