San Diego Sober Living - Recovery

Healthy Activities to Support Your Addiction Recovery Journey

Going through addiction recovery is a therapeutic process that consists of various healthcare treatments. Recovery is a healthy activity in and of itself. However, it can always be formulated in ways that make it healthier and more effective. The modern holistic approach to recovery encourages healthy practices at every stage. For example, staying at a Solana Beach sober living home is a practical strategy to provide a healthy environment that can ease lifestyle transitions while teaching new life structures. If you bring health to the table while recovering from addiction or substance abuse, you’ll find the journey to sobriety substantially smoother. With this in mind, here are a few recommendations.

Working Out & Playing Sports

People who incorporate physical exercise and team sports into their addiction recovery journey are more likely to stay on the right path to sobriety. In April 2023, a review of 43 clinical research studies featuring patients recovering from chemical dependence and behavioral addictions was published in the PLOS ONE journal, and the findings show how beneficial exercise was for them. Of the 3,135 patients who worked out, played team sports, or completed fitness challenges three times a week for more than three months during their recovery journey, 75 percent completed their programs without relapse, and 28 percent of those who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe depression reported significant improvements in their emotional states.

Adequate Nutrition for Healing

Severe addictions often go hand in hand with inadequate nutrition. This is sometimes caused by substance abuse, but it can also happen when external factors complicate things. At inpatient recovery programs such as rehabilitation clinics, patients get meals recommended by a nutritionist, and the recommendations are often made with healing intentions. For example, a patient with severe alcoholism and an overworked liver should get meals rich in lean protein to repair hepatic cells and tissue. Nutritional deficiencies should always be addressed while in recovery.

Talk Therapy & Behavioral Counseling

These are hallmarks of addiction recovery, and they’re necessary when promoting mental health. Substance abuse disorder has two main aspects. One is neurochemical, while the other is behavioral, and the latter tends to be more difficult to treat. Many patients whose recovery starts with a smooth detoxification and short rehab are surprised to learn the mental and behavioral aspects of addiction are more difficult than they had assumed. This is why individual counseling and group therapy sessions are part of life at sober living homes. They’re treatments meant to keep your psyche healthy and strong as you recover.

Fun Group Activities

Patients who play team sports during recovery, particularly with others who are on similar journeys or have already completed them, simultaneously boost their physical and mental health. The same goes for patients who get into fun culinary activities with others because they get to address nutrition and mental health all at once. This is known as “kitchen therapy” in recovery circles, and it’s excellent for groups of peers. Getting a group to work together with their hands, minds, and senses to achieve a fun common goal is a winning combination that promotes health on a holistic level.

If you’re newly sober and you need help with avoiding relapse, call on the compassionate team at Casa Pacifica. Along with providing sober living housing for men in Solana Beach, we work with our individual residents to develop customized plans that integrate treatment, aftercare, and recovery support. Our services include sober companionship, coaching, and mentorship for those who are recovering from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. For more information about our sober living facilities, call us today.