CB Login

Holistic Drug Rehab

Holistic drug rehab is growing more and more popular with the plethora of options for drug rehab programs offered to those in need of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, but not interested in the traditional 12-step method. For drug rehab programs focusing on the holistic approach to addition treatment, the idea is to treat the individual as a whole made up of three separate parts; the body, the mind, and the spirit. This form of drug rehab is generally a good option for those who would consider themselves spiritual, but not necessarily religious and also who may want more of a personal discovery and rejuvenation in their drug rehab experience.
Commonly offered in holistic drug rehab programs, yoga, meditation, massage therapy, and acupuncture are some ways in which individuals can get in touch with their physical, mental, and spiritual selves, adding a sense of a personal quest to the rehabilitation process. This is often a path to tremendous changes in life that can prove to be very helpful to sustained recovery. The key to holistic drug rehab is the primary focus on three individual areas which make up the whole person, resulting in a complete transformation, not just drug rehabilitation.

Drug Rehab for the Mind

The part of holistic drug rehab that focuses on the mind is the closest to a traditional drug rehab and is essentially the treatment part of rehabilitation. While every drug rehab program has it's own methods, some of the more commonly used are E.M.D.R. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and C.B.T. (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). E.M.D.R. is a process that helps individuals deal with past or present negative experiences or beliefs by using controlled eye movement as an external stimulus simultaneously with mind exercises to replace negative thoughts with positive beliefs. This process has several different phases and steps and is considered to be highly effective in the drug rehabilitation field. This is not only utilized among holistic drug rehab programs, but E.M.D.R. can also be found in some of the nation's top 12-step rehab programs as well because of it's reputation for successful results. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the "treatment" part of any treatment program and can be found at any treatment center, although each program may have a different name for it. C.B.T. is group and individual processing where the addict or alcoholic goes through a series of discussions and meetings that help him or her to understand their own role in their problems, exactly what their problems are, and how they can take control of the aspects that can be controlled. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the cornerstone of any good drug rehab program and it is essential to the rehabilitation of any individual seeking recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Drug Rehab for the Body

Unlike the process of drug rehab for the mind, the drug rehabilitation for the body is not something offered in drug rehabs across the methodology spectrum. The body focus of holistic drug rehab programs can vary, but almost always will include at least yoga and acupuncture. Often overlooked in the drug rehab process, the body wellbeing can play a major role in rehabilitation. Specifically branching from India, the word "yoga" came from the Sanskrit word "yuj", meaning "union or to unite". The practice of yoga is the union of a person's conscience with the universal conscience. By it's own definition, yoga has a very strong spiritual base, proven very helpful in drug rehab programs. Although this is the drug rehab as it relates to the body, it is also well connected to the spirit. More than just movements and positions, yoga is comprised of exercise, breathing, and meditation. Another popular method of drug rehab for the body in holistic drug rehab programs is acupuncture. Originally from China, acupuncture is the insertion of needles to correct an imbalance of qi, vital energy flowing through the body. This is based on old Chinese beliefs, but is now considered a legitimate medical procedure utilized by countless drug rehabs and covered by many insurance plans in the United States. Along with addiction treatment, acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of conditions such as arthritis, migraines, infertility, and asthma.

Drug Rehab for the Spirit

The spiritual part of holistic drug rehab could be the equivalent of what scripture offers individuals in a faith based drug rehab program. This part of holistic drug rehab is intended to get the individual in touch with his or her spirituality, whatever it may be, typically through meditation. Meditation is a part of yoga, but depending on the depth of yoga classes offered, meditation may not be addressed there. The process of discovering one's own spirituality during a drug rehab program is essential to the recovery process because of the learned ability to tap into a higher power, whether that power is external or internal. There is always a spiritual adviser or counselor on hand to meet with and discuss questions or ideas about spiritual positions or beliefs.

Holistic drug rehab programs are intended to provide a "whole" rehabilitation, not just of the mind, but also the body and spirit in hopes to insight a total change in the lives of addicts recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.