How Exercise Can Help You Beat Addiction
Did you know that regular exercise and workouts could give you a natural high that is even better than the chemical high that drugs and alcohol provide? It is no secret that exercising has unlimited benefits for physical and mental health. Although a vast majority of the population finds it challenging to create a disciplined workout routine for themselves, we at Shafa Home feel that a gentle reminder would only help!
During active addiction, people tend to make excuses. Excuses may vary from how they do not have enough time for exercising or how others are responsible for their current state. The fact remains that until they find a permanent solution to the problem of addiction, they will not achieve the right mindset, and coming out of their comfort zones will remain their biggest challenge.
The Healthier Cravings
As an addicted person, when you try to get rid of your drug/alcohol addiction, the mind & body crave the substance. Because drugs and alcohol have been producing certain feel-good chemicals in the brain, it only makes sense to continue creating them to avoid a state of being unhappy. If you do not fill the void of addiction with healthier alternatives, the stress and the cravings are bound to lead you to unbearable levels of pain & suffering. You may go back to your addictive patterns sooner or later.
Exercising, on the other hand, releases endorphins. You get your 'high' - the feel-good sensation without using drugs and alcohol. Although initially, it may be less intense than what you experience with your substance of choice, the long-term effects are far more pleasurable both mentally and physically. After all, to quit addiction should be a happy experience, yes? Unfortunately, while trying on your own, this process gets hampered due to a lack of motivation, strong urges to use the substance and numerous environmental factors.
The Immediate Benefits of Exercising in Addiction Recovery
There are some instant benefits of exercising if you are trying to get rid of your addiction problem. Not only does regular exercise foster healthy living, but studies also suggest that for the persons trying to quit addiction, exercising has various benefits like:
Reduces cravings and drug use
Decreases the effectiveness of alcohol & drugs, thus lowering susceptibility to use and abuse
Restores the brain cells damaged by long term addiction
Produces natural neurological rewards
Boost self-confidence and self-esteem
Reduces anxiety and stress
Enhances your sleep quality
Improves decision-making and creative thinking
Fosters a positive outlook in life
And Fills the void created by abstinence
In this article, we have tried to explain how exercising and workouts can help those who are struggling with addiction. While every person is different and situations may vary from time to time, the only constant is that professional treatment is the only way forward to overcome a serious problem such as alcohol & drug addiction. So, if you or your friend or relative is living with an addiction, it may not always appear as an easy decision to make to opt for a rehabilitation program, but it is the only permanent solution to the problem of addiction, the greater way to adopt healthier alternatives not just for a few days, but for a lifetime.
OM
This blog is written by a recovering addict who found his wings in the hands of 'Shafa'.
Shafa Home is India's largest & oldest rehabilitation centre for correction, detoxification and treatment of alcohol and drug related problems. To see us in action, Please Visit our YouTube Channel.
