To maximise the likelihood of full recovery, it is essential to take a holistic approach to addiction recovery.
Around 10% of adults in the UK have used illicit drugs in the last year. While some are able only to use these substances occasionally and recreationally, others aren’t so fortunate. They may fall into a dark cycle of drug abuse, which can cause issues with their health and daily life. An increasing number of adults are also becoming addicted to prescribed medications. And of course, addiction can cover a huge range of other areas including, but not limited to, gambling, social media, sex, and even shopping! If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction; it might be a good idea to consider a rehabilitation clinic. But not all rehabs are the same. To maximise the likelihood of full recovery the best approach may be to check into rehabilitation that takes a holistic approach to addiction recovery.
The Healthy Life Essex website focuses a great deal on a holistic approach to wellbeing, but in this article will be looking more specifically at how a holistic approach relates to addiction recovery.
What Is Holistic Therapy?
The Cambridge Dictionary defines holistic as:
Dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part
In terms of wellbeing, a holistic approach means you treat the ‘whole person’ to ensure causes and underlying issues are addressed, rather than just dealing with the symptoms. In simple terms, if you have a headache you may just take a painkiller, but that doesn’t address the cause of the problem.
When dealing with addiction recovery, a holistic approach means you don’t just address symptoms such as cravings, irritability, and even more serious symptoms like seizures and hallucinations: a holistic approach to addiction recovery means also healing the mind and spirit through treatments including complementary and alternative therapies.
How Does Holistic Therapy Work?
Holistic care means helping an individual understand themselves at a much deeper level. As a result, this better awareness and increased self-esteem can help immensely in recovery and the ability to resist relapse in the future.
Complementary therapies are natural, physical processes that do not generally include use of any artificial chemicals, whereas traditional addiction recovery therapy may include prescribed medication such as Benzodiazepines, Antidepressants and Clonidine to help patients cope with the withdrawal process.
While some medication may be necessary, clearly taking a holistic approach to addiction recovery and reducing the use of prescribed drugs as much as possible is a better option.
Types of Holistic Therapy
The “holistic” meaning encompasses several aspects of a person’s well-being and therefore, according to individual circumstances, you may be offered various therapies to assist the recovery process.
Below are some of the most common treatments you are likely to be offered:
Counselling
When you go to rehab, you may be offered counselling to help you identify the triggers that drive you to substance abuse, and also learn how to handle these triggers.
One specific type of talking therapy you might be offered is cognitive behavioural therapy which helps to change both the way you think and behave through what’s called mindfulness. It’s very effective and is usually used for mental health issues like anxiety and depression, but is suitable for addiction as well, especially if you have comorbid mental health issues.
Meditation
Meditation has been used for thousands of years to help people clear their minds and focus. Not only does it help decrease the chaos in your head, but it can also reduce the physical manifestations of stress. For example, meditation can lower your blood pressure, slow your breathing, and relax your muscles.
Not only that, but it can help you get in touch with your spiritual side. It also can give you such a peaceful feeling that it decreases the symptoms of mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Yoga
Yoga can help in a very similar fashion as meditation does. It has all the similar benefits as above, but it also lets you strengthen your body.
By getting in touch with and understanding your body, you can develop a better sense of self-esteem and confidence.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is yet another type of holistic therapy that has been practised for centuries.
In simple terms, thin needles are placed in strategic places on the body to enable healing and detoxing. This might sound painful, but not only are the needles very thin, they are inserted almost superficially on your skin and therefore the most you will feel, if anything, is a very mind prick sensation.
Acupuncture can restore the balance of energy in your body, otherwise known as “chi” in Eastern medicine. As a result, this can help with not just pain, but mental health issues too.
Nutrition Classes
A key part of feeling your best is to exercise and eat a healthy diet.
Nutrition classes can help ensure you are providing your body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals you need, such as B vitamins. B vitamins contribute to the maintenance of a healthy nervous system, so make sure you get plenty of these.
Many people who abuse illicit drugs are deficient in B vitamins, so you can boost your health by increasing your intake.
More recently, there has been a great deal of scientific research into the gut-brain connection and the significance of diet on a person’s mental health.
Amino Acid Therapy
Amino acid therapy can be great for recovery. Not only does it help neutralise toxins, but it can also restore your brain function.
In addition, amino acid therapy can vastly improve your state of mental health. As a result, you’ll be able to understand your addiction better and decrease your chances of relapse.
Try a Holistic Therapy to Addiction Recovery
As you can see, holistic therapy is a fantastic approach to take when it comes to addiction recovery. Not only does it address the physical side of addiction, but also the mental and spiritual ones.
When you can tackle all aspects of addiction, this allows you to heal in a much more effective fashion.
So, if you are considering booking into a rehab centre, do ensure it is one that adopts a holistic approach to addiction recovery. It will help you stay sober, as both your body and your mind will be so much stronger.