The process of achieving sobriety is largely seen as a journey to restore your mental well-being. After all, long-term drug and alcohol abuse does both physical and psychological damage to the structure of the brain.

The health of the mind and the body are linked together in many different ways, however, and neglecting your physical health can actually hold back the mental portion of your recovery. Committing to a regular fitness routine comes with numerous benefits and can be a powerful factor in supporting sober living. Here are just four ways physical exercise can nurture mental wellness.

1. Improved Confidence and Self-Image

Low self-esteem is at least an exacerbating contributor to most cases of substance abuse and addiction, if not one of the root causes of it. Seeing the body transform and gradually increasing the ability to perform feats of strength and conditioning is a powerful means of improving self-image.

This doesn’t require building the physique of Wonder Woman or Superman; sticking to a basic fitness routine and seeing small and gradual improvements is just as helpful, and has the side benefit of also helping to restore a sense of discipline and regularity in your life. Having fitness goals also helps greatly in sticking to a healthy diet.

2. Improved Sleep

Substance abuse tends to create very irregular sleep patterns and throw the body’s natural rhythms out of whack. Naturally, a fitness routine will burn energy and make it easier to get to sleep on workout nights. But according to a scientific study, a regular workout routine actually appears to work on an even deeper level to restore the natural circadian rhythms that allow you to sleep soundly at night and wake up refreshed in the morning.

3. Exercise Helps Rewire the Brain

To put it in colloquial terms, addiction fundamentally rewires the “pleasure center” of the brain. Neuroplasticity is the term for the brain’s ability to repair this damage, re-orienting the brain’s structure to its natural state and gradually lessening the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that accompany a physical addiction.

There’s scientific evidence that exercise triggers and supports neuroplasticity in certain areas of the brain, including the decision-making and behavioral areas that are impacted by prolonged substance abuse.

4. Stabilization of Mood

A big part of battling addiction is constantly dealing with the intrusion of negative feelings, like depression and irritation. Evidence shows that regular exercise has a positive, stabilizing effect on mood. It makes you calmer, happier, and more easily able to focus.

Free or Cheap Exercise Options in Chicago

So, exercise clearly has a lot of benefits, but what if the place you’re living at doesn’t have enough (or any) equipment?

As far as cardio goes, all you need is a bike or your own two feet to take a nice ride or jog. The city has an amazing array of trails, which you can begin exploring from the Chicago Park District website.

If you’re coming off a long sedentary period, just remember to take it slow at first; it shouldn’t be painful, especially in the shin area. Also invest in some good, supportive sneakers if you plan to run on pavement.

Resistance training requires a bit of equipment to hit every major muscle group, but not much. Like most major cities, Chicago has “fitness trails” scattered about, which are jogging and biking trails that have periodic stations with equipment you can use for body weight resistance exercises. ParkGrades is a great place to find one near you.

If you feel like you need an instructor to stay focused, or you just like the social aspect of group workouts, the city also has a number of free sessions happening all over nearly every day of the week. A good starting point is this A Sweat Life column; also check for postings at the library, rec centers, and athletic equipment stores in your area. Don’t forget to check their websites for listings too!

Keep an eye on the blog for more recovery support tips, and feel free to contact us to learn more about how a sober living facility in Chicago can benefit you.

The road to recovery from addiction is not without its obstacles. Those in recovery often feel isolated, and while the causes of these feelings vary, the important thing to remember is that you are not alone. While having a support system and people you can turn to when you need encouragement is important, reading can also help connect you to others who have been on this journey before.

There are many powerful books about addiction and recovery that can help you to reinforce the idea that others have gone and are going through the same experiences as you. Summer is a great time to kick back, put your feet up, and enjoy a great book. Bring this summer reading list on your next trip to the library or bookstore. Each story offers a new perspective that will help inspire you and help you heal as you are working towards sober living.

1. Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget by Sarah Hepola

Sarah Hepola began drinking at age 11. After decades of drinking, countless blackout episodes, and evictions, she decided to get sober and by age 35, was working towards recovery. After being sober for 5 years, she wrote a memoir, “Blackout,” that recounts her descent into addiction and her journey to recovery. While tackling a serious subject, Hepola manages to inject humor and inspiration into her story.

