Holistic Addiction Treatment – Therapies Used in Rehab
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Holistic Alcohol and Drug Treatment
The disease of substance use disorder (SUD) negatively impacts every area of a person’s life, including their physical and emotional health, relationships, financial stability, and overall quality of life. This impact can often last far beyond the immediate treatment paradigm and endure as consistent psychological, physical, and behavioral reminders of the life led in active substance abuse, whether this takes the form of an acute medical diagnosis or just everyday difficulties. The holistic addiction treatment therapies used in rehab are designed to help patients achieve the totality of healing through a mind, body, and spirit approach to care, so they can live comfortably and emotionally centered in their recovery. The National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) reports that nearly 40 percent of Americans engage in some kind of holistic medicine to manage their ailments.
What Does Holistic Mean?
In the context of addiction treatment, a holistic approach to care involves treating every aspect of the patient’s SUD, from their acute medical withdrawal symptoms to the behavioral origins of their substance use to the long-term behavioral and lifestyle damage that they sustain during active substance abuse. These therapies help patients stay on a track of self-care well after they leave their treatment program, which has a measurably positive impact on their everyday quality of life and further insulates them from relapse. Holistic addiction treatment therapies are first used in rehab but can then be applied to post-treatment recovery routines.
Holistic drug and alcohol therapies can be physical, spiritual, behavioral, psychological, and occupational. Some of the more common types of holistic addiction therapies used in rehab include:
- Acupuncture
- Ayurveda
- Biofeedback
- Chelation therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Deep-breathing exercises
- Diet-based therapies
- Energy healing therapy/Reiki
- Guided imagery
- Homeopathic treatment
- Hypnosis
- Massage
- Meditation
- Movement therapies
- Alexander technique
- Feldenkrais
- Pilates
- Natural products (plant-based products, enzymes, etc.)
- Naturopathy
- Progressive relaxation
- Qigong
- Taichi
- Traditional healers
- Botanica
- Curandero
- Yoga
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Equine and pet therapy
- Adventure therapy
- Wilderness therapy
- Sensory integration therapy
Each treatment facility’s holistic therapy offerings will vary based upon a clinical specialty, patients’ ongoing care needs, certifications, and addiction resources.
Within the treatment paradigm, these therapies occur alongside more traditional treatment therapies, including but not limited to:
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET)
- Experiential therapy
- Family services
- Relapse prevention strategy education
- Aftercare planning and counseling
- Support group participation and 12-step groups
The most comprehensive addiction treatment programs blend these cornerstones of clinical care with effective holistic practices.
Relapse Prevention and Holistic Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Therapies
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that relapse rates for addiction are between 40-60 percent; other estimates are much higher. One of the reasons why these rates are so high is because individuals in recovery face a multitude of pain, anxiety, and quality-of-life issues that threaten their emotional stability. This often-simple, therapeutic techniques can give individuals in recovery for SUD the relief they need to thrive in their everyday lives. They improve health, general mood, mobility, and a variety of other lifestyle factors that put more and more distance between individuals in recovery and the toxic emotions that often trigger a relapse.
Practical Applications of Holistic Addiction Treatment Therapies
Anyone who has ever battled SUD, or has been close to someone who has, understands the pervasiveness of its impact and that it doesn’t automatically disappear when treatment ends. Ongoing issues that affect the mind and body need to be addressed, such as chronic pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other acute medical diagnoses.
When we feel that sharp and debilitating joint and muscle pain, we’re reminded of our opioid or heroin abuse; when we have trouble sleeping or are haunted by crippling fear and anxiety, we are reminded of our active benzo abuse; when we’re diagnosed with heart or liver disease, we realize that our recovery from alcohol abuse will forever be part of our lives. Holistic therapies make it easier to manage these problems on a daily basis so that we can exist with them—without having to continuously self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
For example, techniques like massage and yoga can help us alleviate the chronic pain that can so easily cause a relapse. Art or music therapy and similar occupational practices can help us safely confront the traumatic experiences in our lives that have triggered and sustained substance abuse. Proper nutrition can actually contribute to healthy thought patterns that diminish cravings, in addition to making use feel better. There are multiple other ways in which holistic treatment therapies can aid in everyday recovery and relapse prevention.
Does Insurance Cover Holistic Drug Rehab?
This is a nuanced and complicated question that warrants closer scrutiny. Most private insurers cover some form of inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment, the scope of which varies according to specific coverage resources. Additionally, Medicare, Medicaid, and public funds also help pay for many outpatient programs to make treatment more affordable and accessible. Many of these programs offer holistic practices in addition to standard elements of treatment like detox, group therapy, and individualized counseling. After treatment, private insurance may cover specific types of holistic treatment; however, restrictions can and usually do apply. Talk to your insurance provider to find out your exact coverage availability.
Finding Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers That Offer Holistic Therapies
Each patient’s drug and alcohol treatment regimen should be tailored to their individual care needs and lifestyle. This means finding a treatment facility that can provide clinical intervention and everyday relief for acute medical diagnoses, behavioral issues, and lifestyle fallout specific to them. Finding a treatment center that checks all these boxes can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. Our comprehensive database of treatment centers offers a full range of care options for you or your loved one to choose from, whether you need inpatient treatment, outpatient, partial hospitalization, or long-term treatment. There are more therapy options available than ever before.
A Proven and Effective Recovery Resource
While many may not consider the aforementioned therapies as essential parts of the overall addiction treatment process—compared to interventions such as behavioral rehab or medication-assisted treatment—holistic addiction treatment therapies used in rehab and in long-term recovery give patients more of a fighting chance to avoid relapse, improve their health, and maximize their quality of life. Embracing some of these practices can help you or your loved one develop and sustain the positive health and energy you need to be effective in recovery and everyday life.
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