Exercise & Wellnesss
San Diego Addiction and mental health Treatment
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Benefits of Physical Activity with Addiction Treatment
There are several benefits of exercise in addiction recovery as well. Physical fitness has been proven to increase mental health and decrease the chances of relapse. Treatment at Healthy Life Recovery includes thorough education and practice for healing each area of one’s life damaged by drug use.
Personal hygiene practices decline, which leads to a host of complications, especially dental issues. This accumulation of physical damage contributes to the loss of a sense of overall well-being for the recovering addict. Many addicts are so accustomed to destructive lifestyles that new habits grounded in physical health feel utterly foreign. Their comfort zones are filled with destructive patterns.
Our San Diego recovery center offers several treatment programs to help those who are struggling with alcohol or drug abuse. Our medical professionals work with our clients individually to help determine the best course of action for their recovery. We only use evidence-based treatment options that are proven to assist clients in their struggle with addiction or mental health disorders.
Exercise & Mental Health
Treatment that includes exercising can be useful in helping clients interrupt the pattern of daily drug use. San Diego Healthy Life Recovery is focused on producing lifestyles that support long-term sobriety. New lifestyle patterns practices don’t have to be dramatic. Regular exercise and simple shifts in behaviors can lead to substantial results. Some benefits of exercise in recovery include:
Adds Structure and Organization to Your Days:
Having a set workout schedule keeps you less mentally cluttered. If there’s a place you must be at a specific time, a ritual is created. This leaves less anxious guesswork to your day and helps create momentum to keep the healthy habit going. Idle time can be dangerous for recovering addicts. It leaves too much opportunity for their minds to drift into dangerous territory.
Distraction from Cravings:
Addicts and alcoholics in recovery will inevitably face cravings. The temptation to relapse can be triggered by a host of life’s circumstances. Exercise helps refocus one’s attention to recovery during an active episode of craving.
Positive Social Connections:
Substance abuse is an isolating disease. Active users pull away from any positive influences to protect addiction. Exercise teaches the strengthening force of social interaction. People in recovery should find a health-oriented community that will help ensure a forward progression and keep motivation strong. Isolation is never healthy for a recovering addict.
Stress Management:
Clients in treatment must learn new, positive ways to cope with stress. Elevated anxiety drives many to continue using to escape the heaviness of stressors. Exercise is a positive, healthy coping mechanism to handle stress.
Better Sleep:
Those who exercise regularly enjoy deeper, more consistent sleep. It’s the perfect remedy for insomnia, which is common during early recovery. Studies continue to show that a foundational ingredient to better mental health is enough sleep.
Increased Energy:
Physical activity promotes cardiovascular health. Improved blood flow and lung capacity lead to higher levels of natural energy that last longer.
Helps Prevents Relapse:
When you work on your body, you’re more motivated to keep it from harm. Because exercise so effectively combats stress, depression, and anxiety, you realize you don’t need to abuse drugs to cope with reality.
Manages Weight Gain:
Many in early recovery experience some level of weight gain. This causes some to be discouraged and less motivated to continue the path towards sobriety. An exercise regimen will help regulate this shift in weight and keeps one on track for the long term.
Improved Self-Confidence:
An improved physique, coupled with newfound mental strength, help create a positive outlook on life. The exercise shows us we can improve and make progress towards healthy lifestyle goals. We realize we realize we deserve to be healthy and discover a new sense of self-worth.
The personal trainer helps keep everyone on track and moving forward. A certified trainer will design a specialized exercise program tailored to one’s individual recovery needs and goals.
A proper fitness plan is not only about building muscle, but also includes stretching mobility exercises and other forms of physical therapy.
We strive forward together; we proactively support one another, we lean on the strength of the community when we feel weak. This is how recovery is accomplished.
Personal Trainer
The personal trainer helps keep everyone on track and moving forward. A certified trainer will design a specialized exercise program tailored to one’s individual recovery needs and goals.
A proper fitness plan is not only about building muscle, but also includes stretching mobility exercises and other forms of physical therapy. The trainer will also lead clients in group workouts, creating a sense of community, and providing support. During these sessions, clients work as a team, performing a set of exercises together. Encouraging one another and feeding on the collective energy.
We strive forward together; we proactively support one another, we lean on the strength of the community when we feel weak. This is how recovery is accomplished.
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen
Dr. Sanjai Thankachen graduated from Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medicine in 2000. He completed his residency in psychiatry in 2008 at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York. Dr. Thankachen is currently working with Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists in an outpatient practice, as well as working at multiple in-patient psychiatric and medical units bringing his patients the most advanced healthcare treatment in psychiatry. Dr. Thankachen sees patients with an array of disorders, including depression, bipolar illness, schizophrenia, anxiety, and dementia-related problems.
Edited for Clinical Accuracy By:
Sean Leonard, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Sean Leonard is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. He received his master’s degree in adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner from Walden University and a second postmaster specialty in psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain University. Sean has experience working in various diverse settings, including an outpatient clinic, inpatient detox and rehab, psychiatric emergency, and dual diagnosis programs. His specialty areas include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD.