The road to recovery from an addiction is one of the toughest,
ongoing challenges that an individual can experience; physical, mental
and emotional stresses are inherent with the recovery process and are
often more frequent and difficult at the start of recovery. One of the
most effective supplements to a sound recovery process is physical
exercise, with benefits that include stress relief, physical
strengthening of long-neglected muscles and being a very effective
weapon against many of the emotional issues that manifest when getting
sober.
Physical exercise is also a tremendous tool for relieving the anxiety attacks, and the build-up of this nervous energy to begin with, that plague many in their first months or years of recovery. The act of exercising is also a great way to remove oneself from previous locations and people associated with using and helps to occupy those idle moments that were once filled with using.
Stress Relief
One of the largest emotional problems that affects those recovering from chemical abuse and dependency is stress. Everyone suffers from stress to some extent, but for those embarking on a path to recovery, new skills and strategies are needed for dealing with stress and relieving it. At these times, even the smallest problems can seem like the end of the world, often leading to panic attacks, outbursts, frustration, and even depression.
Exercise, even something as simple as walking, can easily calm the body and the mind, and regardless of whether or not a solution is immediately found, the release through exercise is often enough to quell most incidents to the point that a solution can be found. Exercise on a regular basis is just as beneficial; an exercise routine that is merely twenty minutes of brisk walking a day can be sufficient to relieve physical and mental stresses that manifest as unwanted, and often hard to control, behaviors.
Healthy Lifestyle
A strong focus on physical health is a cornerstone of the recovery process, and exercising is often the foundation that this new attention to health is centered around. Few active users led healthy lifestyles before recovery, with terrible eating habits, lack of activity and the damage that drugs do to the human body combining to atrophy muscles and even reduce metabolism and energy levels.
A workout routine also instills confidence and helps individuals take an active role in their own recovery, following the same principles that most structured programs practice. Working out can also be an effective tool against relapse; two of the biggest underlying causes of relapse are going back to people or places where one used and, of course, stress. Exercising alone, at a gym or with a partner is one of the best ways to combat those moments that can lead to using again, and while sponsors and meetings are just as important, the physical problem is often what needs to be addressed before any of the helpful information will even be heard.
New benefits of exercise are being discovered all of the time, but for those struggling with addiction, these benefits can be much more than a nice physique, often extending far beyond just physical health and well-being.
Physical exercise is also a tremendous tool for relieving the anxiety attacks, and the build-up of this nervous energy to begin with, that plague many in their first months or years of recovery. The act of exercising is also a great way to remove oneself from previous locations and people associated with using and helps to occupy those idle moments that were once filled with using.
Stress Relief
One of the largest emotional problems that affects those recovering from chemical abuse and dependency is stress. Everyone suffers from stress to some extent, but for those embarking on a path to recovery, new skills and strategies are needed for dealing with stress and relieving it. At these times, even the smallest problems can seem like the end of the world, often leading to panic attacks, outbursts, frustration, and even depression.
Exercise, even something as simple as walking, can easily calm the body and the mind, and regardless of whether or not a solution is immediately found, the release through exercise is often enough to quell most incidents to the point that a solution can be found. Exercise on a regular basis is just as beneficial; an exercise routine that is merely twenty minutes of brisk walking a day can be sufficient to relieve physical and mental stresses that manifest as unwanted, and often hard to control, behaviors.
Healthy Lifestyle
A strong focus on physical health is a cornerstone of the recovery process, and exercising is often the foundation that this new attention to health is centered around. Few active users led healthy lifestyles before recovery, with terrible eating habits, lack of activity and the damage that drugs do to the human body combining to atrophy muscles and even reduce metabolism and energy levels.
A workout routine also instills confidence and helps individuals take an active role in their own recovery, following the same principles that most structured programs practice. Working out can also be an effective tool against relapse; two of the biggest underlying causes of relapse are going back to people or places where one used and, of course, stress. Exercising alone, at a gym or with a partner is one of the best ways to combat those moments that can lead to using again, and while sponsors and meetings are just as important, the physical problem is often what needs to be addressed before any of the helpful information will even be heard.
New benefits of exercise are being discovered all of the time, but for those struggling with addiction, these benefits can be much more than a nice physique, often extending far beyond just physical health and well-being.
Austin, Texas has been Peter Wendt's writing headquarters for a
number of years now. For readers who wish to learn more about this
subject, he recommends they check out WWW.OriginsRecovery.COM/.
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