How Exercise Helps People Recover from Addiction

May 5, 2022
/ Fitness
/ By David B

Contents

1 Lower Risk of Relapse
2 Replace Your Triggers
3 Increase Self-Esteem and Confidence
4 Helps You Think Clearly
5 Improve Your Sleep Routine
6 Wrapping Up

Whether you’re an addict or a friend or family member of one, many people overlook the benefit of exercise on addiction recovery. Whether you’re focused on abstinence or harm reduction, integrating exercise can make a big difference in your life. Most rehab clinics have on-site facilities for their patients to use after taking the toxicology labs test. You see, exercise can help in many ways. Even if you’re not feeling up to it today, keep reading to find out why exercise can boost your recovery.

Lower Risk of Relapse

Exercise can also help lower the risk of relapse by providing a healthy outlet for cravings and negative emotions, both of which are known triggers for drug and alcohol use. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling with an urge to use, exercise provides an alternative that releases the same feel-good chemicals as drugs or alcohol. However, it will do so without the potentially dangerous consequences of substance abuse.

Replace Your Triggers

When you take the toxicology and drug monitoring tests from toxicology labs and find out you’re addicted to something, specific triggers make you want to use it again. These can be places or people, feelings, or situations that trigger your desire to use drugs or alcohol. Exercise can help you avoid these triggers by replacing them with something else — like going for a run instead of drinking at a bar. It might take some time for this process to work, but it will help keep your mind off using drugs or alcohol until those triggers no longer have any power over you.

Increase Self-Esteem and Confidence

When people have low self-esteem and confidence, they’re more likely to turn back toward their addictions because they feel like they need them to cope with life’s challenges. Exercise can help raise self-esteem and confidence because it gives you a sense of accomplishment when you reach your goals. This is whether it’s running farther than we ever thought possible or simply improving our performance over time.

Helps You Think Clearly

Thinking clearly is the most straightforward benefit of exercise for those recovering from addiction and the one that has been studied most extensively. Exercise increases the amount of blood your heart pumps per beat, which delivers more oxygen to your brain. This means better thinking, planning, and decision-making functions. It also produces changes in parts of the brain that are important for self-control and moderating moods and emotions.

Improve Your Sleep Routine

Exercise helps your body release endorphins, a natural chemical that makes you feel good and is often referred to as the feel-good chemical. Endorphins help improve sleep, and sleep is your body’s best chance of repairing itself, so exercise could help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. You’ll be less stressed, calmer, and able to manage any anxiety or depression. All things that help improve recovery from addiction.

Wrapping Up

In the end, it’s not all about willpower. Addiction recovery is a long and messy process. Taking the toxicology labs test to find out whether you are addicted to certain illicit drugs should be your first step. Life without drugs or alcohol can be difficult for anyone to achieve. Exercise is really important. It doesn’t have to be a massive workout either. Any exercise, such as even walking, is enough to help your body overcome cravings. Whether you are looking to beat a nicotine addiction or whatever kind of addiction, exercise can help with the withdrawal symptoms and give you the strength to stay on your path. Remember, beating addiction is not easy. Just take one day at a time!