31 Mar The Positive Effects of Exercise During Addiction Recovery

Exercise might have more to do with getting and staying clean and sober that you might think. Research shows that there are a number of health benefits for those on the road to recovery, not just the physical benefits one might expect from doing exercise, but benefits to mental, emotional and spiritual health too.

If you or a loved one are looking at rehabs in Bali, our team at Calm understands the importance of incorporating exercise into the recovery journey. A body that is adjusting to a life without drugs or alcohol is undergoing massive change. This can lead to feelings of stress, depression or anxiousness, lethargy and sleep problems that can continue even once the body has completed the detoxification process. This is where exercise plays a crucial role.

Studies show that recovering addicts who participate in regular exercise can benefit from less stress, improved mood, more energy and better sleep.

7 benefits of regular exercise during recovery

1. Stronger immune system – According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, exercise helps protects against disease and strengthens the immune system.
2. Increased energy – Whilst exercising, oxygen levels increase in the body which boosts the body’s overall energy. This combats the feelings of lethargy and sluggishness felt by many people in recovery.
3. Improved mood – In early recovery it is very common to suffer from depression due to a depletion of the feel good neurotransmitters in the brain as a consequence of addiction. Research shows that exercise increases the production of these feel good neurotransmitters in the brain, and so lifts the mood and relieves symptoms of depression.
4. Better sleep -Many people in recovery have trouble sleeping without the drugs or alcohol they used to turn to. Regular exercise can improve both the quality and quantity of sleep by regulating the body’s temperature. As your body returns to a more balanced and healthy state, exercise helps to restore the normal sleep cycle.
5. Stress reduction – Stress during recovery can very easily lead to relapse if not managed properly. Physical activity that raises the heart rate can reduce stress. Chemicals are released into the brain during exercise that combat stress.
6. Reduces drug seeking behavior – Exercise reduces cravings and drug seeking behavior by firstly lowering levels of a protein in the brain associated with drug cravings, and secondly exercise releases “feel-good” endorphins, which are similar to the effects of drinking or using drugs.
7. Provides structure – Especially at the start of the recovery process, addicts need to know what to do when. Exercise not only fills up time in your schedule that might previously have been spent drinking or doing drugs, but each time you do the activity you planned you can feel good about keeping your commitment and achieving a goal.

Even if exercise isn’t your favorite thing to do, it takes so many forms that there really are ways for everyone to incorporate it into their recovery journey. At Calm, our rehab in Bali, we can help you to find the right kind of exercise so that you can create new healthy habits and build a stronger, healthier you. Not only do we have an in house fitness centre and two palm fringed swimming pools to help you kick start your fitness regime, but our guests can also enjoy working out with our partners at the highly acclaimed CrossFit Wanderlust nearby, the largest and most equipped CrossFit gym in Bali. Whether you are considering alcohol rehab in Bali or drug rehab in Bali, there are not many more idyllic locations to get moving again than the Island of the Gods with its year round sunshine.

This blog is part of a series of content written by Calm Rehab, a specialist drug and alcohol treatment center located in Bali. Calm Rehab offers a range of professional and effective services to help individuals reclaim their lives and build a brighter future.

If you, or a loved one, are struggling with drugs or alcohol, please contact Calm for advice.