Addiction steals a lot for anyone with an alcohol or drug use disorder. Typically, the drug or alcohol becomes the primary focus, as the social, familial, educational, personal, and occupational realms fall to the wayside. Exercise tends to be one of the areas that become neglected by those in active addiction. Thus, physical and emotional health can decline during active addiction.
Regular exercise can even aid in reducing your chance of being diagnosed with a substance use disorder in the future. It also has been found to decrease the risk of ever using illicit drugs. This is not only the case for human beings, but also for laboratory animals. There are some possible reasons for this:
- Working out may lead to a slow decline in the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, as it may be utilized as a substitute, non-substance reward. It also can yield practical neuroadaptations that impact a person’s vulnerability to developing a substance use disorder.
- Drug and alcohol use decreases time and finances that could otherwise be utilized on physical activities and exercise. Drinking and using also lead to decreased aerobic capacity, which also makes it difficult for a person to participate in workouts. Exercise increases aerobic capacity. One’s mood increases as he or she begins to participate in activities that he or she once enjoyed before, such as working out.
- An outside influence that may contribute to this is the individual’s character or personality. Another outside effect can be the person’s home environment.
- A combination of the above three reasons above.
The Brain and Working Out
Exercise increases your neurotransmitters. Working out helps the brain release 5-HT which has been found to directly relate to decreased central fatigue. Exercising stimulates the release of monoamines, which decrease feelings of being tired and increase sleep health and drive. Exercise increases an individual’s metabolism. It also encourages emission of neurotrophic features, vasculotropic influences, and inflammatory mediators. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are also increased during training.
Obviously, pace yourself. No matter how healthy our behaviors may be, anything can become an addiction if we do not regulate our habits and actions. It is important to have more than one coping skill as well. Unfortunately, working out can lead to injuries, especially if it is overdone. Training too much can also increase feelings of fatigue.
Where to Go If Exercise Has Not Been A Good Enough Treatment for Your Substance Use Disorder
Off Spencer Road, in Burns, Tennessee, there is an amazing substance abuse rehab alternative. Discovery Place keeps its doors open to neighboring states, such as Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas, and North Carolina. We allow anyone wanting to achieve sobriety from alcohol, cannabis, opiates, or illicit drugs. To help with this, our non-profit center provides very affordable programs along with scholarship opportunities.
We do not stop helping you continue with your recovery after you leave Discovery Place. If you find yourself struggling after taking part in one of our programs, we offer a week-long free stay with us to help you get back on your feet. Call us today at 1-800-725-0922. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get you started with Discovery Place. Don’t waste another moment!
