Treating substance use disorder is so much more than quitting the substance itself. True recovery, what we call “holistic recovery,” is about healing the whole person, including the root cause of the addiction.
Many people who suffer from addiction also experience a variety of other issues. Past traumas, mental health issues, low self-esteem, PTSD, depression, and anxiety all play a role in a person’s ability to recover.
Studies show that up to 7.7 million people have co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. This means that there must be a holistic approach to drug rehabilitation.
If you’re looking for substance use treatment, you may want to consider holistic drug rehabilitation. This type of therapy is not only useful in the road to recovery, but it can also help in all aspects of a person’s life.
Keep reading to find out just how holistic addiction treatment works, and how you can benefit from this type of rehabilitation.
What Is Holistic Drug Rehabilitation?
Holistic drug rehabilitation is a treatment approach that aims to treat the whole person, rather than just their addiction.
There are many ways in which a person is affected by their addiction. There are also many factors that led to their substance use disorder, and the holistic approach helps to identify and heal those aspects.
This type of treatment approach also helps to create coping strategies beyond simply getting sober, as traditional drug rehabilitation programs may emphasize. The techniques used in holistic therapy can be applied to all areas of one’s life and overall happiness. These techniques include energy healing, acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, meditation, mindfulness, naturopathy, herbs, yoga, and reiki, just to name a few.
Holistic addiction treatment is an alternative to traditional therapy. They focus on physical treatments such as prescription medication.
These target the physical behaviors but don’t address the root of the issue.
Holistic therapies can be used on their own or in conjunction with other treatment modalities.
Benefits of Holistic Drug Treatment
Many drug rehabilitation facilities treat symptoms of substance use disorders. However, they fail to address other problematic areas. Those who have addictions often have many other issues that need attention to help in their overall recovery.
Holistic treatments have many benefits that are useful in rehabilitation and life beyond recovery. Here are some of the benefits of holistic drug treatments:
- They provide alternative therapies
- They are not invasive like prescription medications
- They come without side effects
- They equip patients with lifelong coping techniques
- They are applicable therapeutic strategies to other areas of life
- They can be used just about anywhere (depending on the technique)
These are just some of the amazing benefits of holistic drug rehabilitation. The benefits will be different for each individual. Therefore, it is important to try many different types of holistic therapies to find one that is right for you.
Types of Holistic Therapies Used for Addiction
Many different types of holistic modalities can be used for substance abuse disorders. These methods don’t just focus on addictive behavior or the cessation of use. They focus on healing all aspects of health and well-being.
You can try one or more of these therapeutic practices or use them in conjunction with traditional methods. Here are some common holistic therapies used in drug rehabilitation centers:
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation is an effective practice that uses mindfulness and keeps you in the present moment. You guide your mind to focus on your breathing, bring yourself back to the present moment, and slow down your thoughts.
This practice has been known to help ease stress, anxiety, pain, and insomnia.
Mindfulness is at the heart of our curriculum, making us a unique holistic choice for drug treatment in Colorado.
Art and Music Therapy
Using art is a wonderful way to express emotions. Painting, drawing, and sculpting are all ways to use art as 
therapy.
If you have a difficult time expressing yourself with words, art is a great way to release your emotions and confront past traumas. It can also produce a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
Musical therapy involves patients listening to or dancing to music. A musical therapist can also help guide you to write music of your own – facilitating self-expression in a therapeutic environment. It can reduce tensions and help people open up in new ways.
Animal Therapy
This fun and wholesome activity has so many therapeutic benefits that you may not know about. Interacting with, and learning how to take care of animals can reduce depression and give you a new sense of purpose. This can be done in a group or individual therapeutic manner.
Many people find that getting a pet during their recovery can help relieve stress. A pet can produce calming effects, increase your compassion, and decrease loneliness. It also helps you learn how to nurture another being.
Gardening Therapy
Horticulture as a therapeutic activity involves planting and gardening to improve your health. It has been known to show an increase in cognitive functioning, memory, and initiative. Horticulture therapy gives you a sense of responsibility for another living thing.
It helps develop empathy and care.
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that dates back 3000 years. It has been used to treat many physical and mental conditions, including addiction. Thin needles are placed around specific areas of the body to promote healing, especially during the detox process and managing withdrawal symptoms.
Massage therapy can also help relieve stressors and cravings during the recovery process. There is a lot of emotional stress and physical pain with rehabilitation. Massage therapy can help ease the pain.
Yoga and Breathwork
Yoga is a great way to enjoy gentle physical activity while using mindfulness. The combination of movement and 
breath techniques has been known to relieve anxiety and cope with mental stressors.
Yoga is a popular therapy because it combines mindfulness with physical activity. Yoga uses breathing techniques, body postures, and meditation to improve your health. It can relieve stress and anxiety and helps patients practice coping mechanisms.
Breathwork is also a trending phenomenon that has extraordinary benefits. Using techniques to slow down and breath more methodically can help you manage addictive behaviors, heal emotional scars, and decrease feelings of depression.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
Exercise is a great way to help manage stress and negative emotions. Not only can exercise help in recovery, but it can also help prevent substance abuse from escalating. Many people use substances as a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings and exercise can help reduce them.
Incorporating healthy foods into your diet is also important for your recovery. Eating healthy can improve your physical and mental health. It also supports your body while it’s going through changes during recovery.
Both diet and exercise can be extremely helpful while you are rehabilitating. They also help you get into a good routine and daily schedule. A good drug rehabilitation program will place emphasis on a wholesome diet and introducing enjoyable fitness into your recovery journey, such as hiking, rock climbing, paddle boarding, and more.
What Is the Goal of Holistic Therapy for Addiction?
With any type of recovery, the road has many challenges. These challenges don’t cease once you leave the dog rehabilitation facility – they are the true test of what you took away from your treatment. There will be mental, physical, and spiritual obstacles that you will have to face.
Holistic therapy aims to instill skills and techniques within you that you can use as daily practices. These are not just for addiction recovery; they are beneficial for many other areas of your life.
Here are some of the goals of holistic drug rehabilitation:
- Strengthen commitment to recovery
- Understand causes of addiction
- Promote mental health and wellness in all aspects of life
- Promote a healthy physical lifestyle
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Decrease the likelihood of relapse
These goals are meant to promote overall health moving forward after drug rehabilitation. The strategies in holistic therapy act as tools for success and coping methods for a successful future of each patient.
Why Flatirons Recovery for Drug Rehab in Colorado?
At Flatirons Recovery in Colorado, we incorporate holistic practices into our treatment to create lasting recovery. 
This includes mindfulness practices including yoga, meditation, gentle activity, and body scans. These are all meant to help you reconnect with your body and mind, focusing on the present moment. The mindfulness sessions help you understand your bodily sensations and your emotional state.
The experienced and compassionate team at Flatirons Recovery encourages patients to use these practices to feel and accept their state of mind in a compassionate way, and without judgment.
These practices help rewire our emotional systems, allowing for healing and emotional connection. In addition, we offer curricula in nutrition and nature-based fitness, music therapy, equine therapy, trauma therapy (EMDR), acupuncture, community building, life skills coaching, and so much more.
The Bottom Line on Holistic Drug Rehabilitation
If you’re ready for the road to recovery, holistic drug rehabilitation is a great way to get started. Holistic treatment incorporates non-medical alternatives to help you recover from addictions. It also helps you heal in other areas of your life.
Practices such as yoga, meditation, art therapy, animal therapy, diet, exercise, and breathwork can all help you manage your life in recovery and beyond.
Be sure to visit our website to speak with a recovery professional at one of the best drug rehab centers in Colorado, and begin recovering today!