The first step on the road to addiction recovery is the first of many. It’s an important commitment and not easy to undertake. But while you work toward your sobriety, you may begin noticing some positive physical and mental changes that can make that journey more encouraging and motivating. This is a great time to discover all the benefits and value your sobriety can provide, both in body and mind.
How Do You Physically Benefit from Addiction Recovery?
As you work toward sobriety, you may notice your body beginning to heal from your past substance abuse. Though not all of your organs can repair themselves while you’re in recovery, some can, such as your liver. Additionally, a study in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that your brain may be able to heal itself, partially or more, from addiction damage.
Your desire to enhance your physical benefits from addiction recovery goes hand-in-hand with combining an exercise routine and a healthy diet.
Some of those physical benefits include:
- Healthier heart and blood flow: Smoking, alcohol, and intravenous drug use harm the heart and circulatory system. But when you commit to recovery, you can find a physical routine to improve your heart’s functions, reducing your risks of heart attack and stroke.
- Improved pulmonary function: Smoking impedes the lungs and reduces their ability to exchange gases. But over time, the lungs of ex-smokers improve, reducing the risk of lung cancer, COPD, and emphysema.
- Improved skin tone:Those who suffer from addiction and are in recovery often experience dehydration. But since exercise improves blood circulation, it also enhances hydration to damaged organs. Your skin is no exception, and as long as you’re drinking enough water, your skin becomes more resilient and less susceptible to damage.
- Proper weight maintenance: Addictions can cause significant weight gain or loss, depending on the substance used. But being in recovery allows you to work on making healthy choices, including choosing nutritious foods that encourage a healthy weight range.
- Better sleep patterns: It’s not uncommon for those who suffer from addiction to experience sleep disruption. Sleep patterns may continue for a time during recovery, too. But if you exercise during your recovery, you’ll find that the quality and quantity of your sleep will slowly but surely improve.
Substance use directly affects the immune system and weakens it. Strengthening your immune response is critical because many people who suffer from addictions tend to be vulnerable to health concerns, such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. But you can find your way back to a healthier immune system during recovery, fighting off illness and infections.
You have many goals to achieve while working on your sobriety, and yes, those goals can be challenging. But one of those goals should focus on repairing or restoring your physical functioning.
How Does Your Mind Benefit from Addiction Recovery?
As you work toward recovery, you may discover more mental clarity and concentration. You can begin to see concerns you’re facing in life now and how you can address them in a healthy manner. You may also gain insight into issues from your past that could have contributed to addiction. In short, you can start improving your emotional state while in recovery.
Benefits of addiction recovery include:
- More confidence and control in your life
- Less anxiety and more peace of mind
- Reduce stress and find calmness
- Less depression as you uplift your mood
- Stronger personal relationships
- Increased focus and attention span
- Better goal-setting and inspiration
Another valuable mental benefit of recovery is understanding boundaries. Boundaries are rules and limits you apply within your life, both for yourself and others.
Boundaries can help you avoid unhealthy choices and possible relapse. In the grip of addiction, you may not feel confident or strong enough to set boundaries that protect your physical and mental health. But when addiction isn’t in your way, you can recognize and establish healthier coping mechanisms, which help you manage healthy boundaries with friends and family.
What Is the Connection Between the Physical and Mental Benefits?
Body and mind are tightly connected. So those physical benefits you feel during recovery can often coincide with the mental benefits, too.
For example, if you have an exercise routine during recovery, you’ll likely increase your endorphins and lower your stress level. Learning to manage your stress improves your overall health, and this includes addressing mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Furthermore, maintaining your stress level may help lead you out of the sleep disruption experienced during recovery.
As you focus on your recovery, consider the value of the overall health benefits, such as:
- An improved outlook on life
- A focus on a brighter future
- The strength to do things you enjoy
- The value of hard work
- The pride in conquering your addiction
You have every reason to commit to your recovery. It’s not an easy path to walk, but know that in time, you will feel the physical and mental benefits as they interlink with each other — all pushing you to a brighter future.
It’s Time To Make Your First Step in Addiction Recovery
A 2020 study conducted by the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 75% of people facing addictions are in recovery and therefore have the potential to live fuller, better lives.
You can feel good again with help from a treatment center that understands and knows the journey you want to make. Core Recovery provides intensive outpatient programs, helping those suffering from addiction and their loved ones receive the needed support and treatment to live healthier lives. There are opportunities for health and stability available to everyone. Full recovery from addiction is possible, and you can get started today.
In CA By O360®