Hawaii Island Recovery 
Military life is demanding on service members’ emotional and physical health. In addition to the mental stress of navigating life-threatening situations, the stresses of pushing one’s body to the limit in an active warzone or the physical trials of training and boot camp are equally as intense. However, for veterans overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol, continuing to engage in physical fitness can also be an important part of healing. There is a deep connection between physical and mental health, and we at Hawaii Island Recovery prioritize a holistic approach to healing for veterans, blending physical healing opportunities with mental, emotional, and spiritual healing practices for a comprehensive approach to change for veterans.
The Challenges of Military Veterans
Military veterans are a part of many communities across the country and are valued and celebrated members of the public. However, they can also experience many challenges difficult for civilian peers to understand. From non-military personnel to even family members and loved ones, it can be impossible to truly understand what it is like to live through life-threatening situations in the line of duty, or even the difference in culture that comes with living on base. This feeling of separation from family and civilian peers can birth many challenges for veterans following their time in service, from self-destructive behaviors to isolation, depression, and substance abuse.
However, these challenges can compound with each veteran’s unique experiences. For many military personnel of any branch of the military, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common. From losing brothers and sisters in arms to navigating life-threatening situations, the experiences of veterans can stay with them long after they have been discharged from active duty. Pervasive on-base cultures can also influence substance use and abuse, promoting unhealthy relationships with drugs or alcohol or even introduction of these substances as a coping strategy, despite their negative effects.
Other common challenges that veterans face in daily life can include:
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Flashbacks
- Depression
- Isolation
- Physical injuries or scars as reminders of trauma
- Moral injury
- Damage to spiritual beliefs
Trauma can also come in the form of other traumatic experiences like military sexual trauma (MST). MST is any form of unwanted sexual advances that occur on a military base, from unwanted comments about a person’s body to uninvited touching, kissing, and much more. While women in service are more likely to experience this form of trauma, it is also common and equally traumatic among men, often demanding professional treatment and support to overcome.
From addiction to mental health disorders and trauma, veterans are faced with a unique blend of challenges. However, healing is always possible, with both emotional support and physical fitness playing a role in holistic healing. Embracing this comprehensive approach with Hawaii Island Recovery can help veterans effectively heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
The Importance of Physical Fitness in Recovery
Effective recovery is a comprehensive process involving healing across many different areas of daily life. From daily practices to improve mental health to routines focused on physical fitness, addressing change across all areas of life is crucial for engaging in effective change and maintaining these transformations throughout recovery. However, it can be difficult to focus on the benefits of physical fitness while in recovery from trauma, addiction, or mental health disorders. Understanding the connection between physical fitness and other areas of healing can be crucial for veterans developing their best treatment program at Hawaii Island Recovery, whether they are just beginning their healing journey or continuing to maintain healthy transformations in civilian life.
Creating a Balance of Health and Healing
Physical fitness is intimately connected to other areas of daily life for veterans. For those in recovery from addiction, regular exercise and healthy dieting can be crucial in restoring damage done to the body from the use of addictive substances like alcohol, prescription painkillers, opioids, and other drugs. Likewise, focusing on physical fitness while overcoming the effects of mental health disorders and trauma can help address physiological symptoms like gastrointestinal issues and disrupted sleep schedules to compromised nutritional habits.
Using Physical Fitness for Improved Mood and Stress Reduction
Physical fitness can help improve mood while being an effective outlet for stress. Moving the body can release dopamine in the brain, “rewarding” veterans with improved mood. Engaging in light exercise can also be instrumental in overcoming urges, cravings, triggers, and more in addiction recovery by providing a way to expel pent-up stress and anxiety, or challenging the effects of depression. Going on a walk, jogging, or simply getting up and moving around the house can all be great ways of improving mood and addressing feelings of physical and emotional stagnation in recovery.
Combining physical fitness with mindfulness-based strategies in programs like yoga can also be a great way to explore physical needs while engaging in effective emotional healing, creating a holistic approach to change.
Regular physical fitness activities reduce stress and are essential strategies for preventing relapse and improving emotional resilience throughout recovery. The benefits of physical fitness activities are a great way of establishing healthy practices and stress reduction, improving emotional resilience at any stage of healing.
