Thursday, December 22, 2016

Holistic Treatment For Addiction

When entering treatment, there is frequently an internal debate about what type of a treatment center to choose – traditional, holistic, luxury, inpatient, detox –the options can be confusing, and stressful. We recommend looking into holistic treatment centers for more comprehensive care. Most individuals are unsure what the term “holistic rehab” is, and may mistake it for “nontraditional” – when in fact, holistic treatment centers are more likely to simply have far greater options to customize one’s own program of treatment and recovery.

Some of the more unique components of a holistic Malibu treatment center can include nutritional counseling and modifications to create a healthier diet. Studies have shown that refined and processed foods can create triggers in the alcoholic body – the refined sugar elevates insulin levels and the resulting blood sugar crash can trigger cravings to drink. Regular, balanced, healthy meals are also important because, according to the National Institute of Health, “People with substance abuse are more likely to relapse when they have poor eating habits. This is why regular meals are so important. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol often forget what it's like to be hungry and instead interpret this feeling as a drug craving. They should be encouraged to consider the possibility that they may be hungry when cravings become strong.” Holistic treatment centers will work with you to create a healthy nutritional diet you can follow and enjoy, and which will help to reduce your cravings.

Another important aspect of recovery that holistic drug rehabs include in their services is the addition of regular exercise. Exercise has been proven to decrease cravings and increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, leading to enhanced feelings of well-being. In addition, exercise can increase self-esteem, build confidence in the client’s increasing abilities, and provide a new activity to incorporate as a means of having fun in recovery. The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that exercise “stimulates the brain's reward pathway and heightens mood-boosting neurochemicals…through its actions on hormones that affect the nervous system, exercise also improves an animal's tolerance of stress”.  A holistic rehabilitation center will likely offer various forms of exercise based on the client’s physical limitations and personal preferences, and may also include other types of body work modalities such as yoga, tai chi, massage, and acupuncture. All of these address the body and it’s functioning, as well as the way the individual relates to their body. Yoga and meditation can also help calm and focus the mind and restore a sense of balance to life.

A final important aspect that holistic addiction treatment centers address in their treatment programs is the domain of spirituality. Spirituality does not necessarily mean having a religious tradition or going to 12-step meetings, although those are things that can be incorporated into a person’s spiritual life. Rather, spirituality can best be understood as a way of relating to the world around you, nature, the universe, or other people to gather a greater understanding and appreciation of the world, and a connection to something that is larger than just the self. While in the throes of a drug or alcohol addiction, the substance abuser is likely to become fixated on their drug of choice, and how they can obtain or use it. Oftentimes they lose their positive relationship not only with other people, but with themselves and the way they relate to the world. An effective holistic treatment center will address the person’s spirituality and help them explore options for how they can find a positive connection with something larger than themselves. Frequently, a spiritual connection is the missing piece that needs to be put into place to achieve lasting recovery.

Holistic treatment approaches such as those taken by certain luxury drug rehabs provide a foundation for clients to achieve lasting recovery from their drug and alcohol addictions, and also show clients a fulfilling way that they can live a successful and joyful life.

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