Holistic Addiction Treatment Brings Recovery To Mind, Body, And Spirit

Many people suffering from alcohol or drug dependency are looking for help and a way back to the life they once had. Past failures and fear of negative repercussions prevent many people from getting the help they need. Those suffering from addiction face a difficult road, but there are treatment options that can make a recovery less painful while decreasing the chances of relapse.

A Better Way to Detox from Drugs and Alcohol

Coming off drugs and alcohol can be a painful process, with symptoms ranging from vomiting and muscle spasms to intense pain. Many medical professionals seek to alleviate these issues by using medications to wean the individual off their preferred substance. In some cases, the medications are chemically related to the drug at issue; for example, Methadone, which is commonly used to help people move away from heroin, is itself an opioid. But this can sometimes simply trade one addiction for another, as the treating medications are themselves addictive.

This type of treatment isn’t the only available option. Alternative methods are available that can provide relief from the most painful aspects of recovery without filling the person full of more chemicals that reinforce addictive habits. If you or a loved one is seeking a more natural approach to regaining your life, you may be interested in holistic healing techniques.

Holistic Addiction Recovery Treats the Whole Body

Holistic healing is a more comprehensive approach than traditional addiction therapies. In the past, health care professionals have treated addiction like it is a single issue (chemical dependency) when it is actually the result of many issues. If a person walks out of a treatment facility clean, but hasn’t taken care of the emotional or psychological issues that prompted the substance abuse in the first place, his chances of relapse are extremely high. Holistic addiction recovery nurtures the body through the withdrawal process – without relying solely on other medications.

Holistic recovery methods also treat more than the physical manifestations of the illness. They address the mental aspect of addiction by working to retrain the brain not to rely on medication, alcohol, or illicit drugs as a solution to a problem. These methods teach addicts alternative methods for problem-solving skills.

Holistic therapy takes into consideration that addiction is likely just the symptom of a much bigger problem. Therapists and counselors work with addicts to uncover the root causes of the addiction. Without this help, relapse is nearly inevitable. The focus of holistic therapy centers on the body, the mind, and the spirit.

Holistic Addiction Therapy To Heal The Body

Substance abuse can take a significant toll on an individual. The symptoms associated with withdrawal syndrome are really a manifestation of the damage done to an individual – from their digestive system to their brain chemistry. A holistic approach to treating these issues can include everything from a programmed diet and exercise regime to yoga and meditation to therapies including acupuncture. The goal is to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal while strengthening the body and establishing health-promoting habits.

Nurturing the Mind during Addiction Treatment

Though physical chemical dependency is a very real phenomenon, the role of the mind on addiction is far more significant. Trauma, urges, fears, and emotions are what encourage addicts to begin using drugs and alcohol and what turn that choice into a compulsive behavior. Holistic therapies provide mental guidance and healing to “clean the slate” and help repair the issues that may have sparked the addiction in the first place.

In fact, a vast number of people who suffer from addiction also are plagued by a mental illness or disorder. This is called co-morbidity, and the identification of such a scenario is known as a dual-diagnosis. For those in this situation, it is critical that they get the appropriate treatment for both conditions before an addiction can be properly managed. If a treatment program ignores an underlying mental illness, it has only set up an addict for failure. Meditation, therapy, and thought-changing education are all used in holistic environments, and they each can work to make the mind healthier and curtail instances of relapse.

Spiritual Renewal Through Holistic Addiction Programs

Healing from addiction involves more than just therapies aimed at the body and mind. Many addicts have broken relationships that leave them feeling alone and hopeless. Holistic rehabilitation facilities encourage personal growth to offer positive hope for the future. Meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and counseling from a spiritual leader can help recovering addicts grow in a positive way.

New Hope for Those Suffering from Addiction

With holistic therapies now being another tool in the addiction recovery kit for behavioral health professionals and addiction treatment counselors, more individuals are experiencing a new kind of rehabilitation from drugs and alcohol that really “clicks” with them, and offers positive results. Addicts that have in the past struggled with ongoing relapses have also touted the benefits of holistic therapies, citing that they had never before felt the healing of the spirit and the mind in previous attempts to sever ties with substance abuse. The choice is up to the individual on HOW they want to recover, and holistic recovery offers another effective and positive choices for those with the bravery to finally stand up to their personal addictions and tackle unhealthy behaviors.