Advantages of Holistic Recovery in Treating Alcohol Addiction

Though alcohol addiction is multifaceted, many inpatient addiction treatment programs still neglect to provide alcohol dependent individuals with holistic treatment plans. However, holistic alcohol recovery programs boast success rates that are significantly higher than mainstream 12-step treatment centers. In fact, research studies have proven that the integration of even one alternative therapy creates the potential to nearly triple a recovery program’s success rate. Holistic recovery programs that treat the entire mind and body can uncover underlying root causes for alcohol addiction, and lay a foundation for successful treatment.

Advantages of Holistic Recovery in Treating Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is multifaceted, creating the need to treat more than simply the physical component of dependency. Before healing can begin, the body needs to detoxify, allowing both organ function and neurotransmitter levels in the brain to return to their natural state. The second major component of holistic recovery is professional, individualized therapy aimed at discovering psychological or emotional reasons for drinking alcohol.

While many popular alcohol inpatient treatment programs provide basic group therapy and detox, much of the body and mind’s needs become overlooked. Holistic recovery emphasizes the correction of the complex chemical imbalances alcohol addiction causes within the body even after the detox process has taken place. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, and herbal preparations help the body restore the balance of energy, remove tension, and replace nutrients that years of alcohol addiction have caused, promoting the body’s natural healing powers. Intensive psychological therapies include hypnotherapy for unearthing buried psychological pain, and cognitive therapy to work through negative self-beliefs that so often fuel an individual’s psychological addiction to alcohol.

Though many mainstream treatment programs seek to cure symptoms of alcohol dependency, a holistic approach seeks out underlying causes. Symptoms are seen as valuable information that indicates a condition that requires specific and immediate healing. Because holistic recovery programs shy away from heavy medication, many alcohol dependent individuals learn the specific physical and psychological reasons they began turning to alcohol in the first place. Natural, safe and affordable solutions are favored for the body, eliminating “masking” of underlying conditions or the creation of unnecessary side effects.

Preparation for Sober Living through Holistic Recovery

Holistic recovery also prepares the recovering individual for a lifestyle of sober living. Nutritional and sports medicine experts help previously alcohol dependent individuals establish a custom-tailored plan for continued healing, increased energy and optimal health. Life coaches and therapists help identify problem areas and “triggers” in an alcohol dependent individual’s life, and aftercare specialists create a tailored action plan for the transition to a new, sober lifestyle. Perhaps most importantly, the entire individual is considered during the process—listening to and honoring the patient’s life philosophy, spiritual beliefs, career goals, and family life as they relate to their overall recovery from alcohol addiction.