The Power of Holistic Therapies for Addiction Recovery

Combatting a substance use disorder is a process that can be approached from multiple angles. 

Many individuals will take the conventional route of seeking medical detox – a process which sees the body weaned from its substance dependency with the support of withdrawal-dampening drugs – followed by therapy – which targets the causes of addiction.

These routes to recovery are valuable, but they can be supported by holistic therapies. Such treatments can play a key role in an individual’s addiction recovery process, and learning more about what benefits can be attained can be really helpful.

What is holistic therapy?

Holistic therapy refers to treatments that approach health and recovery via an individual’s entire being. They don’t target a particular body part or symptom, but seek to improve overall physical and emotional wellbeing.

A holistic approach to addiction treatment seeks to support individuals’ recovery by attending to their health as a whole, rather than specific areas afflicted by substance abuse. Physical health and emotional stability are treated via taking care of the whole person.

Such treatments also tend to incorporate spiritual elements into their approach. The self is focused on, with remedies being tailored to the individual obstacles that are standing in the way of each individual’s attainment or acceptance of recovery.

Holistic therapy can take on a variety of forms and target a plethora of issues. Popular examples include:

• Nature therapy
• Physical activity therapy
• Massage therapy
• Mindfulness practices and meditation
• Art therapy
• Music therapy
• Equine therapy
• Acupuncture
• Nutritional therapy
• Tai chi

From this list, it’s easy to see that a key element of holistic therapy is that it redirects an individual’s attention away from their addiction in the hope of helping them heal in a way which empowers them.

What does holistic therapy offer?

When the options of medical detox and addiction therapy are available, an individual may wonder why they should bother considering holistic therapy. If there are already established ways to combat substance abuse, what are the benefits of holistic therapies?

1. Treated as an individual

For someone going through addiction recovery, achieving a reconnection with their sense of self can be a major motivation for engaging with treatment. 

Substance abuse drives behaviours which pull people away from their usual characters, but holistic therapy can directly attend to this. By looking at someone as a whole, singular being, holistic therapy gives them a humanity that other treatments don’t. 

Medications and traditional therapies focus on hormones, chemicals, emotions, and thoughts, but don’t necessarily look at the person experiencing them.

A treatment such as art therapy, however, does things differently. In producing paintings or sculptures, an individual is encouraged to express who they are, connecting with and reviving the character that has been buried during the development of their addiction.

It also goes a long way towards an individual’s belief in their chances of recovery if they are treated as an individual. Receiving medication requires little human connection between a doctor and patient, but holistic therapies promote a better understanding of the self.

2. Empowered to change

Agency is an integral piece of the addiction recovery puzzle. Those who are trying to take back control of their lives need to feel as though as they are doing just that – acting for themselves in the interests of their health and wider life.

Medical detox is such a risky procedure that individuals are granted very little freedom in how they approach it. Doctors must supervise and monitor recovery, and the same can be said of therapy to a certain extent.

Holistic therapies differ because they put the power into individuals’ hands. Whether they give them a paintbrush, an instrument, or a range of mindfulness techniques, those who undergo holistic therapy receive the means to help themselves.

It must also be addressed that holistic means of recovery can be perceived as more entertaining. Exercising, hiking, and receiving massages fire off brain signals that attending check-ups and receiving medication doesn’t. 

If they feel like they are having fun, individuals will be more motivated.

3. Long-term recovery and low costs

While detox aims to rid the body of its dependency on drugs or alcohol, it’s therapy which staves off relapse. Engaging with the roots of an addiction keeps cravings at a distance and maintains the healthy principles individuals have developed during rehab.

However, if an individual fails to connect with therapy or struggles to replicate the coping techniques without the support of a therapist, the chances of relapse are higher. This means an individual will be more likely to require addiction rehab again, which will come at a cost.

Holistic therapy reduces this risk thanks to its utilisation of familiar, easy-to-use techniques. Playing an instrument, going for a walk, or practising Tai Chi are things individuals can do without needing to recall the words of a therapist, and they can also be done socially.

Making recovery feel like fun is the best strategy to achieve sobriety!

4. Restoring a sense of balance

The objective of addition recovery is to address the effects and causes of substance abuse and restore a state of physical wellbeing that ensures relapse will not immediately take hold. This is essential and important work, but it leaves something to be desired.

Conventional treatment tackles what addiction has done to the body, but it doesn’t necessarily tackle what it has done to a person’s sense of individuality. Taking drugs or drinking alcohol has profound personality impacts, and these have long-term effects.

Holistic therapies allow the physical recovery of detox to be matched by an emotional and spiritual recovery. Balance can be truly established with treatments that look to heal the entire self rather than their symptoms and traumas.

Holistic therapy and withdrawal

One of the main obstacles for recovering individuals is the withdrawal they feel when they stop taking drugs or drinking alcohol. The reliance their body has formed on a substance will result in it reacting wildly to its sudden absence, triggering physical and mental discomforts.

