Holistic Treatments and Addiction Recovery
If you or someone you know has experienced a substance use disorder (SUD), you know that addiction affects more than just an individual’s body; it affects the entire person — mind, body, and soul. Therefore, addiction treatments should address not only the SUD itself but the complete needs of the individual as a whole.
What Are Holistic Treatments?
Holistic treatments are therapies that focus on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. These treatments have proven effective in recovery programs when used in conjunction with traditional, evidence-based recovery modalities.
Meditation, massage, yoga, and acupuncture are a few of the most common holistic therapies. These therapies are centered on principles that help you relax, concentrate on your breathing, and encourage you to focus your mind and body in the present moment.
Why Holistic Treatments Are Effective
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), providing holistic treatment is one of the “Guiding Principles to Recovery.” In addition to these treatments addressing the mind, body, and spirit, SAMHSA states that holistic treatments should also address an individual’s community (employment, education, healthcare, etc.).
Holistic treatments aim to help individuals:
- Identify the causes that led to their addiction
- Reduce their cravings for drugs and alcohol
- Feel more confident while in recovery
- Develop healthy coping mechanisms
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
- Improve mood
- Increase energy levels
- Gain a better clarity and focus
Holistic therapies promote healthy lifestyle behaviors to help manage long-term sobriety with activities tailored to an individual’s lifestyle and recovery goals.
6 Types of Holistic Treatments
There are many types of holistic treatments that can be used in combination with traditional recovery programs. Some examples of these treatments are:
#1. Mindfulness: Allows you to become present in the moment. Mindfulness activities reduce stress, increase relaxation, and improve your overall well-being.
#2. Acupuncture: Helps restore balance and health to your body. Immediate benefits include improved sleep, increased energy, and a decrease in cravings for drugs and alcohol.
#3. Yoga: Meditation in movement. Yoga helps strengthen your internal mind, body, and spirit connection. This is one of the most popular holistic activities.
#4. Massage: Helps reduce stress and anxiety. Massages also help your body detox, promote blood circulation, and decrease muscle tension.
#5. Fitness: Helps you focus on your body. Exercising consistently will help set a routine for your daily or weekly activities. It also will increase the dopamine levels in the brain and cause you to feel better overall. You do not have to over-exert yourself to exercise; you can start with a quick walk around the block.
#6. Aromatherapy: Promotes vitality and emotional stability with the use of essential oils. These oils can be used on the body (lotions and ointments) to help improve your overall health.
The road to recovery may be challenging at times, and holistic treatments may help you manage your recovery by participating in activities you enjoy.
Are Holistic Treatments Right for You?
Most treatment facilities will use a combination of individual and group therapy as part of their addiction treatment. Holistic treatments complement evidence-based treatment therapies. Integrating both types of treatment will help you better identify and address the underlying causes of your addiction. Identifying and working through these issues is essential to recovery success.
Holistic treatment services work well with clinical treatment programs. For example, if you want to address your behaviors in active addiction, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a clinical treatment that can be utilized both with holistic and traditional approaches. Both approaches will help you learn healthy coping skills for dealing with addictive behaviors. Choosing a combination of both holistic and traditional CBT therapies may help you better manage long-term sobriety.
How South Florida Intervention Can Help
As you are looking for the right treatment center that will work best for you, make sure that the facility you choose can create programs that address your individual needs. Here at South Florida Intervention, we offer case management services to help you manage your treatment plans.
With these services, we streamline the treatment process by being the point of contact between the treatment team and family members. We can help you work with your medical professionals to develop a customized plan that will work best for your needs.
Personal satisfaction is a critical factor in managing your recovery. Finding holistic treatments that address your individual needs, help establish a self-care practice, and allow you to build a foundation of healthy coping mechanisms will give you the tools you need to help make your recovery a long-term success.
In recovery, holistic treatments are used to help clients during their detoxification process and to help them manage their sobriety. When used in conjunction with traditional, evidence-based treatment programs, these therapies treat the mind, body, and soul of the person suffering from substance abuse. Common holistic therapies include acupuncture, yoga, meditation, massage, and fitness regimens. These types of added treatments are aimed at helping you identify the cause of the addiction; reduce stress, anxiety, and depression; and help you develop better coping mechanisms for long-term sobriety success. If you need help deciding which treatment programs are right for you or your loved one, or if you want to know more about holistic treatments and addiction recovery, give us a call. At South Florida Intervention, we provide a variety of services for families with children who need help with substance abuse, as well as adults. We are here to help. Call us today at (202) 390-2273.