Why You Should Exercise During Withdrawal
The path to recovery from addiction is challenging; filled with ups and downs that can often feel overwhelming.
Withdrawal can be filled with a variety of unpleasant symptoms that can range from slightly uncomfortable to severe. The exact withdrawal symptoms and their severity will vary from person to person based on their health, addiction, age, body, and current phase of detox. Exercise might be just what you need. Engaging in physical activity during withdrawal can provide numerous benefits, making the addiction recovery process not only more manageable but also more rewarding.
What Alcohol and Drug Abuse Does to Your Body
Substance use disorder takes a significant toll on the body, leading to various health problems and physical symptoms that can worsen over time. Substance abuse can cause damage to vital organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain, leading to chronic diseases including liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory problems. For example, long-term alcohol addiction can cause liver damage, digestive issues, and weaken the immune system. Opiates, on the other hand, can lead to severe constipation, respiratory depression, and even brain damage.
Nicotine addiction is known to contribute to lung disease, heart disease, and numerous types of cancer. Stimulants like cocaine can cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. In addition to these physical effects, drug and alcohol abuse can also lead to nutritional deficiencies, weakening the body's overall health and resilience.
Getting into treatment is easy with our free insurance verification
"*" indicates required fields
Is it Safe to Exercise During Withdrawal?
Yes! If you do so with caution, exercise during addiction withdrawal can even be beneficial. Try to engage in light exercises like walking, jogging, stretching, yoga, biking, or swimming if you are feeling up to it. Be careful not to push yourself too hard as your body is still trying to recover, or if you've lived a sedentary lifestyle to this point. If you start to feel dizzy or sick, stop and consult a doctor. Those with preexisting health conditions that could be exacerbated during withdrawal should proceed with caution and get their doctor’s permission.
How Does Physical Activity Help with Substance Abuse?
Engaging in physical activities can significantly alleviate the withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol and drug detox. Exercise helps to release endorphins, which are natural chemicals in the brain that promote feelings of happiness and well-being. These endorphins can act as a
natural mood booster, helping to counteract the depression and anxiety that often accompany withdrawal.
Physical activity also provides a healthy outlet for stress, anger, and frustration—common emotions during recovery. It helps individuals shift their focus from negative thoughts to the present moment, reducing the mental and emotional strain that can trigger cravings. Moreover, regular exercise can improve physical and mental health, and foster a sense of accomplishment, all essential for a successful recovery.
Benefits of Exercising During Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal
Whether you are detoxing at home or going through the process at a drug detox center, withdrawal can be uncomfortable both physically and mentally. Painkillers and relaxation can only do so much during this part of the addiction treatment. Exercising during this process could help you with the drug and alcohol withdrawal symptoms in more ways than one
Mental Health Boost & Improved Mood
Withdrawal symptoms aren’t just physical. Many people going through withdrawal become moody and depressed. Exercise has been proven to boost people’s moods by releasing endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. These endorphins interact with the receptors in the brain to reduce the perception of pain and trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. Regular exercise can also lead to long-term benefits like alleviating some depression.
Improve Immunity
Prolonged drug and alcohol abuse can lead to health issues and weaken the body as a whole, including the immune system leaving you more susceptible to colds, flu, and other health problems. Exercise can boost the immune system by circulating white blood cells and antibodies in the body faster so that illnesses get detected earlier when they are easier to defeat. Moderate physical activity can also help flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways, potentially reducing the chance of getting a cold or flu.
Better Sleep
Insomnia and sleep disturbances occur frequently for people in early recovery because they may have poor sleep habits and disrupted sleep cycles. Exercise can be an effective way to improve sleep time and sleep quality. Physical activity increases body temperature, which can have calming effects on the mind, helping individuals fall asleep faster. It also helps regulate the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), ensuring consistent sleep patterns.
Fight Fatigue
Fatigue is not uncommon in the withdrawal process, especially for an alcohol detox program, but exercise during alcohol withdrawal could reduce this problem. Routine low-intensity exercise decreases fatigue by 65% and increases people’s energy levels by 20%. Regular exercise
during withdrawal could not only help people combat fatigue during detox but also give them more energy to partake in other helpful addiction therapies and programming.
Manage Addiction Cravings
The risk of relapse is especially high in the early stages of recovery. Many individuals going through detox experience intense alcohol or drug cravings that they struggle to ignore. Animal studies suggest that regular exercise can decrease their self-administration of drugs. A study on the impact of a regular exercise program for people who misused drugs also found that several participants reduced their drug misuse or got sober altogether. While research in this area is still new, exercise may be an effective way to fight drug cravings.
Let Us Help You
Though exercise is a valuable step, it’s just one part of a substance abuse treatment plan that consists of therapy, support groups, and medical care for overcoming addiction. Seeking help from a qualified addiction treatment and behavioral health center can provide guidance, support, and resources needed for a lasting recovery.
Whether you or a loved one is thinking about getting sober, we want to help. To learn more about our programs at Banyan or to start the admissions process, reach out to us now at 888-280-4763.
Sources:
- American Psychological Association - The exercise effect
- Medline Plus - Exercise and immunity
- NCBI - Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise: A Systematic Review
- ScienceDaily - Low-intensity Exercise Reduces Fatigue Symptoms By 65 Percent, Study Finds
- Harvard Health - Can exercise help conquer addiction?
