Addiction Recovery and Exercise

Although medicine and counseling are important aspects of recovery from addiction, plain old physical exercise is also very helpful. Addiction recovery and exercise are not often associated with one another, but studies show that addiction treatment facilities should place more importance on exercise in recovery. Exercise releases brain chemicals called endorphins that help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. This natural release of “feel good” brain chemicals is not meant to be a replacement for the drug high, but rather a natural enhancement of recovery — who says recovery has to be painful, gray and uncomfortable?

There’s also a social aspect to working out, if a person goes to a gym, that can also help in recovery. Being around others who’re working toward a common goal gives a person a sense of personal and shared accomplishment, much like AA or NA. Working out produces tangible results that inspire a person to strive for more progress. Often in early recovery the pay off is some intangible “awakening” in the future. With exercise there can be an immediate reward.

Also, addicts in early recovery have sleep problems. Exercise is usually an effective sleep aid. Years of alcohol or other drug use causes much damage to the body and brain. Talk with a physician before starting a major exercise program in recovery if there are health problems, but I’m sure there’s some level of exercise that’s possible to enhance recovery. Whenever someone’s taking action in recovery to make improvements it’s good for recovery. Just the discipline of following through with an exercise program is positive and helpful in recovery.

Perhaps a combination of good nutrition and exercise is what’s needed for anyone in recovery to reach a higher level of well-being. Those in long term addiction recovery sometimes get stuck in a rut, and this puts the person at risk for relapse — maybe a good exercise program is the change that’s needed to add another dimension to recovery. I don’t think eating well and exercising are going to hurt.