Creating a Physical Fitness Routine
Routines in recovery can be essential for overcoming an array of challenges. From helping to mitigate urges and cravings in addiction recovery to challenging mental health disorders and stress, having a consistent schedule to fall back on can be a great tool for prioritizing personal care. Using physical fitness as a part of this routine can add structure and ensure that veterans are tending to personal needs first and foremost throughout their healing journey.
Scheduling a regular morning or evening jog or dedicating steady time to at-home physical activities can be a great basis for consistency in recovery, and a structure around which to build a transformed daily life.
Physical fitness programs are incorporated in each veteran’s time at Hawaii Island Recovery, providing an opportunity to develop personal routines and practices that can be translated to life at home for veterans continuing to tend to physical fitness needs, emotional needs, and a holistic approach to healing.
Opportunities for Personalization in Physical Fitness
Overcoming addiction, trauma, mental health disorders, or a combination of these challenges among veterans is complicated. There is never a single path to a healthy and fulfilling future. Likewise, while engaging in physical fitness programs and activities can have many therapeutic effects for veterans overcoming a myriad of challenges, there is never just one program that is best for everyone. Rather, exploring different opportunities and outlets for physical fitness can empower those in recovery to explore new personalized hobbies.
Having multiple options for physical activities for veterans like nature hikes, beach and aquatic activities, and more can all be transformative aspects of healing. Others may engage in local sports leagues to explore physical fitness and social needs to facilitate holistic healing. Finding a physical fitness outlet will be different for each person, and it is never too late to try something new or admit when an outlet is less effective than it needs to be, throughout healing for veterans.
Connections to Further Healing
Physical fitness is just one piece of an effective healing program. However, staying physically active can have many direct benefits to other areas of health for veterans in recovery. Regular exercise and a focus on physical fitness can promote healthier dieting and new self-care outlets, promote healthier sleep routines, and lead to improved resilience in the face of new stresses each day.
Physical healing can also be combined with spiritual healing and new experiences. Hiking through natural hiking trails in Hawaii, or swimming in the pristine ocean, can have a profound spiritual impact on veterans exploring spiritual healing after their time in service. Trauma and military life can lead to a great deal of damage to a person’s spiritual health, either due to compromised spiritual beliefs, moral injury, or the trauma of losing brothers and sisters in arms being difficult to overcome. Disconnection from loved ones can also be a challenge, and combining physical activities with spiritual healing opportunities can promote the best approach to overcoming complex challenges and finding new feelings of belonging, understanding, and acceptance in veteran life.
Restoring Agency Through Physical Fitness
Military life can have many ramifications, with one common challenge among veterans being chronic injuries and pains. Active military personnel are constantly pushing their bodies to the limit, with veterans carrying scars and strains with them back home even after their time on active duty is done. Focusing on physical fitness in recovery can empower veterans to embrace agency in veteran life despite these challenges.
Rebuilding physical strength in addiction and trauma recovery can be a great way to feel in control of daily life. Accomplishing personal daily goals and tending to personal needs can be a major accomplishment in recovery, and physical fitness and healing are part of embracing this kind of agency in recovery.
Exploring Physical Fitness in Your Healing at Hawaii Island Recovery
Hawaii Island Recovery champions a holistic approach to healing, blending proven therapies with holistic healing options. Spiritual needs, social needs, and even physical fitness needs are all part of an effective treatment program. However, each veteran’s time can still be personalized, and there are many ways in which each program can blend physical fitness programs into each effective healing program for addiction, mental health disorders, trauma, or a combination thereof in veterans.
Nature-Based Healing Opportunities
Physical activity can take many forms, and Hawaii Island Recovery has many opportunities to get out into nature to promote physical fitness alongside spiritual healing and community. Nature hikes, walks along the beach, and even getting busy and planting native trees can all get the body and mind focused on these holistic healing opportunities. These nature-based healing opportunities can also help veterans get more embedded into the culture of Hawaii and its spiritual healing properties, creating new perspectives throughout recovery.
