Healthcare4 Elements Of A Holistic Addiction Recovery Plan

Addiction to drugs, substances, or alcohol is a complicated condition. It can affect the mental, physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of a person. This is the reason treatment and recovery plans should cover all these areas. It’s a way to significantly lower the risk of patient relapse caused by unattended underlying issues.

Taking a holistic approach is ideal for addiction treatment and recovery. Addiction recovery plans may incorporate techniques like meditation and mindfulness, yoga, acupuncture, and massage therapy to help patients in their recovery. A search online will show sites such as healtreatmentcenters.com and other specialists using a holistic approach to addiction recovery.

The primary purpose of this kind of plan is to treat the disease from all angles. It focuses on the person as a whole instead of specific aspects only, giving patients a better chance at a long-lasting recovery from addiction. In this article, you will learn the elements of a holistic addiction recovery plan and what they entail.

1. Emotional healing

One of the reasons people turn to drugs, substances, or alcohol is to cope with emotions. Deep-rooted issues about their self-esteem, self-worth, or how they see the world around them could create an emotional tug of war and prove difficult to bear when sober. Examples of individuals who use drugs or alcohol to deal with emotional stress are victims of abuse and survivors of trauma. (1)

When people with substance use disorders are in recovery, the emotions they were masking with the use of drugs or alcohol come to the surface. A holistic addiction recovery plan includes activities and self-expression exercises that help these patients find other ways to process and express these emotions in healthier ways. In treating the emotional aspect of addiction, the plan deals with the root cause of the issue rather than what’s merely on the surface.

This makes emotional healing a crucial element in a holistic addiction recovery plan. The patients are introduced to certain strategies to manage their emotions and overcome the urge to cover them up with addictive behavior. Some of the methods used in this plan include meditation, counseling, as well as emotion and anger management training.

2. Mental and physiological healing

Other main reasons people depend on drugs, alcohol, or substances could be stress, depression, or anxiety. Many individuals with substance use disorder have been shown to suffer from undiagnosed cases of behavioral and mental disorders, too. When these issues come to light and are dealt with during addiction treatment, the recovery process will more likely be successful. (2)

This type of healing also allows patients to get nonmedicinal treatments during recovery. In a nonmedicinal plan, patients learn the alternative ways and practices of dealing with anxiety and depression. Some of these practices include meditation and mindfulness, acupuncture, and massages to help them relax, relieving them of stress and anxiety.

3. Physical healing

Aside from dealing with the root causes of addiction, it’s imperative to address the physical effects and withdrawal symptoms that follow the discontinuation of drugs or alcohol. It can be challenging for a patient to keep their focus on recovery while battling the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Physical healing is more than overcoming dependence on alcohol or substances—it’s about being physically healthy, too.

When patients are in active addiction, they often neglect their physical health and well-being. This leads to physical weakness and a lack of motivation to stay healthy. Overcoming these issues is a huge part of recovering from substance use disorder as it allows patients to focus on self-care. Physical healing is an excellent way of helping the body gain back the energy and vitality it needs to fight the disorder. Common methods used here include eating well-balanced meals, doing yoga, and performing physical exercises.

4. Spiritual healing

Some people using addictive substances or alcohol do it to cope with issues that eat them up inside and to make them feel better about themselves. Drug or substance dependence could weaken a person’s spiritual ties, which could make them feel unworthy and distant from their beliefs. In a holistic addiction and recovery plan, one priority is to direct the patients back to their spiritual roots.

While spirituality is often looked at from a religious perspective, it’s actually more than that. Helping patients find spiritual guidance in their recovery journey may help them find the motivation they need to stay sober. The common practices included in spiritual healing are praying, doing yoga, and meditating. If the spiritual aspect isn’t addressed during recovery, patient relapse could happen. (3)

Conclusion

Addiction recovery plans must touch on all aspects of a patient’s well-being to ensure comprehensive treatment. Otherwise, the chances of relapse could arise. A holistic approach to addiction recovery encompasses all aspects—emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. It involves meditation, yoga, and proper nutrition, among other techniques, to help heal the body, mind, and soul.

References

1. “The intersection of childhood trauma and addiction”, Source: https://ct.counseling.org/2021/04/the-intersection-of-childhood-trauma-and-addiction/
2. “The Relationship Between Depressive Symptom Levels and Subsequent Increases in Substance Use Among Youth With Severe Emotional Disturbance”, Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2678875/
3. “Belief, Behavior, and Belonging: How Faith is Indispensable in Preventing and Recovering from Substance Abuse”, Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6759672/