There are many well-known physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise:
- Improved strength
- Reduced pain
- Improved immunity to sickness
- Weight loss
- Improved health of the heart and other organs
- Improved self-esteem and confidence
- Increased energy
- Improved mental clarity and focus
The list goes on and on. What many recovering addicts don’t realize is that the benefits exercise offers to everyone are especially helpful for them.
Addiction is both a physical and psychological disease. The physical symptoms of addiction: nausea, pain, fever, and flu-like symptoms, tend to pass in a matter of days. The lingering power of the disease – and the cause of most relapse – is the psychological power addiction has to change the neurological functioning of the brain. Lasting recovery requires the re-programming of neural pathways and the creation of new “feel-good” responses in the brain. Exercise accomplishes this in the following ways:
- The natural release of endorphins during and after exertion triggers the pleasure center of the brain
- Addicts feel a sense of accomplishment that boosts their self-esteem and their belief that they are strong enough to stay clean
- Improved physical strength and health makes life better in nearly every way for the recovering addict
- Exercise releases stress and anxiety, which are often substance abuse triggers
The exercise practiced in recovery need not be strenuous in order to be effective. Any physical activity can be beneficial, including the following:
- Walking
- Hiking
- Biking
- Swimming
- Jogging or running
- Organized sports (softball, golf, football, etc)
- Weight training
- Resistance training
- Cross training
- Physical fitness boot camps
- Yoga (Pilates, etc)
Most doctors recommend at least 20 minutes of exercise per day, but your doctor or recovery staff can help you determine the most beneficial type and amount of exercise for you. It is not good to overdo it, especially early in the recovery process, nor is it safe to engage in exercise without at least one partner who can watch out for you.