Alternative Treatment

There is so much pain that we experience throughout our lives, yet many of us aren’t equipped with the right tools to appropriately work through the thoughts and emotions that have dug their way deep inside of us. We spend months, sometimes years, searching for something that will ease the discomfort that we’re feeling; we abuse substances like drugs or alcohol to cover up on the outside what we’re feeling on the inside – and while it seems to work temporarily, the reality is that it’s never a long term solution. If you’re ready to dive into some creative, holistic approaches to healing in addiction recovery, you’ll find that music therapy is worth looking into.

Nearly 70% of Americans have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives, and 20% have gone on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When this condition develops, daily life becomes much more difficult to manage. Nightmares can make it difficult to sleep at night, and stress and anxiety become a “normal” way of functioning. Relationships are much more difficult to manage, and flashbacks can suddenly bring out anxiety and panic attacks. The journey to healing from PTSD is a long one, but thankfully there are many strategies that can be used to help a person heal and restore. Last year, Dr. Matthew Tull, a professor and director of anxiety disorders research at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, told Very Well Mind, a website that publishes relevant information on a variety of psychological conditions, that expressive writing can improve physical and psychological health for those struggling with PTSD. He explained that journaling can reduce body tension as well as restore focus – something that many people with PTSD tend to struggle with. He suggested a number of writing prompts, such as:

There are a multitude of ways that addiction affects us – and even in recovery, we still need time for our mind, body and spirit to heal. There are number of reasons why individuals struggle with anxiety in addiction recovery – and concerns like panic attacks often arise either out of having a mental illness, such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or a related condition, or because of their personal recovery process as a whole. If you believe you’ve been struggling with panic attacks, it’s important to know that you’re not alone – it is estimated that around 1-2% of the population experiences this, and, while that may not seem like a lot, it accounts for millions of people in the United States alone.

Addiction takes such a heavy toll on the mind, body and spirit. Substances wreak havoc on our immune system – we lose sleep, we miss out on essential vitamins and nutrients that support healthy functioning, and more – and this all can lead to painful symptoms that appear throughout the body as well.

It’s been estimated that around 20.4% of Americans (50 million people) struggle with chronic pain each year. Disease is often the underlying cause of chronic pain, but other instances may be from genetics, injury and accident, etc. If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain for quite some time, you may have found that you’ve tried everything to help ease the discomfort – sleeping medication, opioids, alcohol and other drugs may only numb the pain for so long, but it doesn’t address the long-term implications associated with it. Relaxation techniques have been proven to be useful alternatives against medicine, and can help you treat the core of chronic pain through mind, body and spirit. Erica Jacques, a board-certified occupational therapist, explained to Very Well Mind, a website that publishes information related to psychological conditions, several ways to address chronic pain at its core:

People have used art for centuries to express themselves – and with a skilled therapist, art therapy can be incredibly healing for those in addiction recovery who’ve gone through pain. Trauma, accidents, the loss of a loved one, mental illness and more can make it that much harder to find peace in daily life – and art therapy opens up the platform for a person to express themselves, even if they can’t find the words to describe what they’re going through. Last year, writer Art Acacia told Medium, a magazine that publishes relatable information on mental health and more, that art therapy, “…provides a safe place where patients can explore unpleasant feelings such as anger, sadness, or fear. Feelings that they are otherwise reluctant to talk about.”

The music we listen to says a lot about our likes and interests, our personality, our perceptions on life and also how we feel. There are a number of reasons why we may play certain songs or keep the station on the radio for a bit longer – and while sometimes it’s merely to pass the time, it’s often the case that we listen because we either feel a certain way or we want to feel a certain way. Consider the last time you were feeling depressed. Did you listen to positive, upbeat music or did you find yourself leaning towards songs that expressed pain and sadness? Human beings are vulnerable, and we desire to connect with others through emotional messages in music.

