Are Holistic Treatments Effective?

Addiction affects your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Holistic therapy programs feature personalized, non-medical methods of treating addiction. Holistic treatments are aimed at treating all the parts of you that have been affected by addiction: body, mind, and spirit. 

Holistic treatments are effective when used in conjunction with other therapeutic modalities and will help improve multiple areas of your life on an ongoing basis.

Holistic treatments are aimed at treating the entire needs of an individual — their mind, body, and soul — and not just their substance use disorder. 

Holistic treatments are used to help patients detox from substances, those in various levels of addiction treatment, and assist those in recovery in managing their sobriety. They are non-medical and are always used in conjunction with other treatment methods. 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recovery is holistic in nature. Treatments should address the mind, body, and spirit and also should address community, including employment, education, healthcare, and more.

The aim of holistic treatments is to help patients identify the causes that led them to their addiction and teach them how to reduce their cravings for drugs and alcohol. They also promote healthy lifestyle behaviors that will help a person manage their long-term sobriety. Holistic therapies can also help you feel more confident, which may help you cope better when facing any challenges in recovery. 

There are many types of holistic treatments that can be used in combination with traditional programs.  Examples of these treatments include:

Mindfulness allows you to become present in the moment. Mindfulness activities reduce stress, increase relaxation, help with impulse control, and improve your overall well-being.

Meditation in movement, yoga helps strengthen your internal mind, body, and spirit connection. Yoga is one of the most popular holistic activities. 

Massage therapy helps reduce stress and anxiety. Massage therapy also helps your body detox, promotes blood circulation, and reduces muscle tension. 

Staying fit and exercising helps you focus on your body. Exercising consistently will help you set a daily or weekly routine. It also will increase the dopamine levels in your brain and cause you to feel better overall. You do not have to overexert yourself to exercise — you can start with a quick walk around the block. 

This treatment can help restore balance and health to your body. Immediate benefits include improved sleep, increased energy, and a decrease in cravings for drugs and alcohol. 

Activities that include horse-guide therapeutic interactions help you get in touch with your feelings. Horses often mirror human emotions and help to expose any feelings you may be hiding. 

Other types of holistic treatment can involve hypnotherapy, proper nutrition, therapy around the arts (music, dance, etc.), aromatherapy, and more. 

Most treatment facilities will use a combination of individual and group therapy as part of their addiction treatment. Holistic treatments complement these evidence-based treatment therapies. 

Integrating both types of treatment will help you better identify and address the underlying causes that led to your substance use disorder. Identifying and working through these issues is essential to recovery success. 

Holistic treatment services work well with clinical treatment programs. For example, if you want to address your behavior of addiction, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a clinical treatment that can be addressed with both holistic and traditional approaches. 

Both approaches can help you learn healthy coping skills for dealing with your addictive behaviors. Choosing a combination of both holistic and traditional therapies may help you better manage long-term sobriety. You can work with your medical professionals to develop a customized plan that will work best for your needs. 

The road to recovery may be challenging at times, but holistic treatments can help you cope with addiction by having you participate in activities that you enjoy. Personal satisfaction is a critical factor in helping people manage their long-term sobriety.

When recovering from a substance use disorder, there are many options for receiving treatment. The most effective treatment programs are those that integrate traditional substance abuse treatment plans with holistic therapies. 

Here at Hawaii Island Recovery, we know that holistic treatment is vital to the healing process. We offer a variety of holistic health services to complement our evidence-based treatments. Our customized treatment plans will help your body, mind, and spirit.

Holistic treatments can be effective in the detox and treatment process and managing long-term sobriety. The objective of using holistic treatments is to address and treat all of the areas of your life that have been impacted by substance abuse. Holistic treatments address the entire individual and are meant to heal a person entirely, including their mind, body, and spirit. The road to recovery can be challenging at times, and holistic treatments in conjunction with evidence-based clinical programs can provide you with the necessary coping skills and activities to help you on your journey. Examples of holistic treatments include mindfulness, yoga, massage, and acupuncture. Integrating these treatments into your recovery can also help you identify and address the underlying behaviors that led to addiction. If you want to know how holistic services can help with recovery or learn which treatments will work best for you, call Hawaii Island Recovery today at (866) 390-5070. We are always available.