Beating addiction isn’t easy. It takes a multipronged approach in order to bring yourself back to being the person you should be.
There are many facets to recovery, from therapy to Twelve Step groups to medication depending on your poison.
One of the most overlooked areas of tackling addiction is exercise but it can be vital to beating back your problem.
Ever wonder if a new fitness routine should be part of recovery? We’ll show you four solid reasons for adding a new exercise program might be the missing component of your program.
Table of Contents
1. Restoring Neurotransmitters
Your brain is a delicate instrument, controlled by chemicals which are known as neurotransmitters.
Nearly all drugs of abuse hammer your dopamine and serotonin receptors. This causes your brain to produce less of the chemicals which regulate your mood and can leave you without the ability to enjoy anything.
Exercise regulates these neurotransmitters, helping to keep your mood higher than it would be otherwise.
2. Getting a Routine Back
When you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol they can consume your life. Many addicts and alcoholics end up with virtually no real routine, sleeping when they can and spending the rest of their time seeking out their drug of choice.
Getting back into a regular schedule is an enormous help for many people, helping them to distance themselves from the lifestyle of addiction. Anyone who’s been in a rehab facility knows the emphasis on routine already.
Exercising regularly is a great way to start getting back to a normal life.
3. It Can Help Beat PAWS
Post-acute withdrawal symptoms, or PAWS, is one of the most cunning parts of addiction. They can last for months after the initial detox.
You might not be able to jump into a brand new routine while you’re still in the acute stage of withdrawal, of course. If you’re just getting off of your drug of choice then you should learn more about the initial detoxification process.
On the other hand, once someone is done with the acute withdrawal a lower mood, terrible energy levels, and complete anhedonia can occur. Exercise helps fight this by getting your mood higher earlier than it would be otherwise.
4. Increased Self Confidence
While it’s true that addiction is primarily a social disease, the truth is that many addicts have low self-esteem.
Getting your body back to where it should be is a vital part of restoring self-esteem and giving yourself a fighting shot at beating an addiction. It’s not the only part, of course, but in the long run, higher self-esteem will help you to stay on the right path.
Why Not Start Beating Addiction Now?
When it comes to beating addiction it’s almost never enough to take just one approach.
You’ll hear it said often: to conquer your addiction you only have to change one thing.
Everything.
Addiction is deadly and progressive. The sooner you begin changing your life, the better your chances. If you’re on the fence still, it’s time to get the help you deserve and start changing things.
If you’re ready to get started, then check out our blog for some great tips to get you on the right track to a new exercise routine and a new life.