Water-based healing opportunities are also available. Engaging in oceanic healing through kayaking, surfing, or swimming can be a great way of focusing not just on the connection between the body and mind, but also finding new outlets and hobbies in recovery.
Outdoor Yoga Programs
Yoga is a great combination of physical fitness, mindfulness, spiritual healing, and community. It is a great tool for those in recovery to navigate stress and challenges while exploring effective self-reflection. Hawaii Island Recovery incorporated outdoor yoga and meditation into healing programs to empower veterans to explore the benefits of the practice for themselves while also surrounding themselves with Hawaii’s serene natural environments for further stress reduction and healing.
Cultural Outreach and Programming
Getting physically involved in recovery can also come in the form of exploring cultural outreach opportunities and local communities. Hawaii Island Recovery promotes the opportunity to get involved with local communities and activities throughout recovery, and be bold in exploring all that life has to offer. Exploring new perspectives in new and foreign activities is part of an effective approach to healing and recovery.
Creating Your Physical Fitness Plan
The challenges that veterans face are unique, even among veteran peers. From addiction stemming from unhealthy on-base drinking cultures to prescription drug use facilitated by a chronic injury incurred in the line of duty, there is never one path through military and veteran life. Likewise, there is never one path through healing. Finding each veteran’s best practices is a personal journey, and it is always possible to pivot to new opportunities to find the most effective combination of practices to promote physical fitness in each person’s recovery journey.
Implement a Routine
Physical fitness routines do not have to be intense. For many veterans navigating chronic pains and challenges, even light exercise can be incredibly beneficial. Starting the day with a walk around the house or up and down the street or stairs can be a great way to get the body moving first thing in the morning without being overly taxing. However, while exercise of any degree can be great, it is most effective when it is routine to benefit from its stress-relief and resilience-building advantages.
A regular morning walk, a light exercise just before dinner, or stretches before bed can all be great ways of committing to physical fitness and healing that promotes holistic change.
Remember: Physical Fitness Starts Small
While recovery from addiction, trauma, and mental health disorders involves a lot of change, it all starts with small adjustments made to ideas and perspectives. Physical fitness is the same, and starting small can be a great way to normalize these activities. A simple walk or stretch can be all it takes to improve physical fitness.
Nobody has to push their bodies to the absolute limit every day. Rather, just enough for the juices flowing throughout the body can be enough to engage in effective physical healing, building over time while still staying comfortable and reserving enough energy to engage in other healing practices such as mindfulness, group therapy sessions, and more.
Supplement Physical Activity With Healthy Dieting
Physical fitness combines various efforts, from exercise to healthy dieting. Hawaii Island Recovery’s on-site chef, Chef Cheryl, can provide nutritious meals while helping veterans explore ways to focus on healthy dieting at home to continue making the most of recovery efforts. Avoiding unnecessary snacking or unhealthy foods like excessive sugar or caffeine can complement physical fitness while improving mood, emotional resilience, sleep, and more.
Finding Effective Veteran Change at Hawaii Island Recovery
With veterans’ unique challenges, surrounding oneself with peers can be essential. Even the most well-meaning of family members and loved ones can have difficulty understanding the toll that military life can take. Hawaii Island Recovery can help veterans engage in effective physical healing while exposing them to a dedicated veteran community for the most effective approach to acceptance, camaraderie, and change.
Committing to physical fitness activities alongside veteran peers can help deconstruct stigmas and explore how these therapies can benefit each individual. Going on nature hikes alongside peers and exploring spiritual healing and physical healing alongside veteran peers can create an atmosphere of support to challenge isolation while finding the most effective and personalized healing possible for veterans.
Addiction recovery is a comprehensive healing journey, and embracing physical fitness as a part of this holistic change for veterans can make your time in dedicated treatment more effective. At Hawaii Island Recovery, we blend physical fitness opportunities with holistic healing options, education, emotional support, and trauma-informed treatment specifically designed for the challenges that veterans face. Our community of veteran healing ensures that you can surround yourself with understanding peers at any stage of your recovery, all while benefitting from the professional support of our professionals. For more information on how we can incorporate physical fitness into your recovery plan, call to speak to a caring, trained staff member today at (866) 390-5070.
