Exercise & Wellnesss
San Diego Addiction and mental health Treatment
Benefits of Physical Activity with Addiction Treatment
Addiction is a multifaceted disease that affects emotions, thought processes, and the physical body. Effective recovery must provide healing to each aspect impacted by substance abuse. Research shows that exercise is an invaluable tool when confronted with feelings of anxiety and depression.
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.
Substance use disorder dramatically impacts the body. Drugs severely alter one’s appetite, which causes a substantial shift in eating habits. The decreased or increased appetite leads to considerable changes in one’s weight. Some lifestyles of active addiction can include long periods of lethargy, which can contribute to the loss of muscular vitality. The digestive system loses its regular functionality.
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
Countless research has shown that a vital ingredient in improving mental health is exercise. Although great physical healing occurs with simple drug abstinence, a person in recovery must reclaim control over their bodies to thrive. Mental health and physical health are tightly interdependent. At Healthy Life Recovery, we support a balanced, comprehensive recovery process that addresses the far-reaching consequences of drug addiction.
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.
Our San Diego rehabilitation program provides every client with a personal trainer. Many clients are not sure where to begin or which exercise plan would work best for them. Sometimes it’s tough to stay motivated and keep going with this new healthy lifestyle.
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.
Personal Trainer
Our San Diego rehabilitation program provides every client with a personal trainer. Many clients are not sure where to begin or which exercise plan would work best for them. Sometimes it’s tough to stay motivated and keep going with this new healthy lifestyle.
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.
Our Facilities
Medically Reviewed By:
Dr. John Allen, MD is a psychiatrist in El Cajon, CA and has over 45 years of experience in the medical field. Dr. Allen has extensive experience in Addiction & Substance Abuse and Psychotic Disorders. He graduated from Baylor University in 1976.