2. Graceland by Chris Abani

“Graceland”, a novel by Chris Abani, portrays the effects of addiction on those around the one battling addiction. This fictional story follows a boy named Elvis who works as an Elvis impersonator in Nigeria. He lives with his father, an alcoholic, and in an attempt to escape a tumultuous home life, is seduced by the opportunity to earn a living through crime. While this may seem like the easy way out, Elvis must decide if he is willing to work towards reaching a “Graceland” of his own. This story highlights an important idea that no matter the destructive patterns and behaviors of our past, we always have the ability to save ourselves.

3. Gun, Needle, Spoon by Patrick O’Neil

Patrick O’Neil’s recovery was sparked by an arrest and, ultimately, an incarceration for armed robbery—his method of supporting his addiction to drugs. After spending time in prison, he recovers from his addiction and decides to devote himself to never returning to that prison cell. O’Neill decided to write a memoir recounting his addiction, the events leading up to his arrest, his time in prison, and his road to recovery.

4. Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction by Maia Szalavitz

“The Unbroken Brain” by Maia Szalavitz provides a new way of looking at the addiction recovery process. This book challenges the idea of the “broken brain” and the concept of an addictive personality, and offers new insight into what causes addiction and how factors like family, culture, timing, and brain chemicals influence addiction and recovery. This research is combined with the author’s personal story and how the ideas presented here influenced her journey to sober living.

5. Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction by Noah Levine

“Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction” by Noah Levine offers a system of recovery presented from the standpoint of a Buddhist teacher. Although the concepts presented in the book do incorporate Buddhist principles, like the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, applying these principles to your recovery process does not require you to be a Buddhist, or even to believe in higher power. Levine offers daily meditations, writing prompts, and other exercises that encourage self-reflection and self-care.

6. Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy by David Sheff

Author David Sheff wrote his book, “Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy” with a mission of changing how society views addiction. He worked with scientists, doctors, counselors, and addicts to demonstrate that addiction is a curable disease and not a moral failure. This book serves as a guidebook for anyone recovering from addiction, as well as family members looking to gain a unique insight into the process of recovery.

Reading is a great way to arm yourself with information that can help you as your continue your journey towards sober living. It can also connect you with people who have fought addiction and won. If you’re looking for additional support along your path to recovery, please contact us to learn about Stairway to Freedom’s Chicago sober living residences.

Sober Living Houses in Chicago Promote Productivity and Independence Among Recovering Addicts

The ability to provide a safe and supportive environment for recovering substance abusers is the cornerstone of a successful aftercare recovery process. Established with the goal of helping recovering addicts become productive members of society, sober living houses in Chicago provide a safe and supportive environment that encourages a focus on recovery. Through peer-to-peer support and structured living, recovering addicts are able to concentrate on achieving their recovery goals and increasing their independence.

Helping Addicts Become Productive Members of Society

Our Chicago sober living and recovery houses were established to help recovering addicts and alcoholics safely re-immerse themselves into the Chicago community at large. The founders of Stairway to Freedom recognize how challenging this process can be for recovering addicts. After all, they may soon come face to face with the people, places, and situations that initially triggered their addictive behaviors. Accordingly, sober living residences were constructed with the following goals in mind:

• To provide a safe place to use the coping skills learned during treatment
• To help recovering addicts engage with the community
• To encourage residents to take responsibility for their lives and actions
• To help recovering addicts become productive members of society

By providing recovering addicts with a supportive environment within which they can focus on achieving these goals, sober living houses serve a critical purpose in helping recovering addicts fully transition back into society.

The Role of a Safe and Supportive Environment

Personal recovery for addicts is facilitated when they live in an environment that is free of the triggers and negative influences that precipitated their substance or alcohol abuse. A safe and structured environment helps recovering addicts learn how to support themselves and begin using the coping skills that they acquired during their treatment. Below are the ways that Stairway to Freedom’s sober living houses provide a structured and supportive environment:

• A focus on peer-to-peer support
• A living environment designed with the input of recovered addicts
• The administration of random breathalyzers
• Periodic drug screens
• An emphasis on respect and compassion

By residing in a supportive environment that is free from the negative influence of drugs and alcohol, addicts are able to focus on achieving their personal recovery goals.

