Addiction Recovery: The Importance of Physical Fitness and a Healthy Lifestyle
Addiction Recovery: The Importance of Physical Fitness and a Healthy Lifestyle
Getting physically fit is something we should all aspire to since it leads to improved health and mental well-being. This is true no matter who you are, but physical fitness is especially helpful in facilitating recovery from drug or alcohol addiction. When you’re in recovery, your focus is not only on staying away from substance abuse but also on building your body back up and caring for your mental health.
Being active strengthens your body and mind at the same time, so it’s one of the best tools you have for living better in recovery, and you can even use technology to keep you motivated. For more information on how to do this, check out the following advice, courtesy of Meridian Counseling.
How Fitness Helps
Researchers have known for some time that physical activity is good for emotional balance. You have probably heard the term “runner’s high” and have likely experienced the mental boost of being active. This mental boost comes from the way exercise affects key chemicals in the brain that are responsible for feelings of happiness.
According to Neuroscience News, research indicates that exercise alters dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is associated with addiction. Based on this research, scientists now believe that exercise can actually repair dopamine signaling that has been damaged by addiction, giving you positive long-term effects from an already healthy activity.
How to Make the Most of Exercise
These studies have focused primarily on aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up, so we know that any aerobic activity is ideal when you’re in recovery. Strength training is also a great activity for setting goals and being able to see your accomplishments, and as you get stronger, you gain self-confidence that carries over into other parts of your life. Exercises like yoga that are inherently meditative are also great because they promote relaxation.
You may also benefit from exercising with a group. When people who are in recovery find a group of people who are all working towards the same goal, it gives you a sense of community that helps everyone stay on track. Shape notes working out with a buddy can be a boon, since the friendly competition boosts morale and accountability. If nobody special comes to mind, consider searching for an exercise companion through Meetup groups or at your workplace.
To keep your exercise routine interesting and to keep tabs on your progress, you many want to consider getting a coaching app like the LadyBoss Pocket Personal Trainer. Apps like this are super convenient since they can tailor to your personal circumstances, plus this one helps with diet and nutrition, too.
Other Ways to Care for Your Mental Health
Caring for your mental health is an ongoing need, especially for those in recovery, which means you need other tools to improve mental health even when you’re done working out. Psychology Today recommends setting personal recovery goals to help create a more fulfilling life. Be specific, prioritize goals that are most essential for your health, and define why they’re important to you. Knowing why keeps you focused and brings you back to your goals.
We can also learn lessons about caring for mental health from fitness. Having a rest day, or taking time to recover from injury, is just as important as being active. Give yourself permission to relax in addition to exercising. Spend some quiet time in meditation, journaling or listening to encouraging podcasts. These activities help you stay focused on recovery goals and recenter your mind, but can be a little daunting at first. Try guiding tools like The Mindfulness App or Sattva to help you get started.
Kicking substance abuse isn’t a quick and easy process, and neither is changing your daily habits to create an overall healthy lifestyle. It takes time and dedication, just like recovery. When you start to make these changes, though, you will feel better both physically and mentally. Take time to appreciate that good feeling and use it to fuel you for the long term.
For more information on how you can stay strong in your recovery, connect with Meridian Counseling.
*** Written by Adam Cook for Meridian Counseling. Adam is the founder of Addiction Hub, which locates and catalogs addiction resources.He is very much interested in helping people find the necessary resources to save their lives from addiction. His mission is to provide people struggling with substance abuse with resources to help them recover.