You don’t have to run like you’re an Olympic star, but it’s a fact that exercising can help with your addiction and recovery. Many people who abuse drugs or alcohol forget about being healthy. This will cause havoc on both the emotional and physical well being of a person. When exercising the brain you will be rewarded with chemicals known as dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters improve your mood and can help protect against mental health disorders and addiction.

Practicing long-term cardio exercise produces serotonin, which not only improves social behavior but it helps with depression and hostility. Dopamine, the second chemical that works wonders, lightens the mood and improves long-term memory. Dopamine also causes what people call the “runners high”. “Runners high” is when an athlete’s mood is improved and chemicals in the brain cause naturally occurring opiates.

Here are some of the primary benefits one can get from exercise during substance abuse treatment and recovery. Less stress, positive brain chemistry, and improving your long and short term memory. I say that’s a WIN. So in the end you may not have a gold medal, but you will have earned something so much more valuable….. your life!