Providing a Foundation to Follow Through on Recovery Goals

In addition to providing a supportive environment, sober living houses pave the way for addicts to abide by the goals that were established during treatment. For many addicts, these goals include the following:

• Complete abstinence from alcohol and drugs
• Ongoing participation in recovery activities
• Attendance of 12-step meetings
• Make positive contributions to the community

Recovery goals become easier to achieve through the structured environment and peer-to-peer support offered through Chicago recovery houses.

Designed With the Input of Members of the Recovery Community

Much of the success of Chicago sober living residences can be attributed to their design. The design of each recovery house reflects the input of people who have enjoyed many years of successful sobriety in the Chicago area. Each sober living house has been renovated to include the following conveniences:

• Modern bathrooms
• Equipped kitchens
• Laundry facilities
• Flat screen televisions
• Premium cable service
• Common areas for socialization

More important, recovery houses also feature computers with high-speed internet. These tools play a valuable role in bolstering job search activity and productivity among recovering addicts.

The recovery specialists with Stairway to Freedom have the expertise and resources to help you maintain sobriety within an environment that fosters independent living. Please contact us for a free consultation or to take a virtual tour. We look forward to providing you with the environment and support you need to achieve full recovery and become a productive member of society!

Nobody decides to become an addict. Eric certainly did not intend to follow in the footsteps of his older brother. Although studies have found an increased predisposition for addiction within families where there is a history of substance abuse, it may not be common knowledge or a welcome topic of discussion—particularly if the addict in your family is not open to recovery.

However, Eric was fortunate to have a caring brother, who had already embraced recovery and recognized the tell-tale signs of addiction seizing the life out of his younger sibling. In fact, Eric’s introduction to a program of recovery began when his brother took him to his first meeting, which he admits he “just went for some type of support or to convince people otherwise.”

Like countless addicts and alcoholics, Eric first recognized he had an issue with addiction early on, when he was as young as 24 years old. However, his first day of sobriety did not come for another seven years, when he chose to become a resident at Stairway to Freedom in April 2010, at age 31.

While some newly sober addicts choose a sober living facility after completing professional treatment at an inpatient rehabilitation clinic, Eric did not. His older brother, who attended meetings with the Director of Stairway to Freedom, gave Eric the phone number to set up a walk-through. He chose to move in a few days later, marking his first day of sobriety. That courageous decision to change his life was a turning point for Eric. In Stairway to Freedom, a Chicago sober living and recovery facility, Eric found the support and structure he needed to break free from his addiction.

Eric’s story demonstrates the proven therapeutic value of one addict helping another—one of the foundations of recovery at Stairway to Freedom. He attributes “the accountability, the fellowship, the unity, and the brotherhood in the recovery house,” as an integral part of his journey to sobriety.

“I felt like that was the most important impact on me in early recovery, building a foundation to gain the support and recovery I needed,” Eric explains.

Although the length of stay at any of the recovery homes in the Stairway to Freedom community can vary by each individual’s needs and personal choice, Eric believes his decision to maintain residency for one year was absolutely fundamental to his successful achievement of recovery goals. For many recovering addicts, the concept of living, without using drugs or alcohol, is completely unfamiliar territory. This “fear of the unknown” can sometimes lead addicts back to their old, harmful behaviors.

In an effort to prevent relapses, sober living facilities assist individuals during this challenging time of change by encouraging the development of healthy thinking—from abandoning unhealthy relationships, places, or things associated with their addiction to adjusting attitudes, building self-confidence, and accepting a whole new approach to nearly all aspects of life.

Eric says there were many benefits of living in a men’s sober living home, such as accountability, unity, being surrounded by positive influences, and being immersed in a recovery environment. He credits Stairway to Freedom with effectively preparing him for life on life’s terms, as well as establishing a solid structure for living sober. This included learning how to get a job, how to cook, and other essential life skills needed to live a healthy, happy, sober life.

Eric recently celebrated six years clean and sober. He currently works as a Customer Service Manager at a Fortune 500 retail company. It was the first job he had while in recovery, starting in an entry-level position and then being promoted four times in the six years he’s remained clean.

At Stairway to Freedom, it is our mission to help others create their own success stories, just like Eric. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, please contact us today. We are here to help you begin the important journey into life-long recovery.