What Does Holistic Alcohol Treatment Look Like?

A great many people are no strangers to the impact of alcohol on their bodies. There are plenty of people who are treated at our facilities that have experienced alcohol abuse. At Amethyst, we are committed to providing those people with treatment that suits their needs in ways that are unique to them. For some, this means holistic alcohol treatment.

What Is Holistic Treatment?

Holistic treatment, in the realm of recovery, refers to a method of care in which the individuals undergoing rehab are treated as their whole person rather than just their physical bodies. In other words, this particular school of thought seeks to address the spiritual, mental, and physical health of an individual rather than just one or the other. 

How it Works

Holistic alcohol treatment runs under the assumption that someone is not to be treated in only one area of their being, but in all areas of who they are. This includes mental, spiritual, and physical health. This allows them to reach a sense of meaning and an understanding of who they are as a soul.

This is all done by ushering somebody into self-awareness in terms of the connection between their mental, spiritual, and physical health; there are many ways to do this. Sometimes psychotherapists use symptoms such as depression or anxiety to help them accept themselves as individuals. The significance of all of this is that it helps patients understand themselves better; a better understanding of oneself offers room for improvement in the areas of confidence and self-evaluation. 

In addition to all of this, mindfulness is a significant part of holistic treatment. Being mindful and reflective allows people to become more self-aware and honest with themselves. With honesty comes acceptance, and acceptance of oneself is a huge part of the recovery journey. 

Acceptance is a catalyst for growth; once someone accepts who they are and the circumstances they’ve been presented with, there is a room that is made for action. What each patient does with this aspect of acceptance is only going to move them forward with the help of the Amethyst family. 

Upon accepting oneself for who they truly are and the fact that the choices they’ve made do not define them, patients can free themselves from the prison of self-guilt (which has likely caused them immense turmoil). Different techniques such as relaxation, reflection, and even certain degrees of physical activity help patients in these circumstances.

The Physical Aspect of Holistic Treatment

The physical aspect of holistic treatment includes a vast array of different activities that are a therapeutic launchpad for progress. Some of these exercises involve the following:

• Breathing
• Meditating
• Yoga
• Massage
• Tai Chi 

The ultimate goal of all of these different activities is to connect the body, mind, and soul so that not only one’s physical health improve, but their spiritual and mental health as well. All of these methods of holistic treatment and more have proven themselves effective in the realm of professional care.

Principles of Holistic Care

Holistic treatment has been known to be safe and successful in terms of self-care. Those who practice holistic methods aim to promote life-style education and self-care. Not only that, but being more educated in the methods of holistic treatment, and their effects on each individual is imperative to success. Some of the principles of holistic care that are vital to progress include the following:

• Identifying the cause rather than putting a strong emphasis on the symptoms.
• Prioritizing learning more about specific patients rather than learning more about how an individual is diseased.
• Prevention is preferred over treatment.
• Diseases are perceived as an ailment of the entirety of somebody, not as some sort of anomaly. 
• Quality of relationships between a health care professional and a patient.
• Individuals’ needs and desires are an important part of the relationship between doctors and patients.
• Doctors should set a good example for their patients.
• Pain and illness are viewed as opportunities to learn.
• Humor, love, hope, and overall positive spirituality are encouraged. 
• Love and understanding are imperative to the recovery journey.
• One must pursue good health for more than just a motivation to avoid sickness. The pursuit of good physical, mental, and spiritual health is imperative to leading a good, well-lived life.

Dangers of Drinking 

Some immediate consequences of drinking too much uncontrollably may include the following:

• Severed relationships with loved ones
• Legal consequences
• Poor mental health, including depression and anxiety
• Tardiness to important events
• Skipping out on work because of a hangover

Drinking is one of the most difficult social activities to keep under control. Drinking heavily can become a habit. If someone finds themselves having a difficult time in efforts to call it quits for the night, it should be considered an issue before it’s too late.

In these cases, it’s easy to assume that someone needs intense treatment to be healed from their alcoholism. This, however, is far from the truth. While they must seek to receive some sort of help, many options cater to specific individuals, whether it be inpatient treatment or holistic treatment. 

How to Know There is a Problem

There are many dangerous forms of substance abuse; some people may be under the impression that alcoholism is not among the more serious end of the spectrum due to the intensive nature of illicit substances, but alcoholism is a very dangerous form of addiction. 

Best described as an insurmountable urge to consume alcohol in unhealthily large portions, alcoholism is one of the most dangerous forms of substance abuse there are. In every alcoholic’s heart, there is always an overwhelming desire to drink more. This leads to abuse, and once this abuse takes place, alcoholism is on the brink of destruction.

When people use substances like alcohol or illicit drugs, not only is their judgment impaired, but their desires become distorted. These desires grow over time and intensify, making them very difficult to satisfy, thus leading to withdrawal. It is because of this that alcohol becomes the priority in someone’s life; it becomes more important than their family, more important than their jobs, and more important than life itself.

Those who suffer from alcoholism tend to put their needs over their loved ones. This has a detrimental impact on the overall health of most family dynamics. One of the universal needs of a family that becomes compromised when taken over by alcoholism is finance. Alcohol is expensive, and the more one drinks, the more they have to buy, and the more they have to buy, the less money they’ll have to support their loved ones. 

How do I know If I Need Holistic Alcohol Treatment?

It is often difficult to recognize the symptoms of one’s substance abuse, but there are ways to determine whether or not one has fallen victim to alcoholism. Some symptoms of alcoholism include the following:

• Compulsive lying 
• Compulsive drunkenness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Lack of self-control
• Lack of interest in anything apart from alcohol consumption

Calling a problem out is often one of the most terrifying things someone can do. Sometimes, they’re worried about what their loved ones will think of them, and other times, they don’t even want things to change. It’s because of this that seeking to understand those who are suffering is immensely imperative to their potential recovery.

How Does Alcoholism Happen?

There are a few explanations as to why someone may begin having an alcohol addiction. Some of these include the following:

• PTSD
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Relationship problems
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse

Why Holistic Treatment is the Best Option

Understanding addiction can be frustrating, but it is significant to the improvement of those who are addicted. When one understands the entirety of a person, and not just their addiction itself, it becomes much easier to understand their needs as it relates to their improvement as an overall individual. It’s because of this that those who suffer from alcoholism will persevere, not because they’ve learned a thing or two in outpatient rehab, but because they’ve immersed themselves in the understanding of their physical, mental, and spiritual person. 

Look No Further than Amethyst

Life with alcoholism is difficult. Whether it’s because of what it does to one’s family, how it impacts their bank account, or the well being of their soul and body, alcohol abuse is detrimental to the overall health of the human body. This is why holistic treatment is important for those who suffer from alcoholism; if the entirety of their soul isn’t taken into account when considering their treatment options, their recovery will not be as successful. 

At Amethyst, our philosophy is to provide each patient that walks through our doors with a unique treatment that matches the context of their physical, mental, and spiritual health. If you or a loved one are interested in seeking professional help, you can contact us, or call us at (772) 209-3703.

References

https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/what-is-holistic-medicine

https://ahha.org/selfhelp-articles/principles-of-holistic-medicine/

https://medlineplus.gov/alcoholusedisorderaud.html