Nobody ever envisions themselves becoming an addict (well, at least not most people). Addiction isn’t something that somebody just suddenly decides to take up one day. The temporary solace of substance abuse is something that tends to appeal to people at low moments in their life. In this way, a heavy grief can be a profound motivator that leads people towards substance abuse.

Drugs and alcohol, for all of the harm that they cause, do provide temporary relief. That’s why so many people get hooked. When people don’t have a productive way to respond to grief and work through their feelings, substance abuse provides a strong temptation to simply numb the pain, which is something that drugs and alcohol do very well. In this way, addiction, through grief, works like a trojan horse as it takes over your life while you think you are protecting it from something else.

At the end of the day, addiction is a disease that is both mental and physical. As such, living a generally healthier lifestyle will also be a contributing factor to addiction recovery. Yoga helps build physical strength and balance, and keeps the body on a healthy cycle. The willpower that yoga teaches users to have over their body is also incredibly beneficial for recovering addicts.