Regular, vigorous exercise can help those in drug and alcohol rehab with their recovery.

This Rehabilitation Guide discusses the top 4 benefits of exercise for drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Exercise Reduces Cravings for Drugs and Alcohol

There is much evidence to suggest that the chemical changes that take place in our brains when we exercise make it easier to avoid drugs and alcohol. Endorphins are released that give us a sense of well-being  They elevate our mood and give us a sense of confidence. Most of those who have overcome addiction and who exercise regularly say the feeling they get from exercising is much better than the feelings they received from using and abusing. This can greatly affect your ability to stay sober and clean.

You Build your Willpower

Exercising consistently will tone your muscles but it will strengthen another part of you too – your willpower. When you persevere and exercise even when you don’t feel like it, you’ll gain new strength in saying “yes” to the right choices. When faced with the challenge of staying drug-free or alcohol-free, you’ll have the power to say, “I can do this!” and to follow through successfully.

Exercise Helps with Focus

Doing something that makes you feel good about yourself will give you the energy and focus to stay with your addiction recovery program. Research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has shown that those involved in regular, vigorous exercise are far more likely to get clean and to stay clean.

Exercise Helps you Feel Better

There are many ways in which this is true. As well as producing endorphins in your brain, exercise is known to reduce stress. Stress is a major trigger for drug and alcohol use in many people. Exercise also helps you sleep better. You’ll feel more rested, less tired.

Studies have also demonstrated that exercise can help with depression, and depression is another reason why many turn to drugs or alcohol. People who exercise see improvement in their depression and report being happier since they began to exercise on a regular basis.

As you can see, there are many reasons to make exercise a part of your drug and alcohol recovery program. If you have health concerns, talk with your doctor to find out what type of exercise is best for you.

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