In recent years, psychotherapeutic interventions have begun to favor cognitive approaches to healing because of their ability to prove useful under the scrutiny of empirical studies. While this has been very exciting, conversely, it can also lead to an approach towards addiction treatment where deeper wounds can often be unattended to in favor of strategies that yield quicker results. Obviously cognitive therapy approaches have their place is addiction treatment, however, it seems as though we would want to take a more holistic approach where we address issues related to the individual as a whole. As Dr. Stephen Aizenstat puts it, “we want to avoid applying band-aids on bullet wounds.” What he means by this is that we also need to incorporate strategies that address the whole of the person so that we are not merely engaging in a superficial form of healing. When facing addiction, the reality is that the core issue cannot be ameliorated through the mere identification of maladaptive thought patterns. The antidote to addiction involves a myriad of facets such as physical health, emotional regulation, cognitive clarity, fostering a connection with others, and the adoption of voluntary responsibility as a means to harvest purpose and meaning in our lives. Let’s take a look at some other components of an effective and all-encompassing treatment program.
The External Issues
Upon entering into sobriety, we as addicts often find that we have left a wake of destruction as we glance back at our experience of alcohol and drug addiction. We come to learn that in sobriety we need to take responsibility in working to correct our mistakes and admit when we are at fault. These external issues are typically comprised of failings within our educational, occupational, relational, or legal aspects of our lives. During these early phases of recovery, it is imperative that we are provided with intensive care management by professionals who can help to alleviate some of the burdens that are created by the onslaught of responsibility that we avoided while still in active addiction. While it does become our responsibility to work to correct pour failings, we should not have to tackle these problems alone and that is where the help of professionals can become invaluable. Another aspect that facilitates future success is the experience of taking accountability for the things in our lives that cannot afford to go unaddressed. In our addictions, we could continue putting off our responsibilities towards external matters because we had the leisure of drowning our stress and anxiety in drugs and alcohol. In sobriety, we are not left with this option and so, therefore, it becomes important to learn to take on stressful responsibilities in order to fortify ourselves in the inevitable event they arise again.
The Spiritual Issues
Part and parcel of experiencing the negative aspects of addiction is the isolation we feel; we lived in a world where the interpersonal and spiritual connection was anathema, and where the only god we knew was Thanatos, the god of death. After we made the decision to become sober, we could recognize our thirst for a reinvigoration of the spiritual aspect of our lives. Because spirituality is so individualized and often is made up of ideas that come from a personal nature, this journey may or may not require the help of others. There are, however, measures that we can engage in which require no belief in a particular God or religion in order to receive their benefits. These two spiritual practices are yoga and meditation and the engagement into these spiritual practices can facilitate a deeper sense of our growing spirituality, foster the alleviation of stress and anxiety, and finally help to increase our physical health as well.
The Physical Issues
The last component that is important to discuss when talking about finding the right holistic program is the importance of physical health. Often times as we enter into sobriety for the first time, we come to the recognition that we have not only been avoiding our physical health but actually that we have been doing harm to our bodies while we were in active addiction. First and foremost, it is crucial to establish a proper nutrition plan and this can often be done at the right facility who is staffed with health and nutrition coaching. Not only will learning about nutrition help to get our bodies back into a desirable shape in the short term, learning about the differences in dietary options and how to plan healthy meals will set us up for healthy living during the remainder of our lives. The same can be said for engaging in learning how to most effectively work out our bodies physically; learning how to engage in proper weight lifting and cardio exercises in early sobriety will help set up patterns of behavior that can promote better physical health, diet, and well-being.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Detox Center of Colorado offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Detox Center of Colorado fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
