A benefit of undergoing rehabilitation, one that seldom receives enough attention, is the chance for a completely new start. The opportunity to meet a new group of people and engage in new recreational activities is one that is sought broadly and often by people at large. Why not then, if one has taken some wrong turns and finds oneself in the rather urgent situation of needing to seek rehabilitation, consider it as the opportunity it is? New doors opening on new opportunities, the chance to meet new people and experience new things. If damage is a common denominator and there are daunting challenges to overcome, all the more reason to seize the day. Scaling Everest was no walk in the park.
Physical Fitness
We all know that being physically fit makes for a happier life and a healthier mind. Bodies were meant to be used, and just like a car whose engine has been left idle for too long, the body can wear down, become creaky and operate at levels far from optimum if it is not used.
As recently reported by US News, “Exercise is the single best thing you can do for your brain in terms of mood, memory, and learning,” according to Harvard Medical School psychiatrist John Ratey, author of the book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. “Even ten minutes of activity changes your brain.”
Physical activity lifts depression, improves learning, builds self-esteem, and improves body image. Exercise can reverse the detrimental effects of stress and create euphoria by increasing levels of “soothing” brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine; it also keeps the brain fit. Many of these are benefits that may be sought from substance abuse. Finding them naturally, without the deleterious effects of drugs, can be a great motivator for living a sober life.
The good news is that any level of exercise is better than none, so for those who are daunted by the idea of undertaking vigorous exercise program, never fear: there are many options.
Recreation in Rehab
Physical exercise is only one avenue of recreation in the path to a new life where constructive activities supplant destructive ones. At centers such as Father Martin’s Ashley (recently renamed to Ashley Addiction Treatment), many recreational options are offered, not just for purposes of filling the days and/or finding alternate means of entertainment, but as an integral part of their holistic approach to healing.
In addition to exercise in a state of the art facility led by a personal trainer, the center offers yoga classes, music and art therapy facilitated by local artists, massage, and acupuncture provided by certified professionals. The intention is to ease the process of withdrawal, but also to establish new lifestyle avenues for sobriety.
A Fresh Start: Plotting A New Path
The discovery doesn’t end with rehab: the journey to find fulfillment and pleasure is a lifelong one. Following are a few examples of activities appropriate for someone in recovery:
- Go to the movies
- Visit an amusement park
- Go dancing
- Go to a sporting event
- Go for a walk or a hike
- Spend time in nature
- Go fishing
- Go on a picnic
- Visit a museum
- Go to a concert
- Sign up as a volunteer at a local organization
- Join a gym
- Sign up for a sports team
- Read a book
- Learn a new language
- Take a course at the local college or university or online
- Take an exercise/yoga class
- Meditate
When activities can be undertaken with someone who is supportive of the recovery process in a positive environment, even better. Building meaningful relationships is an important part of recovery in itself.
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