What Are the Benefits of Exercise and Fitness on Your Mental Health?

We often discuss how addiction recovery and improving one's mental health is about more than abstaining from substance use. Addiction recovery is also about making healthier life choices, like exercising and healthy dieting. However, many continue asking how exercise and fitness are connected to addiction recovery and mental health in general. What are the benefits of exercise and fitness on one's overall mental, emotional, and physical well-being? Continue reading to find out!

It should be stated that exercising and eating healthy won't solve all a person's problems in a day. Both addiction recovery and healthy living are processes that require hard work, dedication, time, and patience. However, the first step is getting sober and putting yourself in a better position to achieve overall wellness. Consider working with us at West Coast Recovery Centers to begin your journey toward wellness, growth, and recovery today. 

Why Is Exercise and Fitness Good for You?

People sometimes associate exercise and fitness with negative emotions. That may include a disdain for the dreaded gym class rope climb, or a deep hatred of running and other forms of cardio. However, individuals with these negative connotations must realize that exercise and fitness can be tailored to their interests. For example, an outdoor enthusiast may consider hiking or mountain biking and people who love music and dancing may take a Zumba class. Exercise and fitness aren't about following a rigid set of rules; rather, they're about finding a way to move your body that you enjoy and have fun doing it. 

There are a variety of reasons to get into exercise and fitness. Weight management, improving physical health, and reducing the risk of disease are just a few of those reasons. Unfortunately, physical education programs of the past have failed us. They've emphasized the importance of exercise for physical health, but it can also be invaluable to increasing our mental and emotional wellness. 

Health is holistic and requires balance and harmony with the mind, body, and soul. So, let's dive a little bit deeper into these physical, emotional, and mental health benefits of exercise and fitness. 

Physical Benefits

As mentioned, exercise can help with weight loss or management, overall physical health, and reduction of disease. Other benefits include: 

• Improved or enhanced cognitive function and brain health 
• Strengthened bones and muscle development 
• Improved cholesterol levels 
• Lowered blood pressure 
• Enhanced immune system 

Emotional and Mental Health Benefits

Additionally, exercise and fitness can provide several emotional and mental health benefits. That includes helping to:  

• Improve one's stress levels and reduce tension
• Reduce one's feelings of anxiety and depression 
• Provide better quality sleep and improved mood 
• Help people feel more energized
• Increase opportunities for social interaction
• Improve confidence and self-esteem
• Enhance concentration and sense of achievement 

The physiological effects of exercise also improve one's emotional and mental health. By releasing endorphins, distracting from negative thoughts, improving coping skills, and preventing further mental health problems, exercise can be an invaluable tool in recovery. So, what can you do to get into exercise and fitness? 

How Can You Start Getting Into Exercise and Fitness?

Again, getting into exercise and fitness is about finding what works best for you. Fitness isn't about being the most in-shape person in the room; it's about caring for your body, mind, and soul. 

Before starting, consider your current fitness level. It's important to start slow and safely. You may even want to discuss it with your doctor or a fitness professional. Then, you determine what activities you might enjoy. That may include hiking, biking, yoga, or getting a gym membership. 

For many, simply prioritizing a daily 15-minute walk can make a significant difference. Again, fitness is about moving your body in any way that works best for you. 

The Benefits of Exercise and Fitness for Addiction Recovery

Now that you know more about the benefits of exercise and fitness on your physical, emotional, and mental health, let's discuss its connection to addiction recovery. 

According to PLoS One, physical exercise can be an “effective adjunct treatment method for abstinence from alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs in [users].” That includes increasing abstinence rates and easing withdrawal symptoms, as well as anxiety and depression.

Exercising also provides people with a distraction. Triggers and cravings present themselves when least expected. Having a healthy way to distract from them and working out one's frustrations can make all the difference in preventing relapse and staying sober. 

Lastly, it's helpful to remember that addiction recovery is about more than abstaining from substances. It's about living a healthier lifestyle. Prioritizing exercise and fitness can help you recover and live a life of long-term, sustainable sobriety. 

Start Your Exercise and Fitness Journey Today!

Addiction recovery is a long-term, holistic journey. Contact West Coast Recovery Centers to learn more and start your recovery, exercise, and fitness journeys today! 

We've said it once and we'll say it again – addiction recovery is about so much more than abstaining from substance use. Recovery is about making a number of lifestyle changes that help individuals get clean, stay sober, and avoid relapse. Many individuals find exercise and fitness exceptionally useful in staying sober. For starters, exercise and fitness offer a variety of benefits to one's mental, emotional, and physical health. However, it also helps people stay distracted and avoid or manage triggers and cravings. The most important step is finding some form of body movement that feels right and fun for you. To learn more, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 today!