Top 8 Benefits of Exercising While Recovering from Addiction

If you are recovering from addiction, it may be a good idea to take on some new healthy habits. One of them should be exercise. In this guide, we’re going to be taking a look at eight benefits that you’ll experience when you’re getting in the best shape possible. 

If you choose to do your treatment at Gallus Detox, you’re in the best company. You’ll work with professionals that will help you get in the mindset of kicking your addiction. While you’re at it, you’ll want to plan for the future in terms of life without drugs.

Exercise should be a part of that. So in case you need a list of reminders, let’s take a look at the following.

1. It reduces stress 

Stress can take a toll on someone. And some will even turn to drugs to cope with it. However, you’re in recovery and want to find an alternative.

Exercising is an excellent stress reliever. That’s because it releases endorphins that will make you feel a lot better. You’d be hard-pressed to find an excellent stress reliever quite like a walk, a run, or some other kind of exercise.

2. You can get a good night’s sleep

When you’re in recovery, you may be dealing with poor sleep habits. That can be due to the fact you may be dealing with withdrawal symptoms or the like. However, exercise can help you get the rest you need.

Your quantity and quality will increase over time. This is something that won’t happen overnight. But it will definitely put you in the right direction towards a good night’s sleep every single night you hit the sack.

3. You get more energy

When you’re in recovery, you may have days where you feel sluggish. And this is normal. When you exercise, your levels will increase over time.

When you have an abundant amount of energy, you may feel like you can go on longer than possible. You’ll have longer workouts, you’ll feel a lot better after you crank out your reps, and you’ll feel like you can power on through the day.

You’ll notice that you're feeling like you’re aging in reverse. If that isn’t a good sign of an improved life after treatment, we don’t know what is.

4. Your immune system gets a nice boost

Drugs tend to depress the immune system. This means you are more likely to get sick. Plus, you may also be more susceptible to various illnesses including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more.

With regular exercise, you can lessen the chances of getting these illnesses. Not only that, you can improve your immune system. You won’t have to worry about dealing with the long-term health effects that can occur with an immune system that doesn’t function as normal.

Again, this is something that won’t improve overnight. However, with consistency and time, you can be able to notice improvements in your overall health. You’ll wake up feeling more refreshed and energetic.

You won’t wake up feeling sluggish, wanting to go back to sleep, and feeling under the weather all the time. Exercise might be the best supplement to a boosted immune system without the use of vitamins alone.

5. It improves your mental health

Your mental health will improve when you exercise. You’ll feel more confident, feel a lot better, and feel less depressed. You may be dealing with mental disorders that may have occurred prior to your addiction.

With improvements in mental health, exercise can provide you with this next benefit. Want to know what it is? Keep reading.

6. It reduces the likelihood of relapse

If you are worried about relapsing after treatment, it’s OK to be that way. With regular exercise, you reduce that risk of doing so by over 50 percent. This means you will be experiencing the physical and mental benefits of exercise, which will work together to make you feel great overall.

When you are not feeling your best physically and mentally, you use to turn to drugs to cope with the pain. But with regular exercise, this is never the case. If you want to keep the chances of relapse low, continue exercising.

You may have your good days and your bad days. But leave it to exercise to make it better no matter what.

7. Exercise reduces cravings

As mentioned before, exercise will knock out relapses. On top of that, it can also reduce cravings for the substances you use. That’s why you may want to start your exercise routine while you’re in treatment.

One study points out that when rehab attendees did moderate aerobic workouts for 12 weeks, their cravings were greatly reduced. Not only that, they were on pace to live a life without substances and not dealing with a single relapse in the process.

8. It helps keep you busy

Exercise is a time consuming activity. That’s the good news. Even better, it keeps you busy and keeps your mind off of the drugs you might be craving.

You will also keep the thought of living a drug-free life at the forefront. You’ll feel like you can do just about anything. Busy is a lot better than bored, which is the usual mood when someone wants to try drugs (be it the first time or regularly).

You’d be hard pressed to find another activity that will keep you busy during treatment quite like exercise.

Final Thoughts

If you are considering an activity that will make addiction worthwhile, then consider exercising on the regular. You’ll want to enjoy these eight benefits listed above and for good reason. If you are looking for a great way to boost your health mentally and physically, there is no better way to do it than exercise.

The sooner you start with exercise, the better things will be. Whether it’s during or after recovery, you’ll notice a lot of physical and mental changes in your body. You’ll feel a lot better about yourself and have the can-do attitude and energy to power through your recovery.