While any kind of addiction is harmful to the mind, body and, society; there are multiple remedies to get out of this trap. Exercise might seem to be unrelated when talking about addiction, but it isn’t true. There are many biological changes that your body goes through when recovering from all the damage that drug or substance abuse has on your body. And resisting the urges to go back to it is nothing but a long battle.
Here are a few ways of how physical exercise is beneficial while trying to recover from any kind of addiction.
1. Puts the Urges Under Control
The first and foremost effect that exercise will have on you is to control your urges to drink or smoke as it takes up quite some time in your day reducing the amount of free time you get to indulge in any substance. Researchers suggest that exercising when combined with behavioral therapies is a sure shot way to recover.
2. Improves Physical and Mental Health
Exercising never harms anyone, unless you get too excited and injure yourself. Just thirty minutes of exercise can reduce the risk of heart attack, lowers body pains, increases stamina. It promotes mental wellness as it helps prevent depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, etc.
3. Sets a Routine
In the beginning, exercising might be burdening but once you find the activity that you enjoy, you will be looking forward to it every day. You will be able to see the effect yourself in a few days. Find yourself on a successful path to recovery when you say no to any drinking plans or feel so healthy that you don’t want to smoke.
4. Brings Positivity
Usually, in adolescent treatment for addiction, it is seen that candidates have a lack of motivation that makes them go back to addiction. When you exercise, certain hormones are released that lift your mood making you happier and more motivated. Moreover, it also gives you goals to achieve, all these things collectively have a very positive effect on your mental health. Quite literally!
5. Stress and Immunity
The main cause of abusing any substance is to release stress or peer pressure which can lead to addiction. Exercising releases certain chemicals in your brain that relieve stress, sometimes stress can also cause body pains that can be released through regular exercising. It also tires you down after which the sleep that you get is beneficial physically and mentally.
Exercising has also proven to not only improve your immune system but also decreases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. So, exercising is beneficial for everyone.
6. Helps Build A Healthy Social Life
Whether you go to the gym, play a sport or do yoga, other people are always around. And being around positive and motivated people builds a healthy social circle. This helps to connect with the outside world leaving behind your drinking buddies and talking to new people is always. Working in other activities with your new friends after your exercise routines will keep you busy too.
Addiction is not easy to recover from, some take years but trying for another sober day is the path ahead. Exercising is a big instrument in the battle.
