It’s finally happened! You have overcome your addiction and are now on your path to a drug-free, healthy life.
No matter how hard you try, cravings will be a part of your recovery for as long as you stay clean. After completing an addiction treatment programme, exercise may help alleviate cravings.
When the hard work is done, it’s time to begin thinking about natural methods for keeping oneself from relapsing.” Fitness may help you remain drug and alcohol-free after your recovery from addiction.
What’s the Point of Working Out After You’ve Been Sober?
Everyone is well aware of the health advantages of regular exercise. It may also assist avoid a relapse into drug or alcohol use.
Exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety, tension, sadness, and cravings for addictive drugs, according to a research published in the Mental Health and Physical Activity Journal. Exercise may also boost one’s self-confidence in their ability to maintain sobriety, as well as providing a framework for a healthier lifestyle.
Relapse is a regular occurrence for those who are trying to overcome an addiction. Addiction, like mental disease, has a long-term relapse pattern. Around 40% to 60% of people who have a history of drug abuse relapse.
One strategy to keep your body moving and your mind off of your addiction is to engage in regular physical activity. According to a research published in the Buffalo News, patients who engage in regular physical activity during and after therapy are more likely to achieve their goals.
Endorphins and serotonin are naturally produced during physical activity, which is why exercise has such a positive effect on the body. In an effort to get access to these pleasurable substances and feel their effects, many people turn to drugs and alcohol. Aside from the fact that it enables your body to access these hormones naturally, exercising helps to reduce stress and so prevents a person from relapsing into an addiction cycle.
Exercises That Prevent Relapse
In order to avoid relapse, there are a variety of activities one might participate in.
There are a number of team sports that you may participate in to become fit and meet new people, such as tennis, basketball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball. Having meaningful relationships with others who aren’t using drugs or alcohol might help you concentrate on your new sober lifestyle instead of getting distracted by the errors of the past.
Having a clean group to turn to when you’re feeling lonely after severing connections with previous acquaintances who fed your addiction may be quite beneficial.
Running, walking, and yoga are other excellent forms of exercise that have been shown to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Running
Almost universally, when individuals hear the word “running,” their attention spans shorten. Running has a reputation for being emotionally and physically taxing.
Isn’t it possible to have a “high” without the use of an addictive substance? This is starting to sound more tempting, isn’t it?
Scientists have investigated how the brain reacts to running and found that individuals may feel “high” when running, according to a Runner’s World article.
Endorphins, which are molecules that behave like morphine in your body, are hidden deep inside. Painkilling endorphins are produced when your body exerts itself physically. The “runner’s high” is a term used to describe this feeling.
Elation, stress reduction, and reduced pain perception are all part of the “runner’s high,” which many runners experience after long runs. The rush of endorphins is to blame for this.
Stress triggers the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural stress relievers. Long runs put a lot of strain on one’s joints and muscles. Stress is countered by the body’s production of endorphins. If you’ve ever experienced a “runner’s high,” you know how good it feels.
You may get that “runner’s high” if you increase the pace of your next run or go farther. Increase the stress your body is under, but not to the point where it’s functioning only for survival.