Holistic therapy can be key for helping manage and resist these withdrawal symptoms. Achieving a greater sense of personal stability and emotional clarity can help individuals see beyond withdrawal, remain focused on their goal of recovery, and stand strong.

Particular treatment styles can also directly sooth mental and physical symptoms. Massage therapy can ease aches, pains and muscles spasms; acupuncture can provide relief from cravings and manage pain; and mindfulness can help control obsessive thoughts.

Common concerns surrounding holistic therapies

After learning about the holistic approach to addiction treatment and its benefits, it’s normal to have questions. There is a lot you might want to know or learn more about before committing to trying a new treatment style.

1. What will happen in my first holistic therapy session?

The first step is always the hardest, and it’s normal for individuals to have high anxiety about their first holistic therapy session. They might fear being made to do something they aren’t comfortable with, but there is no need to be concerned in this respect.

Before any treatment activity begins, a holistic therapist will set out to learn some key information. They will seek to understand the reason for beginning holistic therapy, the reason for selecting the method in question, and the nature of the addiction being treated.

This preliminary conversation functions to ensure any treatment that is used is appropriate and in accordance with an individual’s comfort zone. It also allows a therapist to get to know an individual and begin building a rapport and creating an atmosphere of comfort and trust.

2. Is holistic therapy enough on its own?

Although the term ‘alternative remedies’ is widely used, it must not be misunderstood that holistic therapies are a replacement for the cornerstones of substance abuse treatment. Going through detox and therapy are essential stages of recovery, and so can’t be avoided.

Holistic treatment acts as complementary addiction therapy that builds upon detox and therapy, making an individual’s progress towards recovery an easier and more effective journey.

Holistic treatments are also particularly useful for those with dual diagnosis. You can learn more about this through alcohol rehab providers like Rehab Recovery. 

Conventional therapy aims to support those who suffer from addiction and another mental health disorder, but holistic therapies can give individuals a physical outlet for the problems this duality causes.

3. Do I need to consult my doctor before starting holistic therapy?

It’s normal to speak with a medical professional before beginning a new medication, but does a doctor need to be consulted prior to beginning holistic therapy?

It doesn’t hurt to speak with a professional about what the treatment pertains and how often sessions will be held. 

Although a problem isn’t likely to come up, it’s beneficial to have a doctor be aware of what treatments are being used to help support the addiction recovery journey.

Should, for example, acupuncture result in an individual feeling more anxious due to a fear of needles, it may take a doctor to suggest that they swap this form of holistic therapy for another which is more calming and effective.

Holistic therapies in the context of addiction rehab

Holistic therapies are most effective when engaged with following addiction detox and in tandem with conventional therapy. But what do these other treatments do, and how does holistic treatment support them?

1. Holistic therapies and detox

Detox refers to the treatment by which individuals are weaned from their physical dependence on a substance. It must be medically supervised, with an individual’s consumption of drugs or alcohol being carefully reduced to allow the body time to adjust.

This process must be gradual in order to prevent the body from experiencing violent withdrawal. Symptoms can be physically and mentally distressing, but medications can be prescribed to dampen their effects and make the process more comfortable.

Holistic therapies provide individuals with an outlet for managing the trials of detox. The alternative activities can become coping mechanisms for withdrawal, helping them remain committed to establishing a physical independence from drugs or alcohol.

2. Holistic therapies and conventional therapy

Conventional therapy builds from the progress of detox and turns attention to the causes of an addiction. Sessions focus on the mental and emotional side of the addiction coin, using different techniques to identify and engage with troubles that provoke addictive behaviours.

Holistic therapies can do this work as well while providing individuals with an alternative angle from which they can understand their triggers and understand how to handle them. 

If they are struggling to identify traumatic thoughts or problematic feelings, holistic treatment can put these things in a new context, promote a different perspective on them, and offer other means of dealing with them. 

Some final thoughts

In conclusion, holistic therapies offer numerous benefits for individuals in addiction recovery. These treatments focus on the whole person, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. 

By treating individuals as unique individuals, holistic therapy helps them reconnect with their sense of self and promotes a better understanding of their chances of recovery. 

Holistic therapies also empower individuals by putting the power of healing and change into their own hands, allowing them to take ownership of their recovery journey.

Additionally, holistic therapies provide a more enjoyable and entertaining approach to recovery, which can increase motivation and engagement. 

By incorporating familiar and easy-to-use techniques, holistic therapies reduce the risk of relapse and promote long-term recovery. Furthermore, holistic therapies contribute to restoring a sense of balance in individuals by addressing the effects of substance abuse on their sense of identity. 

Finally, holistic therapies can effectively support and complement traditional detox and therapy approaches. 

Overall, the power of holistic therapies in addiction recovery should not be underestimated, as they offer a unique and holistic approach to healing and wellbeing.