Can I Exercise While I'm in a Drug Treatment Center in West Palm Beach?

If you plan on attending an inpatient drug rehab, you may have questions about the restrictions you’ll face. Inpatient drug treatment centers are known for having secure, closed campuses. Many of these facilities strictly limit outside visitation, cellphone use, and off-site excursions.

They do so to protect the mental and physical health of all their patients, and to ensure that those within their programs are not being exposed to unnecessary triggers, stress, or temptation. The good news is that the best drug treatment centers in West Palm Beach are designed to make on-campus living both fun and easy. Not only do they have an exciting range of indoor activities for their clients to engage in, but many also have various options for outside recreation. In short, there are plenty of ways to both get fit and stay that way. If you enjoy working out and know that exercise will be an important part of your recovery plan, the average West Palm Beach rehab center can more than accommodate you.

Exercise is recognized in drug treatment as being one of the best coping and stress management tools available. It has the power to naturally combat common post-acute withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, and sleep troubles. Even during challenging times, a good workout can leave you feeling clearheaded, refreshed, and emotionally balanced. No matter where you go for addiction treatment, you’ll likely be encouraged to participate in guided yoga and meditation sessions, take long walks, make use of onsite fitness equipment, or participate in various group training activities. Some facilities offer options for indoor or outdoor swimming. Others even have trained physical therapists, massage therapists, and chiropractors right on site.

Why Physical Fitness Is a Valuable Part of the Recovery Process

Both substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder affects the brain’s reward system. Powerful neurotransmitters like dopamine are used by this system to reward positive and beneficial behaviors. You might get a dopamine rush after spending time laughing and socializing with friends, solving a complex problem, or completing a complicated task.

The resulting feelings of happiness and elation will encourage you to repeat the same beneficial behavior again. The power of the brain’s reward system lies in the fact that people are more likely to engage in activities that make them feel good. With drug or alcohol use, people are artificially triggering the release of “feel good” chemicals like dopamine. Unfortunately, this makes them more prone to return to drugs or alcohol when they want to feel relaxed, euphoric, or happy.

These and other changes that occur in the brain’s chemistry as the result of substance abuse are among the top drivers of addiction. Abusing drugs is essentially conditioning the brain to view substance use as a beneficial activity. Working out during recovery helps foster a rebound in the neurotransmitters that substance abuse has worn out. Exercise is truly a beneficial activity and it’s one that is guaranteed to incite deserved rewards from the brain’s reward pathway.

For people who have abused substances that trigger dopamine, exercise can also expedite dopamine rebound. This is the return to the normal production and release of this important neurotransmitter. When dopamine rebound occurs, the secondary psychological symptoms of withdrawal abate. Due to this fact, by exercising in rehab, you may be able to limit feelings of hopelessness, malaise, restlessness, anxiety, and unfounded stress.

Exercise Provides Both Physical and Mental Health Benefits

Working out during recovery provides a wealth of physical and mental health benefits. Although abstaining is an important part of recovery, there are still underlying factors that must be addressed. Until people are able to find healthy ways to achieve mood balance or until they’ve dealt with repressed trauma or repressed emotions, reaching for food when they aren’t hungry may provide a sense of comfort.

Regular exercise ensures that the earliest and most challenging stages of the recovery process do not result in significant weight gain or serious weight-related health issues. Notwithstanding this fact, putting on a few pounds while quitting drugs or alcohol is definitely worth the rewards of getting sober. Physical exercise also promotes better blood flow. It improves circulation and oxygen delivery, ramps up digestive processes, and rebuilds respiratory endurance.

These are all things that suffer when subjected to various types of drug abuse. One of the best ways to undo the physical ravages of addiction is by getting your heart pumping and your blood flowing. This aids the body in clearing out toxins, supports brain healing, alleviates physical withdrawal symptoms like constipation, and promotes optimum immune functioning.

Exercise for Natural Pain Management

There are also pain-relieving benefits that can be gained from moderate, needs-specific exercise. Although many people begin using drugs or alcohol as a way to alleviate emotional angst, just as many start using drugs to relieve physical pain. People in recovery from prescription pain pills are encouraged to find safer and more sustainable ways to combat the persistent discomfort of chronic health issues.

With trained medical professionals on staff, West Palm Beach drug treatment centers can even help their clients find the right activities and routines for producing the specific benefits they seek. When you enroll in a drug treatment center in West Palm Beach, you’ll definitely have ample opportunity to work out. In fact, you’ll likely be surrounded by equipment for creating a robust exercise program. You may have access to a diverse range of fitness classes, and you can even work with onsite professionals to get fitness counseling, nutritional guidance, and customized training advice. If you’re ready to start an addiction treatment and want to find a West Palm Beach Center that takes a holistic, whole-health approach to wellness, we can help you find it. Call us today at 772-266-5320.

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Essentials mission is to renew lives impacted by addiction through personalized and complete behavioral healthcare. Our main purpose is to provide services and education to the client and family that will support long lasting recovery of mind, body, and spirit.