DEMCO wants you to know........

YOU NEED TO EXERCISE

You can start your drug-free journey with EXERCISE!

Fighting all the urges from your body can cause stress and depression, which can lead to drug and substance abuse.

One in 10 adults in the United States struggles with depression, and antidepressant medications are a common way to treat the condition. Pills aren't the only solution. Exercise is a great addition, although exercise alone isn't enough for someone with severe depression. Exercising starts a cascade of events that results in many health benefits. Such as protecting against heart disease and diabetes, improving sleep, and lowering blood pressure. High-intensity exercise releases the body's feel-good chemicals called endorphins, the real value is in low-intensity exercise repeated over time. This causes protein release in the brain and this improvement in brain function makes you feel better. Exercise supports nerve cell growth in the brain improving nerve cell connections, which helps relieve depression. This can make you less likely to want to abuse drugs and other substances. Depression manifests physically by causing disturbed sleep, reduced energy, appetite changes, body aches, and increased pain perception, all of which can result in less motivation to exercise. But you don't have time to be tired, moving just a little bit will help. "Start with five minutes a day of walking or any activity you enjoy. Soon, five minutes of activity will become 10, and 10 will become 15." Pick something you like and something you can sustain over time! Stay FREE in 2023!