Health and wellness are a core element in addiction recovery. For this reason, addiction treatment centers often integrate a holistic therapy program that includes exercise therapy. Exercise during rehab helps clients stay motivated to reach their goals, get healthy, and avoid relapse.
Exercise also plays a role in healing the mind and body. Physical activity can counter the adverse effects that drug or alcohol use has caused over a long period. Whereas addiction breaks the body down, exercise builds it back up, strengthening the individual in body and mind. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of exercise during rehab. If you have any further questions, contact Sunflower Wellness Retreat today by calling 855.730.8825.
Endorphins: The Brain’s Natural High
One of the reasons why a person continues to use drugs or alcohol is because of the high levels of dopamine these substances produce. Continued use, however, causes a lower production of dopamine. As a result, users increase their intake, as the body builds a tolerance to the substance. Regardless, the brain stops producing dopamine.
Exercise can stimulate the mind through the production of endorphins, which your body produces in the central nervous system. Endorphins act on opiate receptors to reduce pain and boost feelings of pleasure. They promote health and wellness by making you feel better. Therefore, if you are looking for an addiction treatment center in Kansas, choose one with an exercise therapy program.
Improved Sleep
Insomnia is a common symptom of both addiction and withdrawal. A person who uses drugs or drinks heavily is likely to experience a disruption in their sleeping pattern. For instance, heavy cocaine or meth use can cause the user to go for several days without sleeping. Even when a person does sleep, they never really rest.
If you engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, it will wear your body out and give you a good night’s rest. The body requires at least eight hours of sleep after a day of solid exercise. If you engage in exercise therapy, you may find that you can re-introduce a regular sleep pattern back into your life.
Relapse Prevention
One of the reasons people turn to drugs or alcohol is they don’t know how to cope with anxiety, depression, or stress. They may turn to substances to fill the void caused by these types of mental health issues. If they do not replace the void with something positive, they may relapse.
One of the things you learn in a substance abuse treatment program is to replace the negativity in your life with positivity. Exercise during rehab is a great way to replace your addiction with something that promotes health and wellness. If you are busy exercising and taking care of your body, you have less time and energy to fixate on drugs or alcohol.
Positive Social Interaction
Your old drinking buddies are not going to help you meet your recovery goals. You may have to find new friends who are going to build you up and not drag you back into your addiction. Exercise can help you connect with people who are more positive and have a better influence on your life.
If possible, you may want to join a gym, get involved in a bicycle club, or meet some new friends at a yoga studio. Surround yourself with others who live, eat, and breathe wellness.
Learn More About Exercise During Rehab at Sunflower Wellness Retreat
At first, exercise during rehab seems like an impossible task. However, with the right treatment and addiction therapy programs, you will begin to embrace exercise and other types of health and wellness. We can help you every step of the way. We offer holistic therapy programs as part of a range of our addiction treatment programs, including:
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Heroin addiction treatment
- Cocaine addiction treatment
- Benzo addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
To find out more about our holistic therapy program, contact Sunflower Wellness Retreat at 855.730.8825. We are here to help you get on the road to recovery.