Exercise and sports can help those in treatment for mental illness and addiction. Physical activity can increase the number of “feel-good” chemicals produced by the brain. The release of these chemicals can help those suffering from depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem. Sports can boost confidence and create a sense of camaraderie among teammates. Any sport or physical activity requiring new skills can stimulate the brain, as learning new things can help us get out of a rut or out of our heads when we have been spending too much time overthinking.
While you’re in treatment at Alta Loma in Georgetown, Texas, you might be encouraged to engage in sports or other exercise activities with your peers in recovery. We hope that you can find some activity that you will enjoy, like:
- Bowling
- Disc golf
- Hiking
- Biking
- Laser Tag
Whichever activity you choose, you can benefit from it by building self-esteem, friendships, and teamwork skills. You can also learn how to release endorphins that make you feel better in your recovery. You can benefit from things like:
- Finding new ways to have fun without alcohol or drugs
- Learning to work within a group
- Reducing feelings of isolation and boredom
- Finding new hobbies and interests
- Getting out in nature
- Getting regular exercise
- Improving your sleeping habits and overall mood
Exercise and sports can be fun ways to help you recover from your addiction and treat your mental illness. Recovery can be viewed as the replacement of bad habits with good habits. Sports and other fun activities can help you build a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise and social connections!
Sports and exercise are part of the recreational therapy offered at Alta Loma Transformational Services. We encourage our clients and residents to get exercise to help them cope with their mental illness and addiction. By releasing endorphins and other “feel-good” chemicals, exercise can help you find healthy ways to have fun. You can get into the habit of regular exercise with your peers by playing new sports and learning new skills along the way. Exercise can help you build a healthy lifestyle in your recovery. For men seeking treatment due to an addiction caused by an underlying mental health disorder, Alta Loma is here to help. We offer a structured treatment program with various modalities and approaches to give our clients the opportunity to find the treatment that best suits them. Exercise and sports can help rewire your brain to find new ways to experience pleasure and feel good. Call us today at (866) 457-3843 to start your recovery!