As the body heals from the damage caused from substance abuse, it’s common that many people in addiction recovery feel aches and pains. Withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, insomnia, anxiety and discomfort may arise for awhile – but even after withdrawal symptoms have subsided, the body may still experience pain as it heals. Holistic care opens many doors for patients in recovery to heal and restore their mind, body and spirit. Massage therapy is an excellent practice that can bring you many benefits if you’re open to it. Massage therapist Nicole Cutler explained on the main website for the Institute for Integrative Healthcare that massage is beneficial for someone in addiction recovery in all stages: withdrawal, detoxification and abstinence. She stated, “The physical, emotional and spiritual components of recovery all can be directly benefited by the healing power of therapeutic touch. The nurturing contact of massage utilizes skin as the translator of the therapist’s intent.”

Recovery is a time when we can take a step back and focus on our health. Before recovery, you may have struggled greatly substance abuse and/or mental illness, leaving you with little room to lead the life you’ve always wanted. Holistic recovery is less about treating solely your addiction or mental illness – it’s more about treating you as an entire person. The Association for Addiction Professionals describes holistic recovery as this: “Recovery encompasses an individual’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit and community. The array of services and supports available should be integrated and coordinated.” In the past, professionals have focused primarily on the addiction/mental illness as the sole focus on treatment – but as researchers have been studying for many years, it’s more about compassion for everything a person’s gone through that truly helps them heal. There are many aspects of a person, such as:

Meditation is one of the most effective holistic approaches out there – and despite the many, many benefits of implementing it into your daily life, you may find that it’s incredibly hard to do. Perhaps you’ve tried sitting down and closing your eyes, only to find that you’re mind continues to wander; maybe you’ve been able to stay focused for a brief period of time, but then you find yourself bored, tired or in pain from sitting in an uncomfortable position. Meditation is incredibly beneficial for those in addiction recovery, but you may be wondering you can possibly benefit from it when you’re unable to concentrate the way you’d like. If you’re a beginner to meditation, don’t worry! This is a common concern and there is much to say about how a person can get the most out of meditation. First, what is meditation?

Not everyone who seeks out treatment feels completely ready for it – and in many instances, it’s normal to feel apprehensive about the entire process. Addiction recovery tends to be one of the biggest accomplishments of a person’s life because it changes their entire life around in the best ways possible – and who doesn’t feel pressure upon immediately walking into something like that? If you’ve been feeling unsure about seeking help, or feel like you may need help but you may not have that serious of an issue yet to seek help, motivational enhancement therapy (MET) could greatly help you weigh out your options. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that MET is, “…A counseling approach that helps individuals resolve their ambivalence about engaging in treatment and stopping their drug use.” Rather than telling a client what they should do, motivational enhancement therapists simply hear what a client has to say and allows them to come to their own conclusions. There are a lot of concerns that you may want to talk through in therapy, such as:

Addiction recovery is such a sensitive, vulnerable process – because with so many factors at play, a person requires an integration of treatment methods personalized to fit their needs in order to achieve optimal results. Treatment centers used to focus strictly on Western methods of treatment – such as through medication and intervention programs to address substance use disorder (SUD) concerns. Over time, however, it was noted that not everyone responds well to solely these types of treatment – and by integrated a variety of other approaches, those seeking treatment may be able to receive more personalized care. Holistic approaches to addiction recovery have been widely used in the Eastern world – massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga and more are seen as not only excellent ways to help a person heal from the tolls addiction can have on the mind, body and spirit, but they also help a person take preventative measures from developing other mental illnesses along the way. A 2014 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research explains that it’s this bridge between the Eastern and Western medicine that resolves many gaps for people in recovery. Of course, these holistic approaches to treatment can be a little worrisome for those who are unfamiliar with them. In 2017, Amy Cook, a contributor to Thrive Global, explained that holistic modalities such as aromatherapy can help reduce symptoms of depressiona and anxiety, and at the very least, provide an incredibly relaxing effect on a person who may be quite stressed from everything they’ve been going through. Julie Aiken, CEO of Ameritech, a healthcare college, explained, “Patients may be experiencing trauma that impairs their psychosocial health and certainly spiritual distress. A holistic nurse will assess the whole person and direct care individually for the patient that will facilitate the patient’s innate healing abilities.” With a combination of both traditional and holistic treatment practices, those in recovery are bound to reap the most benefits.