The Benefits of Holistic Treatment for Addiction

Anyone who has studied health even tangentially quickly gets an understanding that the body and mind don’t work separately. They function as an integrated system that requires multiple inputs to be in balance to reach a state of being “healthy” as we define it today. When things are imbalanced, the body goes into arrest and the mind begins to issue instructions to compensate. While it addresses the issue in the short-term, long-term continuation of the compensation eventually becomes detrimental to the system as a whole. This is why people suffer more injuries after an initial injury and as their body compensates for the first problem. Eventually, a cascading effect occurs, and the whole system begins to falter without some kind of significant change being applied.

An Addiction Takes Down More Than Just Physical Defenses

In the world of rehabilitation and recovery, the mind and body again are intertwined in a problem that has overwhelmed the person. Typically, the addiction starts as some kind of a release to an original problem. Work, family, stress, social issues, other health issues, the list goes on. But the addiction develops because the body and mind no longer can offset the effects, and instead they try to incorporate the problem as a cure for the original concern. That addiction, as many know, can wreck a life, overwhelming the common sense of the mind and the correct function of the body simultaneously.

Holistic Application

A holistic approach to recovery involves far more than just applying a medical treatment or a withdrawal. Those simply deal with the body’s reaction to breaking the addiction. Instead, holistic addiction treatment focuses on a wider scale, trying to restore the necessary health balance to the mind and body together. This is done through:

  • Personal Acknowledgement – helping the patient and motivating him or her to want a well-balanced life that proactively works to protect itself from harm and instead seek out personal improvement.
  • General Health – Improving one’s diet, exercise, stress management, and relaxation via techniques helps the patient restore the physical functions of the body to protect itself from biological harm.
  • Environmental Training – Patients are impacted by their external environments just as much as by what they take into their bodies. Counseling and training on environmental change where possible has a significant influence on indirect triggers that can weaken a patient in the recovery phase. This is why so many serious programs include in-patient treatment to remove a patient from surrounding triggers, at least until recovery can stabilize. But at some point patients have to live in the real world again and understand how to control what’s around them to complete healing.
  • Commitment – Education involves engaging with the patient to realign wants and desires into a long-term commitment for sticking with therapy, sobriety and life management through training and confidence-building strategies. This can include a variety of tools from breathing and meditation to pain and anxiety management.
  • Natural Aids and Supplemental Resources – Teaching patients what resources exist for natural assistance as well as how to use these resources in relaxation, stress-management, travel, pressure situations, diet, and sleep.

Finding Local Help With Active Holistic Application

Grace Recovery has long been a major proponent of and integrator of holistic treatment in its addiction recovery programs. Located in Hollywood, CA, Grace Recovery combines medical treatment in detoxification and residential inpatient response with holistic behavioral training, stress, and pain management education, confident and commitment enhancement and life stability training. Because of this combined approach versus just treating medical symptoms only, addiction rehabilitation at Grace Recovery produces far greater results in patients preparing for long-term, life sobriety versus just addressing symptoms.

The myths of in-patient addiction treatment and recovery are just that, stories. Grace Recovery puts an active approach in your hands as an effective tool towards stopping addiction, either for you or a loved one. Take advantage of the valuable benefit and recover your life the way it should be instead of feeling out of control.

 

What Is Holistic Therapy for Addiction Treatment?

Substance abuse takes a toll on your physical and mental health. It seeps into every aspect of your life, including your career, finances and interpersonal relationships. What is holistic therapy’s role in healing these areas? Holistic therapy addresses the entire person, emphasizing that a full recovery is more likely when you find balance in the health of your body, mind, and spirit. What is Holistic Therapy for the Body? Most people begin an addiction treatment program with detox. Detox allows you to eliminate the toxic chemicals from your system in a supervised setting. Physicians may administer medication to help you stay comfortable during the process. But helping your body recover from substance abuse doesn’t end with detox. Holistic therapy aims to help you celebrate your body as a temple in a variety of ways. You might take part in an exercise program that helps you regain strength and agility. Exercise also releases feel-good chemicals that boost your mood and reduce cravings. Moving your body can be a productive challenge that gives you something to look forward to. Recreational therapy often lets you get out into nature. It encourages you to work with others and relieve stress in a healthy way. Many therapists will also provide nutritional counseling. When you’re getting the right nutrients, you can get the most out of other therapies. What is Holistic Therapy for the Mind? Many of the holistic therapy approaches for the body also address the mind. Yoga and exercise help you connect with your physical self and be more present in your life. Through yoga, you can learn how to sit with discomfort and wait before you react to a triggering situation. Meditation can also train your mind to respond differently to intense emotions. Meditation trains your perception and lets you experience a wide range of emotions without letting them steer you off course. It has been shown to reduce stress, diminish depression and relieve pain. What is Holistic Therapy for the Spirit? Holistic therapy usually involves a spiritual component. However, this doesn’t mean that the treatment has a religious basis. The spiritual aspect of holistic therapy goes deeper than the body and mind. It looks at your subconscious desires and social life. When you feel understood by your peers, you can immerse yourself in a trusting environment. Holistic therapy can be used in conjunction with traditional treatments. You may participate in team activities or support groups that help you feel as though you’re part of something bigger. Being surrounded by a compassionate community feeds your spirit. At Grace Recovery Community, we provide a comfortable, intimate setting that makes you feel like you’ve come home. Our holistic therapy program includes: Acupuncture Support groups Trauma-informed yoga Exercise Healthy living Life skills We use a step-down approach so that you can take on more responsibilities and independence when you’re ready. Call us at *DM_DirectNumber format=period* if you’re ready to overcome your addiction with customized therapy that focuses on you as a whole person.

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