Healing Your Body from Head to Toe: All the Ways Rehab Will Make You Feel Better
No one knows better than you that drug use comes with some pretty serious consequences. Drowsiness, shaking, sweating, irritability, cravings, seizures, loss of appetite – the list goes on.
When you develop a tolerance to a drug and progressively need more and more of the substance, the toxins that are pouring into your body can take a drastic toll. Often, the physical symptoms are painful enough to convince someone to get clean.
In order to break an addiction a person will have to undergo detox, and while the withdrawal process is typically uncomfortable, there are some major physical health benefits to getting free from substances.
A range of benefits
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, different addictions cause different side effects, so ending problematic substance use can have a wide range of effects. For example, ceasing a smoking habit could prevent lung cancer and stopping inhalant use can restore neuron functioning.
While the benefits of ending drug use and starting rehab will largely depend on the substance (or substances) consumed, here are some of the common health perks you can expect for your body when you say goodbye to drugs and hello to freedom.
Lung health
Inhaling chemicals can cause respiratory damage. Drugs that affect the lungs include cocaine, marijuana, heroin, inhalants, tobacco, nicotine and more. It’s no secret that smoking can lead to lung cancer, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse states that other substances can cause chronic bronchitis, decelerated breathing and worsen asthma.
Liver health
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, and drug and alcohol abuse are directly linked to the spread of hepatitis according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Often, needle sharing for drug injection is the culprit of the spread of the disease. When you stop using substances, you instantly decrease the likelihood of contracting this potentially lethal disease and save your liver in the process.
Sleep health
According to the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, sleep abnormalities are strongly associated with drug dependence. In fact, 70% of those attending rehab stated they experienced sleep issues and attributed them to substance use. The article states that sleep issues and drug use impact each other bidirectionally, each worsening the effects of the other.
Starting a rehab program can break the cycle of bad sleep, which will not only give you the rest your body needs, but it will make recovery easier.
Skin health
Drug use can cause damage to the skin, and while this may seem like a minor cosmetic issue, effects of drug use on the skin can be painful and unsightly. According to the American Addiction Centers, substance abuse can lead to necrosis, blackened palms, chronic ulcers, bleeding, inflamed veins, lesions and even rotting of the skin. When you start rehab, you’ll benefit from clearer, healthier feeling skin in no time.
Flexibility and muscle health
When you’re participating in drug rehab, you can definitely expect to get some of your mental and physical energy back. A mind that was previously consumed with getting the next fix will now have the mental clarity to refocus on other tasks, and a body that isn’t drowsy and stiff will feel great in motion
A drug rehab program will likely encourage healthy exercise, but you won’t need to be told twice. When your body is back to feeling like it should, you’ll be eager to do all the things your body is capable of. While flexibility and muscle tone aren’t always a direct result of stopping drug use, it’s sure to follow getting sober since you’ll be doing healthy movement again.
Brain health
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, when a person uses drugs, the brain is affected in the following areas: the basal ganglia, the extended amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. These areas of the brain are responsible for motivation, forming habits, stress response, rational thinking, problem solving, decision making, impulse control and so much more.
When your body is affected by drugs, all these areas suffer. Starting a rehab program can slowly reverse the effects so all the powers of cognition can be restored.
Moreover, substance use disorder has a high rate of comorbidity with other mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Because of the strong link between addiction and mental illness, ending drug or alcohol use can also lower your risk of co-occurring disorders.
You’ll feel better – and soon
When you start the rehab process, you’ll benefit from dozens upon dozens of physical health improvements. Although some of the changes may happen slowly, you’ll start to feel better as soon as the withdrawal process is over. When you commit to recovery, it’s only a matter of days until you will start feeling better than you ever did when you were using.
At High Focus Centers PA you can start feeling those benefits sooner than you may have thought. High Focus Centers PA has many program options to choose from that fit your schedule and lifestyle so you don’t have to compromise to find your freedom. Get started today by calling 610-644-6464.
