How swimming and other activities help with one's addiction

It's one of the major problems of most current societies: Addiction of all kinds tends to become a social and health menace endangering stability and social cohesion. The period of the last decade made things even worse. Firstly, the global economic crises of 2008 and then the pandemic of Covid-19 were both a big shock for vast numbers of people and caused great unsettling. In such periods, addictions tend to grow enormously. One of the most effective means to deal with issues like those is athletic activities. Let's see together how swimming and other activities can help people with addictions.

 

 

A problem for all ages

The latest drug statistics in Australia are quite striking

 

• Almost 3.5 million people used an illegal drug
• Almost half of the secondary students had consumed alcohol
• More middle-aged people consumed 11 or more drinks in just one drinking session

 

It's important to keep in mind that the above statistics refer to the period until 2019. Consequently, it would not be a surprise if the numbers rise for 2020, the year of the pandemic that has changed our ways of living drastically. It's obvious that numbers are quite high and shall be a reason for concern. Another worrying feature is that usage of alcohol and drugs seems to spread through the whole age spectrum.

 

Addiction in Australia as a tragedy

Looking at more detailed statistics, the problem seems to be very worrying. It's not a surprise that the Addiction Center uses the word “tragedy” to describe it. There, you can see that alcohol is the greatest danger causing the death of nearly 6000 people every year. It's a cause for alarm that one person every 90 minutes dies in the country because of excessive alcohol consumption. Not only that, but according to Addiction Center, the percentage of people using illicit drugs in Australia is “very large”. Indeed, data show that 11.2 % of Australians over the age of 14 use ecstasy, 9.4 % use hallucinogens and 6.3 % use amphetamines.

 

How getting active helps addicted people

Action must be taken for reducing the above numbers and helping people in need. One of the most effective methods for achieving positive results is to engage addicted people in athletic activities. This is a valid statement that scientific evidence supports.

A study has shown that exercise of moderate intensity prevents people from the urge to drink. At the same time, as the linked article shows, studies in animals indicate that physical activity that takes place for a long time decreases sensitivity to the positive-reinforcing effects of cocaine and that aerobic exercise decreased cocaine-seeking behaviour in rats. The comprehensive article also refers to the significance of developing “positive addictions” for dealing with the issue. That is indeed a fundamental statement that highlights the great role that sports activities can play in the battle against addictions. It seems like sports can function as a substitute for drugs, as they trigger very similar body responses. The release of endorphins when engaging in athletic activities is a very important factor as well. This is why weight lifters, for example, seek to lift increasingly heavier weights from practice to practice: The brain requires more intensity to release the same level of endorphins.

 

The gender of sports for battling addictions

Another interesting finding of the relevant studies that the above article shows, is the difference of choices between men and women when it comes to the preferred sports activities. Aerobic and walking were the female choices while men prefer team sports, swimming, jogging and racquet sports. This shall not come as a surprise as it's quite common that gender affects choices. Let's take a more detailed look at the benefits that each activity brings to people who try to find their drug addictions.

Aerobic

Science again reveals the truth.  Epidemiological studies show that regular aerobic exercise prevents drug use. The studies reveal among many other interesting findings, that aerobic training can functionally adapt neuro-behavioural processes and influence susceptibility to drug-related practices. In simple words, aerobic helps the body to become strong and function as a shield to outside “enemies” like drugs. Furthermore, a study by the University of Buffalo argues that aerobic exercise could positively impact the brain for supporting prevention strategies and treatment for addiction. Aerobic can function as a “cleaner” for the body, increasing heart rate and enhancing oxygen circulation and breathing.

Walking

This may cause some eyebrows to rise because it sounds less intense and “easy”. However, as the famous phrase says: “Rome wasn't built in a day”. It does not need to take too intense steps to help yourself confronting addiction problems. Walking can be an excellent start for engaging your body in athletic rhythm. It may be the ideal starting point as you can set the pace and is less demanding than all other activities. Furthermore, it's important to recognise that the transformation from addictive behaviour to sports action requires time and persistence. Drug taking has more implications than just physical and mental worsening. It affects the sense of time, as the whole process of thinking about, receiving and then recovering from is time-consuming and affects physical endurance. The first athletic sessions are not going to be that easy, so taking a safer route could lead to optimal results in the end.

Swimming

It's no surprise that swimming is among the most popular and effective activities for people trying to get rid of their addictions. Once a person takes his first dive the whole perception of life can change. The greater difference in comparison to the other sports is water and the refreshing feeling it causes straight away. It rejuvenates both body and soul and takes away all negative emotions. Water after all is the source of life. The feel-good factor that is related to swimming is not just the biological result of the release of serotonin that reduces stress and anxiety. It also has to do with the easy and natural movement of the body that comes with it. Chances are that you develop a new form of addiction when you start swimming! Only this time, it will be a positive one.

Racquet sports

Getting engaged in team sports is always positive. Numerous books are describing the difference between individual and team sports at all levels. Interaction with other individuals is of course a crucial aspect of the positive results that racquet sports can produce for individuals battling their addictions. Commonly, addictions can emerge because of problems regarding social interactions. Isolation leads to frustration and drugs issues can arise. Communication, as well as the competition that occur in such team athletic activities, can provide the rare and widely sought feelings of fulfilment and self-respect. It is not accidental that team sports, like football, are the most popular around the world.

 

Conclusion

Fighting addictions is not an easy task, this is a hard fact. It's not impossible though. The evidence though shows that it's not an impossible task. Scheduling a plan for changing the mental framework/set mind and taking short but stable steps is a prerequisite for winning the battle. The adding of activities like swimming and other sports can be a determining factor and certainly one that all addicted people shall take under serious consideration. It's virtually a change of lifestyle. The most intriguing thing may be that this change could become a permanent one that leads to real life!