Building healthy habits in recovery is a critical component of overcoming a drug and alcohol problem. That is why our addiction treatment programs at Desert Cove Recovery’s Arizona rehab centers emphasize healing the whole person rather than only helping our clients achieve abstinence.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle helps you resist relapse and teaches you how to enjoy your recovery and achieve better overall physical and mental health. This is critical for long-term recovery success, and you can start the process at our addiction treatment rehab in Arizona today.
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The Importance of Holistic Treatment Programs at Arizona Rehab Centers
Holistic treatment refers to when a substance use or mental health treatment facility aims to treat the whole person instead of a single problem in isolation. This approach is essential for people with substance use disorders, who often face challenges in nearly every aspect of their lives.
People rarely come to addiction treatment because they are struggling with alcohol or drugs while everything else is going well. What is far more common is that people come to treatment with ongoing challenges such as:
- Job loss or unemployment
- Mental health conditions
- Medical health conditions
- Lack of motivation or sense of purpose
- Problems in their relationships
- Financial difficulties
Treating substance use without addressing these difficulties can often lead to poor results. This is because the stress of financial insecurity or ongoing mental health symptoms can be a trigger for people to relapse on their substance of choice, leaving them right back where they started — even if they’ve undergone addiction treatment.
The more holistic approach treats every challenge that people face so that clients are equipped to handle life’s challenges when they achieve sobriety. Whether that means helping unemployed clients find a job, treating co-occurring mental health conditions, or providing healthy outlets to occupy their free time, this more holistic approach prepares people for better, healthier, and happier lives in recovery.
How Our Arizona Treatment Centers Help Support Healthy Living
Our Arizona rehab centers provide a range of options to help our clients develop these healthy habits in recovery. Some of the critical areas where we support holistic treatment for our clients include:
Exercise
Starting to exercise regularly or become more physically active has repeatedly been shown to come with physical and mental health benefits. Several studies have shown benefits from exercise, such as:1
- Reduced anxiety
- Reduced cravings
- Improved mood regulation
- Reduced stress
Starting an exercise routine not only gets you these substantial mental health benefits, but it also provides an outlet for people new to recovery who suddenly find themselves with an abundance of free time. People with substance use disorders often spend inordinate amounts of time seeking their substance of choice, using drugs or alcohol, or recovering from their effects.
When you achieve abstinence, filling this time with healthy activities should be a priority. Spending too much time idle can lead to boredom, stress, and cravings. Exercise provides a healthy and sustainable outlet for people to enjoy themselves, improve their physical and mental health, and strive toward personal goals.
You can incorporate exercise into your life in many different ways. Some common options include:
- Running
- Weight lifting
- Walking
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Rock climbing
- Cycling
- Swimming
You don’t have to dive head-first into an intensive workout routine to get the benefits of exercise. Finding new and enjoyable ways to move your body and increase your physical activity level can get you the mental health benefits you’re looking for — and inspire your continued recovery for years to come.
Nutrition
Nutrition is often an overlooked aspect of holistic substance use recovery. Substance use disorders can lead to nutritional deficiencies, and many people starting their journey toward recovery continue eating patterns that put them at risk of developing health complications.
Making an effort to ensure you’re meeting your nutritional needs each day by eating a varied diet of whole foods can prevent many common physical health challenges.2 It can also help prevent you from feeling excessively tired, hungry, or uncomfortable — all of which can lead to substance use cravings.
Some simple tips to prioritize nutrition in your recovery include:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Eating a variety of foods
- Emphasizing fruits and vegetables in your diet
- Meeting with a dietitian if you have specific nutrition deficiencies
Taking these steps can help you keep your physical health in top shape and prevent you from developing complications that increase your risk of relapse.
Wellness Practices
Wellness practices refer to a wide range of activities you can engage in for your emotional and spiritual health. Whether that means attending religious service, starting a mindfulness practice, or simply emphasizing stress-relieving self-care in your daily routine, wellness practices can round out your addiction treatment plan in a more holistic way.
Start Drug Rehab With Desert Cove Recovery Today
At Desert Cove Recovery’s alcohol and drug center in Arizona, our rehab facilities emphasize helping people build sustainable and enjoyable lives in recovery. To learn more about our outpatient programs and get started on your road to recovery, reach out to our team using our confidential online contact form today.
Sources:
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1100/2012/901741 [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9921002/
