Not everyone who is recovering from addiction benefits from a cookie-cutter approach to care. In fact, most people prefer a whole-body approach to healing. Holistic treatment addresses every facet of an individual, facilitating long-term recovery. This approach is customized in order to make sure every person’s unique needs are met, and that their treatment plan is effective.
What is Holistic Addiction Treatment?
Holistic addiction treatment focuses on the whole person — mind, body, and soul. The disease of addiction is one that disrupts and sometimes even destroys every single aspect of a user’s life. From their relationships with others to their careers, people who find themselves addicted to drugs and alcohol face countless consequences that impact all corners of their lives. Holistic addiction treatment focuses on addressing any and all issues that relate to an individual’s mind, body, and spirit. This helps them make a complete, comprehensive recovery and walk away better than before.
The Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) highlights some of the most critical principles of providing holistic treatment in any setting, including for addiction recovery. These principles include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Treat symptoms, but also search for underlying causes of addiction
- Teach holistic wellbeing by example
- Consider all specifics regarding one’s total health, including the mind, body, and spirit
- View physical and mental health challenges as learning opportunities
- Participate in the client’s healing process along with them
Holistic addiction treatment not only focuses on treating the mind, body, and spirit, but also addresses one’s environment. It also provides an overall experience as a healthy, living being.
Types of Holistic Addiction Treatment
When thinking more about holistic addiction treatment, it is important to consider the specific types of holistic treatments available. The following are widely practiced:
Nutrition Therapy
It’s normal for drug abusers to experience a number of health problems as a result of their use. Issues such as malnourishment, obesity, lack of necessary vitamins, and even eating disorders are commonplace. Nutrition therapy is a popular form of holistic addiction treatment, as it helps teach clients how to establish and maintain a good relationship with food. Issues such as emotional eating, not eating enough, or even simply not prioritizing a healthy diet can be mitigated through nutrition therapy, as specialists work to treat the underlying issues related to poor nutrition, all while helping develop healthy eating habits. One’s mental wellbeing benefits from eating healthy as ingredients such as sugar and carbs can impact one’s mood and energy levels.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing one’s attention on the present moment and finding peace in doing that. Clients can incorporate mindfulness into their recovery through breathwork, meditation, and simply just focusing on what is going on in front of them in the moment. Achieving mindfulness can be difficult, as it can take practice to truly master. However, with continued efforts, being mindful can come easier and easier, allowing for clients to calm their minds, bodies, and spirits all with one technique.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of inserting small needles into different pressure points on the body. This is an alternative method of addiction treatment, just as mindfulness and nutrition therapy are. A client can participate in acupuncture therapy on a basis that works best for them. They will work directly with an acupuncturist and speak with them about the concerns they are having, allowing for the acupuncturist to target specific areas in the body to produce relief.
Additional holistic addiction treatment therapies include yoga, physical fitness, life skills classes, neurofeedback, and energy medicine therapies. When incorporated into a traditional treatment program, holistic addiction treatment can enhance clients’ outcomes significantly.
Holistic Drug Rehab in Orange County, CA
If you are wondering, “what is holistic addiction treatment?”, look no further. Contact our team at Pacific Sands Recovery in Orange County, CA right now to learn more about this type of treatment, as well as how it may help you.
You do not need to continue on a path of destruction. By reaching out to us, we can show you how it is possible to stop abusing drugs and alcohol and begin living a happier, healthier life.
