There are a variety of drug addiction treatment facilities and programs available, so it’s important to carefully choose the right option for you or your loved one. While many people mistakenly believe that all types of addiction treatment are the same, each treatment program is very different and can have a significant effect on a former substance abusers recovery process.

Many former substance abusers and their loved ones are discovering that holistic addiction treatment is a highly effective path to recovery. Keep reading to learn why holistic addiction treatment is often considered to be the best option for helping substance abusers overcome their addictions and remain clean over the long term.

Focuses on the Whole Person

Instead of merely concentrating on the physical and psychological effects of substance abuse, holistic treatment also delves into the spiritual strength, emotional health and overall well-being of the person in treatment.

For example, in addition to offering traditional services, such as medically supervised detox, group counseling and individual counseling, holistic treatment might also provide:

  • Yoga
  • Acupuncture
  • Meditation
  • Exercise
  • Tai Chi
  • Healthy eating habits
  • Art therapy

While these activities may seem unrelated to addiction treatment, they can actually serve many purposes for someone in recovery. They can provide additional outlets for expression, help users replace bad habits with new forms of activity, foster a sense of camaraderie with other participants and provide a greater appreciation for health. This enhanced appreciation for health is especially important because it can inspire participants to continue their substance free lifestyle long after they leave treatment.

Addresses Lifestyle and Spiritual Well-Being

Traditional treatment methods don’t always address spiritual health and overall lifestyle quality. However, taking the time to improve a person’s spiritual and lifestyle health can enhance the effectiveness of all other aspects of treatment, including counseling, career skills courses and relapse prevention. For many individuals, this focus on spirituality was already an essential part of their lifestyle before addiction. However, if you’re not accustomed to this exploration and you’re worried about having to take on new, unfamiliar beliefs, you shouldn’t be. Holistic treatment doesn’t involve forcing people into specific types of beliefs. Instead, professionals may give participants room to explore various forms of spirituality or they may create personalized courses of treatment based on each individual’s existing belief system.

Offers Coping Methods That Can Prevent Relapse

While practices like yoga, artwork and medication can be extremely beneficial for recovering substance abusers while they’re in a treatment facility, they play an even more important role in preventing relapse after a person leaves professional treatment. Relapse occurs when a former substance abuser has been clean for a period of time and falls back into using addictive substances. Relapse isn’t an uncommon occurrence. In fact, between 40% and 60% of recovering drug abusers experience it at some point. Fortunately, relapse doesn’t have to happen. One of the best ways to prevent it is to engage in healthy activities so you have less free time to fall back into old habits and patterns that may lead to substance abuse. Many of the activities learned in holistic addiction treatment can provide a deep sense of fulfillment and keep participants engaged in substance-free, healthy activities for many years after treatment ends.

Find a Holistic Addiction Treatment Center

If you think holistic addiction treatment is right for you or your loved one, there are many great treatment options throughout the country. Selecting the right holistic treatment center can not only help recovering substance abusers move past their addictions, but it can also give them a better outlook on life.

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