The Holistic Approach to Recovery from Addiction

The basis of a holistic addiction treatment and rehabilitation service or the holistic approach to recovery from addiction, is to treat the suffering individual as the whole person they are. This may seem like a straight forward statement, but what does that mean in terms of treatment?

First of all, those suffering with addiction of any sort should not be defined solely by their condition or illness. Referring to a person simply as ‘an addict,’ focuses too much on the condition and subsequently its symptoms become the exclusive focus of attention. This can result in important aspects of the patient’s life being obscured, overlooked or trivialised. In doing so there is a risk of missing something that may be critical to their achievement of recovery.

Holistic addiction treatment recognises that addiction doesn’t just affect one part of a person but every aspect of their being; body, mind and spirit, as well as their family and wider social network. It therefore makes no sense to focus narrowly on the condition defined as addiction without carefully considering every aspect of the personal and social context in which it has emerged. The requirement of the patient then becomes to engage with recovery by learning to look after their body, mind and spirit.

Holistic treatment centres combine and integrate conventional therapies used in addiction recovery with what are often referred to as complementary therapies. These are non-medical therapies designed to bring the mind, body and spirit into alignment. This type of therapy emphasises your well-being as a whole while also addressing the physical and mental symptoms of dependence and withdrawal. It is important for the holistic treatment service to have at its disposal a range of complementary therapy options as not everyone will be drawn to and derive benefit from the same thing. The following are examples of holistic therapies:

• Yoga
• Guided meditation
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Regular exercise routines
• Proper nutrition
• Spiritual therapy
• Art Therapy

There is as of yet only a small amount of research evidence to support that some of these therapies are having hugely beneficial results in addiction recovery. However it is clear through early self-reports by patients of these programs that they have benefited from it largely. Especially it seems in early recovery which offers stressful challenges. Stress-relieving activity, like meditation, yoga and art therapy is to be welcomed.

If integrative holistic medicine has a mantra it is: we attend to all of you, not part of you.

At Ibiza Calm, we have an expert team of highly professionals available at all times for any number of addictions you or a loved one may be suffering with, so please do not hesitate to call us if you need any help or advice.

(SPAIN) +34 664 443 433

(UK) +44 203 868 5710