Holistic Addiction Treatment

The word “holistic” has been a buzz word in the health and wellness fields for years. When some people hear this word, they may think of shaggy gurus using obscure natural remedies or New Age techniques from ancient Eastern cultures.

A quick search through the internet will reveal all kinds of sensational claims about treating physical and mental illnesses. After scrolling through some websites, you may be wondering something like, “How can someone use an herb found at the top of a far-off mountain to help me with addiction?”

Holistic addiction treatment is not about simple fixes. In fact, it involves guidance from professionals trained in specific types of therapy. It is often used in conjunction with more traditional approaches to addiction treatment like cognitive behavior therapy or dialectical behavior therapy.

To understand this therapy, it’s important to know what the term holistic actually means. By definition, it refers to treating the whole person rather than just the symptoms or diagnosis of a disease. Within the context of this therapy, you are not viewed as an addict, but as a person needing to restore your physical, mental, and spiritual balance.

The holistic approach is based on your strengths, needs, preferences, and personal beliefs. It seeks to positively change the way you view yourself and the world around you which allows you to be better equipped to deal with struggles associated with addiction. Some of these therapies make a person more aware of the connection between their mind, body, and soul. Others use engaging activities to teach necessary skills for a lasting sobriety.

One important note is that although these treatments emphasize, in part, the healing of the soul or spirit, it is not necessary to be religious or to literally believe in a soul to benefit from these approaches. The soul component of holistic health can simply be thought of as your emotional wellbeing. People who are religious or spiritual are welcome to view this component in the traditional religious sense, but this therapy is available to everyone regardless of their beliefs.

Addiction is a complex mental health disorder that often has many contributing factors. Genetics, personal history, trauma, abuse, and thought patterns may play a role. It’s no wonder that treating this disease requires diverse approaches.

Many know about the physical issues of addiction such as withdrawal and cravings, but they may not understand the mental aspects of this disease. Addiction is a vicious cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are the disturbing thoughts, urges, and images that can occupy your mind. Compulsions, on the other hand, are the repetitive behaviors that are triggered by obsessive thoughts.

Many holistic treatments seek to get you out of this pattern of thoughts and behaviors. They do this in a variety of ways. For instance, a mindfulness meditation practice may help you become more aware of your thoughts and how they lead to your behaviors. As you learn to identify your thought patterns, you can begin proactively replacing obsessive thoughts with ones that help you stay sober.

In addition, these therapies can teach you other ways to experience pleasure without abusing drugs or alcohol. Treatment centers often use recreation and adventure activities to show people struggling with addiction that life can be very enjoyable without resorting to drug use. While in the grips of addiction, people often forget this and can believe that getting high is the only pleasurable experience.