At our outpatient rehab in Greenwich, we always stress the importance of physical activity for those in recovery. Staying active offers a variety of benefits that support long-term sobriety goals, including improving your mood and reducing cravings. If you’re in recovery, the Connecticut Center for Recovery team offers information on why a treatment plan that includes exercise can be so effective.
Outpatient Rehab in Greenwich Understands How Exercise Bolsters the Recovery Period
Exercise supports both your physical and mental health as you go through recovery. Here’s a look at why exercise is so beneficial.
Impact of Exercise on Your Physical Health
Substance use disorders wreak havoc on your body. Drugs and alcohol deplete you of the nutrients you need while potentially causing damage to your organs. Muscles are often the first to suffer during an active addiction, and that could lead to gait instability, back problems, and a wide range of other issues.
Exercise assists with muscle growth. It stimulates the release of growth hormones, which help muscles repair damage and build new tissue.[1] As muscles grow, your body feels more stable and less fatigued. You may notice aches and pains disappearing because your core will be stronger, especially if you choose abdominal and aerobic exercises.
Exercise enhances the efficiency of your cardiovascular system, helping oxygen and nutrients reach where they are most needed more rapidly.[2] It also improves your sleeping patterns, typically in disarray during recovery.
Vitally, workout recovery strategies support an increase in the number of nerve connections in your brain. This, in turn, allows your brain to start healing from the harmful impact that addiction had on it. Exercise can even improve how the prefrontal cortex works.[3] This part of the brain is often severely damaged by addiction, and that results in problems with decision-making and impulse control.
Impact of Exercise on Mental Health
When you exercise, your body releases brain chemicals called endorphins. These are feel-good hormones that decrease your perception of pain, working like natural opioids. You can feel a surge of well-being and optimism, which can be a major benefit when dealing with substance use disorders.[4]
Addiction often co-occurs with mental health concerns like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other conditions. Recovery strategies have to tackle mood disturbances and other effects of mental illness to encourage long-term sobriety. Exercise helps with this goal.
Exercise also assists you in managing triggers. Triggers create a stress response throughout your body that leads to cravings. Because exercise can reduce stress levels, it has the potential to be a powerful coping strategy.[4] Managing triggers and cravings can give you confidence in your recovery and even lower your risk of relapsing.
If you exercise with other people, you also get a social boost. Isolation is a serious concern for those in outpatient recovery programs, and it can worsen mental health. Taking workout classes or joining others to jog or walk around your neighborhood can prevent loneliness.
Choosing the Right Exercises
There are a variety of exercise options that can help you as you recover. Swimming is an excellent way to exercise your whole body without putting pressure on your joints. It can be the perfect choice for those who want to get their hearts pounding but don’t want high-impact exercises. If you can access heated pools, you can continue your routine even in the winter.
Jogging
Jogging is always an excellent way to reduce stress. You can run on your own or with others, which can help you get an additional social boost. Another option to consider is hiking. It gets you moving and encourages you to spend time outside in nature, bringing benefits. Hiking can also be done in groups, so you don’t have to worry about being alone with your thoughts if that isn’t what you want.
Yoga
Yoga is another excellent choice, and many rehabilitation services offer it. Yoga can help your body and mind by teaching you how to breathe correctly to release stress.
CrossFit
CrossFit can be a good match for those looking for something more challenging. It combines many strength-building exercises with nutrition advice and community support. Those who get bored quickly and need variety in their workouts may be especially drawn to it.
Collaborative Sports
You also have the option of team sports. Playing soccer, baseball, or volleyball on a local team or setting up a neighborhood game every week may be an excellent way to get outside and burn some energy for a few hours. If you want to try something more artistic, dance classes allow you to express yourself and get a great workout at the same time.
Starting a Fitness Routine with an Outpatient Rehab in Greenwich
Beginning your fitness routine might feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The first thing you want to do is to be realistic about your current physical state. If you’re struggling to walk up a flight of stairs, jumping right into an hour-long aerobic routine is probably not feasible. You don’t want to set yourself up to fail. Instead, choose a more manageable strategy, like power-walking.
Think of your fitness goals, too. Do you want to build lots of muscle, increase flexibility, get leaner, or a combination of these? Knowing what results you’re looking for can help you prepare an appropriate strategy.
Look for workout classes you can join. Some options don’t require gym memberships or other structured programs. Look through social media in your area to find local groups that meet to take classes or jog around a nearby park.
Contact Our Outpatient Rehab in Greenwich for Help
If you’re struggling with any form of addiction, getting help is a difficult step to take, but doing so can save your life. Beginning treatment and incorporating coping strategies such as exercise into your daily routine can help you achieve long-term sobriety while improving your overall health at the same time.
At the Connecticut Center for Recovery, we provide outpatient rehab services for those with substance use disorders and mental health concerns. With our experienced team by your side, you can receive personalized treatment that addresses your exact needs. Contact us to speak with one of our admissions team members about our program options.
Sources:
[1]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11013508_Growth_Hormone_Release_During_Acute_and_Chronic_Aerobic_and_Resistance_Exercise
[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6721405/
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
Alexis earned both a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She holds licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy in Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and is also a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Alexis works with families, couples, children, and groups and also has a sub-specialty in addiction and recovery. She utilizes an integrated, systemic approach to counseling; empowering people to define what is not working for them in their lives and to discover the possibilities for making life work. In doing this, clients are guided towards identifying their strengths, accessing their resources, tapping into their potential for success, and taking action toward achieving their desired goals.
Alexis also has extensive experience in the administration of behavioral health organizations. She has developed, built, and supervised several facilities encompassing all levels of care while leading them through state licensing and The Joint Commission accreditation process.
