Addiction Treatment: What is Holistic Treatment and Does It Work?
Though conventional medicine is a crucial part of the recovery process, holistic treatment can be an effective addition to the treatment process. Just as conventional medicine is constantly evolving, so are holistic healing techniques; this form of treatment aims to provide individuals with a personalized approach to recovery. This article will help you understand what holistic treatment is and how its techniques help individuals take on addiction in more effective and natural ways to reinforce healthy habits throughout the recovery process.
What is Holistic Treatment?
Before we get into holistic techniques and how they work, it’s essential to understand what holistic treatment means. Holistic healing involves using traditional eastern medicine and techniques such as yoga to heal your mind, body, and spirit. Holistic healing also uses more natural types of medicine, often including herbal and plant medicines, to help heal the body from the inside out. These herbs and plants don’t replace necessary medications; instead, they supplement them to further improve the recovery process.
The Obstacles Holistic Therapy Aims to Break Down
Holistic therapy can help individuals break down walls that could stop them from making progress in the recovery process. Through taking a more natural approach to healing, a person can use this flexible healing process to do the following:
Promoting physical wellness
Increasing self-confidence
Identifying underlying causes for addictive behaviors
Strengthening resistance to cravings
Reducing dependency on drugs and alcohol
It’s crucial to be able to move past these things if you want to beat addiction. As mentioned, holistic healing provides flexibility, and there are different types of holistic treatments that address an individual’s various needs.
Holistic Treatment for Your Mind
Doing things you love is the best way to heal by using holistic treatments mentally. Hobbies are a great example of holistic healing. If you’re going through the rehabilitation process, you may be familiar with the difficulty of fighting off cravings if your mind isn’t occupied. Hobbies can be anything that brings you joy, and some of the most common ones include sports, art, music, and, as we mentioned before, yoga. Don’t feel like you need to limit yourself to these, though—some people find comfort in reading, watching TV, and playing video games. A holistic approach is entirely different for each individual.
Holistic Treatment for Your Body
Exercise can fall into two holistic categories: the mind and the body. When an individual struggling with addiction begins a workout routine, even if it’s something as simple as regularly taking a walk, they can distract themselves from cravings. Physical health and happiness share a strong link, and if your body is healthy, your mind will follow. Exercise releases natural feel-good chemicals in the brain, making it possible for someone going through the recovery process to kick urges and develop a healthy routine that can lift them out of a potential relapse while they continue their recovery journey. Even after recovery, keeping up with a routine can ensure that you maintain a healthy headspace.If you’ve been having a hard time sleeping after stopping drug use, exercise is also a great way to tire yourself out to get the sleep you need.
Holistic Treatment for Your Soul
If you want to heal your soul during the recovery process, you will want to use holistic methods such as therapy and counseling. It’s incredible how much speaking to someone about your journey and past struggles can help relieve feelings of self-doubt—confidence turns into strength, and individuals who feel empowered are less likely to relapse. Therapy can be intimidating to some, so it’s best to take it slow and at your own pace. Start with one session a month if you need to, then as you get more comfortable with your therapist, you can add more sessions. Don’t be afraid to switch therapists if you feel like you can’t get comfortable with your current one.Once you feel like you have a handle on your spiritual health, you can choose to continue treatment or taper it down as you feel ready. Don’t feel like you need to stop, either—a lot of people use therapy to maintain their mental and spiritual health.
Some Other Forms of Holistic Treatment
There are hundreds of different ways you can approach holistic treatment. Some other forms include the following: Nutritional Therapy: Focusing on proper nutrition can do the body wonders, and paired with an exercise routine, you‘ll experience a boost in your mood. Balanced mental and physical health is the key to fighting cravings. Meditation: A clear mind allows individuals to focus on their goals and find peace on their journey to recovery. Sometimes, the process can get overwhelming, especially when you begin to crave a substance. Meditation can help you focus your energy on healthy thoughts. Massage and Acupuncture: Massage and acupuncture help restore balance to an individual’s body after extended substance abuse. This form of holistic therapy helps relax the body, relieving stress, and reducing cravings.
Who is a Good Candidate for Holistic Treatment?
Holistic therapy can help several individuals, but some may struggle with the techniques and prefer more traditional methods. Before starting a holistic treatment, it’s essential to consider an individual’s following characteristics:
Substance abuse history
Past treatment attempts
Co-occurring mental health disorders
Multicultural differences such as age, sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.
Personality
These traits make treatment different for each individual, and holistic treatment should be custom-tailored with these things in mind.
Take a Holistic Approach to Sober Living at Ardu Recovery Center
If you’re ready to take on your addiction, we’re prepared to fight by your side. At Ardu Recovery Center, our holistic treatment pairs with our innovative new-age techniques to provide residents with a rewarding and effective road to recovery. Visit our state-of-the-art rehabilitation center in Provo, Utah, or give us a call to learn more about how we’re helping individuals tackle their addictions and get their lives back on track.
