Why You Should Consider a Holistic Treatment Center for Addiction
Overcoming an addiction can be one of the most challenging and arduous actions a person can take. Finding the will to take the steps needed to change course, and the resources to make the change occur can be difficult. Choosing to go it alone without professional help can feel like an impossible task. By attending a holistic treatment center, individuals can utilize a diverse selection of therapies and treatments that effectively target the causes of addiction.
There are many available treatment centers and plenty of options to consider. It’s essential to understand the difference between the available choices.
What Does “Holistic” Mean?
Before diving into the benefits of a holistic treatment center, let’s first define what “holistic” means. According to the American Holistic Health Association (1), holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person, in terms of their mind, body, and spirit. This differs from many conventional forms of medicine. Other treatments work to treat symptoms a person is experiencing instead of looking at the individual as a whole who is suffering the symptoms. Holistic treatment practices look at all relevant factors in a person’s life to make an accurate diagnosis and create an appropriate treatment plan for their situation.
Holistic treatment center clinicians will analyze a person’s physical and mental health as well as nutrition, environment, and lifestyle factors to determine what is best for the client. Instead of viewing a person’s addiction as an isolated event, a holistic treatment model takes the view that their condition is the result of a dysfunction of the whole person. In essence, “holistic” takes into account all interconnected parts in understanding the whole.
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What Sets Holistic Addiction Treatment Centers Apart From Other Alternatives
Many traditional addiction treatment centers are focused more on the symptoms a person is experiencing instead of all of the factors that lead a person to become addicted in the first place. These centers often overlook the critical components of a person’s life. These could be influential factors and the underlying causes of their condition. Instead of addressing the whole person, these centers will treat the symptoms with medication and therapy. Treating an addiction this way is only overlooking the critical aspects of a person’s disease.
Compassionate Treatment Model for Clients
Holistic addiction treatment centers incorporate a wide-range of treatment modalities that target all aspects of a person’s condition. (2) In addition to medication and therapy, holistic treatment also provides alternative methods for treatment. Holistic treatment centers, like Desert Cove Recovery, offer massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, nutritional therapy, and herbal medicine, to name a few. What was once considered “fringe” or “new-age” is now being incorporated into holistic treatment practices. This provides an evolved and compassionate treatment model for clients seeking to take advantage of the latest science.
Incorporates Healthy Coping Strategies
A core component of a holistic treatment program is to address stressful triggers and to find positive coping strategies to replace harmful responses. Addiction is often the result of negative coping strategies being employed to deal with stressful circumstances. Finding useful and reliable ways to substitute these behaviors is important. Stress, anxiety, and depression issues often contribute to a person’s addiction. Things such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices are effective in reducing these problems in individuals. A study by Harvard Medical School (3) found that practicing yoga helps regulate stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, showcasing how this ancient practice can contribute to lowered stress levels.
Promotes Physical Fitness
An additional benefit of a holistic treatment center is that it promotes physical well-being in the rehabilitation process. It acknowledges that mental and physical health are intertwined. Regular exercise is a significant factor in improving one’s overall health, and it can contribute to a person’s success with a substance abuse disorder.
Holistic treatment programs feature physical wellness as a primary component offered while a person is in rehabilitation. It can contribute to a reduction in stress, lessen cravings, and benefit overall cognitive functioning. Physical exercise can also improve a person’s mood, increase executive functioning control, such as attention span and organization. It can also lead to a happier and more stable mood, which can decrease the chances of relapse.
Deals with the Underlying Issues of Addiction
Addiction is complex. It is the result of many different factors that contribute to a person’s repeated desire to want to use a substance. Issues such as childhood trauma, environment, mental health, and social pressures can all be instrumental in why a person becomes addicted.
It is important to take all of these things into account when treating someone who is suffering from addiction. Seeking professional guidance in addressing addiction is a crucial part of the solution. It’s also important to find treatments that will tackle this problem holistically and comprehensively.
Seek Help From a Holistic Treatment Center
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and needs to find an alternative option that works, contact the caring professionals at Desert Cove Recovery. We treat all age groups and work directly with our clients to address their unique concerns and circumstances. We employ effective holistic treatment models for a lasting recovery. Our trusted team will help guide you through the recovery process. We will work directly with you to create a treatment plan that will have you on the path to a new lease on life. Let us help you find a new way forward, no matter what part of the recovery process you may be in.
Sources:
(1) https://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/principles-of-holistic-medicine/
(2) https://health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-10-11/why-you-should-consider-holistic-addiction-treatment
(3) https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/yoga-for-anxiety-and-depression
