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Drug Rehab And Exercise

Drug addiction recovery is much more than just staying away from drugs.  It’s about having a healthy lifestyle that is also drug free.  Read on to see how exercise can be an important part of addiction recovery.

Exercise Beneficial To Reward Cycle

Exercise is something that can benefit nearly anyone’s life.  It enhances or improves so many bodily functions when done regularly.  When a person is recovering from the damage of a drug addiction, their body and mind need help in many different ways.  Exercise can be a part of that healing recovery process.

Endorphins are a part of the body’s reward cycle.  When a person does something that feels pleasurable, endorphins are released through the blood stream.  Unfortunately, drug and alcohol addiction interferes with this process and the natural chemical cycle no longer functions properly.

People seek the drugs for the high rather than doing most anything else that could naturally bring them pleasure or enjoyment.  The sensations of the natural bodily chemicals just don’t stand up to the intense rush of drugs.  Exercise is a way to stimulate the natural release of endorphins.  When a person goes to drug rehab, the drug leaves their body after a few days.  A regular exercise regimin can help the body learn how to feel pleasure in normal healthy ways again.  The person’s mood lifts after exercising, giving them a naturally good feeling for a while.

Exercise Helps Clear Drug Addicts Mind

Exercise is also a great mental distractor.  In order to keep a regular pace with an elevated heartbeat, a person exercising has to focus and concentrate on what they are doing.  Since the mind can only focus on one thing at a time, the focus on exercise can distract from addiction thoughts, negativity, or temptations.  When you are getting out of breath from an aerobics class or from a jog, it’s tough to pay attention to anything else!

Not only does exercise feel good in a biochemical way, exercise helps muscles become more relaxed.  During exercise, the muscles are worked in both relaxing and tensing kinds of ways.  As a result, tension that had built up in the muscles is released.  The overall sensation is of greater relaxation for some time after the exercise is finished.

The increased physical exhaustion and improved relaxation helps a person fall asleep more easily and sleep better through the night.  Drugs and alcohol disrupt a person’s sleep on a regular basis, making it difficult to get good rest.  This affects a person’s daily functioning, their mood, and their ability to think clearly.

Exercise Can Help An Addict Through Their Whole Life

Drug rehab centers are seeing the benefit of including exercise as a regular part of the early recovery process.   Even after drug treatment, regular exercise can keep a person physically and emotionally healthy.  It can also be used as a versitile coping skill.  Exercise is clearly a beneficial part of any drug addict’s addiction recovery program.

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