Sustainable Addiction Treatment Options

If you are looking for sustainable treatment options, then you might want to consider taking part in holistic recovery techniques. 

Whilst there are a wide range of recovery medication and therapy techniques, an increasing number of people are turning to holistic recovery techniques in order to recover.

Unfortunately, many people go on to relapse after they attend rehab and undergo their treatment. 

This is because a lot of people’s recovery simply is not sustainable, meaning that whilst it might help them to initially recover, they stand a good chance of going on to relapse later on in life.

Holistic and sustainable recovery techniques include things such as eco-friendly practices, art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, reiki, equine therapy and mindfulness. 

If you attend a rehab centre, then you will likely be offered some of these recovery techniques.

Whilst some people might disregard the benefits of these holistic recovery techniques, their benefits are widely admired amongst addiction recovery professionals. 

Some of these benefits are explained below.

Holistic Recovery Techniques

Below, we list some common holistic recovery techniques:

1. Eco-friendly practices

Eco-friendly recovery practices have a whole host of benefits. Essentially, eco-friendly and sustainable recovery techniques involve being exposed to nature. 

This could include gardening, forest work, planting fruit and vegetables and even sometimes recycling.

Various studies have now shown that spending time in nature and helping with eco-projects has a proven ability to reduce stress. 

Spending time in nature can help to increase your mindfulness significantly, as you enjoy a slow pace of life. 

Not only this, but you should never underestimate the power of fresh air.

More and more treatment centres are now incorporating sustainable and eco-friendly recovery techniques to their treatment centre offerings, which is having a positive effect on individuals suffering from addiction issues.

2. Art therapy

Art therapy is another holistic recovery technique helping people all over the world to recover from mental health and addiction issues.

Sometimes art therapy involves creating art which can take many forms, including painting, collaging and even sometimes simply admiring art. 

Art therapy has a proven way of entering you into a ‘flow’ state. This state of flow is used to describe when you feel fully embraced into the process of creating, so much so that you temporarily forget everything else. 

Art therapy is also commonly used to help with trauma recovery, as lots of people find that creating art can help individuals to express their trauma in a unique way.

Professionals working in a luxury addiction treatment center insist on integrating art therapy into personalized recovery plans to promote emotional healing. They believe that the creative process allows patients to release suppressed feelings and build healthier ways to communicate their experiences without relying on words alone.

3. Music therapy

An increasing number of addiction recovery centres are now offering music therapy as a form of recovery. 

Similar to art therapy, a lot of people find that listening to music can help them to express themselves and any traumas they might be suffering from.

Music based interventions allow for opportunities for self-expression, the ability to work in a group, harness your imagination and create a synchronised sensory experience.

Similarly to art therapy, a lot of people who engage in music therapy enter a state of flow, allowing you the chance to temporarily forget your worries.

Sometimes, music therapy might simply involve listening to music, although you will get the chance to create some of your own music, too. 

This could involve learning a new instrument, or even editing music. By allowing people the opportunity to learn something new, their self-esteem and confidence will both increase.

4. Drama therapy

Drama therapy is a form of psychotherapy. By acting out certain scenes and taking part in vocalisation and storymaking sessions, individuals are able to express themselves in a way that they might not have been able to before. 

By taking part in drama therapy, you might find that your confidence increases, as well as your ability to communicate with others and express your thoughts and emotions clearly.

Sometimes, during drama therapy, you might be asked to act out certain scenes that might trigger certain aspects from your own life to think about, including how your addiction might impact others. 

You will never be asked to act out a scene that could trigger any negative or disturbing thoughts.

5. Reiki

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that uses gentle and relaxing touch to promote well-being. 

During a Reiki session, the practitioner will place their hands just above the patient’s body, where the practitioner’s energy will help to guide the patient’s energy.

Reiki is often used to help the body manage and deal with any stress or trauma [4].

Reiki is being used across different treatment centres to help individuals and sufferers deal with the difficult side effects of the medical detox. 

Detoxing and withdrawing from any addiction substance can be difficult and will put a huge amount of pressure and strain on your body. 

This is why techniques such as Reiki are becoming increasingly more popular.

When it comes to Reiki, there are seven chakras that a practitioner will focus on. Essentially, chakras are energy points on the body. 

Different parts of the body will help you to manage different types of stress and sometimes trauma. 

The seven chakras are as below:

• The throat chakra (throat)
• The root chakra (tailbone)
• The heart chakra (above the heart)
• The sacral chakra (below the belly button)
• The third eye chakra (between the eyes)
• The crown chakra (top of the head)
• The solar plexus chakra (upper abdomen)

Whilst some people might disregard the benefits of sustainable and holistic treatment options such as Reiki, it is becoming increasingly popular across many treatment centres.

However, it is never recommended to solely rely on holistic and sustainable recovery techniques such as Reiki. 

This type of treatment should always compliment other treatment options such as a medical detox and therapy techniques.

6. Equine therapy

Equine therapy involves feeding, grooming and generally looking after a horse or a number of horses in an attempt to help you to recover from addiction or mental health issues. 

Equine therapy helps you to manage your stress levels whilst giving you something very real to focus on.

Anyone who has ever owned or looked after a horse will be the first to tell you that they require a lot of hard work. 

Sometimes, this level of responsibility can be exactly what someone who is recovering from an addiction or mental health illness needs.

By attending equine therapy, you will learn how to care for something and stick to a routine. 

You will slowly and over time build trust with the animals and those around you and will also get a chance to talk through your trauma and anxieties with trained therapy professionals.

7. Mindfulness & yoga

Mindfulness and yoga has been used throughout addiction centres for a while now and have been a proven, sustainable way of helping individuals who suffer from addiction and mental health issues recover. 

Yoga and mindfulness therapy will help you to manage stress, reduce cravings and anxiety.

Whilst some people in addiction treatment might disregard the thought of mindfulness as a technique to recover from addiction issues, an increasing number of treatment centres are offering this as a treatment option.

Whilst these sustainable and holistic addiction treatments are growing in popularity and use across a speciality addiction rehab treatment centre, they should always compliment other forms of treatment, such as medications, a medical detox and other therapy techniques, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.