Guest article by Justin Bennett (https://healthyfit.info)
Entering into a substance overuse rehabilitation program or even changing a major life habit with a support team is a major first step toward reclaiming your life. However, this is not enough to enter a new lifestyle that allows for long term change that you can embrace and enjoy as you meet new positive people.
Find Your Best Alternative Treatments
It is important to note that these and other alternative treatment methods, while beneficial in their own rights, are not a substitute for rehabilitation. They should be discontinued if they create further stress or impede treatment. The vast majority of alternatives / supplemental treatments have been tested and used for many years and can provide an person who is recovering from overuse with a more personalized experience, giving them additional means of support for a more effective recovery.
Better Endings New Beginnings and Red Shoes Rock offer some alternative and complementary wholistic ideas that put more glimmer into your life (some of which leverage technology) that can keep you headed down your path of wellbriety.
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Emotional freedom techniques (EFT) is often simply referred to as tapping and is the process of using the fingertips to lightly tap, in a specific sequence, an acupressure point that correlates to a negative reaction. It is used in conjunction with verbal statements to acknowledge a negative emotional state. EFT is used by therapists to help persons with substance issues identify underlying triggers.
Mind-Based Therapies
Overused Substances can change the way we think and feel about and within our own bodies. Mind-body therapies are available to help you reconnect with your emotions. Substance overuse often creates a pattern of mindlessness where the person may not have been actively engaged in the moment.
Dance when you feeling like stomping – a recent study found that when you try to move in synchrony with someone else, it also improves your self-esteem. Take a dance class, massage class, mind-brain movement class – enjoy have fun! Mindful movement provides an opportunity to stop and smell the proverbial roses.
There are mind-body movement apps available for beginners that can get you started. We love MOVE-MINDFULLY a simple app for movement snacks.
Declutter
If you’ve noticed more criticism, complaining, or blaming at home, it’s time to take action. It’s a good idea to rid your living space of negative energy.
You can do this! Start small, tackle one drawer, or one closet, or one room. Begin by cleaning and decluttering any space in your living environment to free up positive energy. You may also want to diffuse essential oils or smudge with sage. Put on some calming and soothing music – or add whatever music you find encouraging and uplifting. Once finished, you’ll have a positive environment in which to practice. Think about your lighting – it there a different type of light that works better for you. Think about the air – can it pass through your area.
Glad offers FREE wonderful tips that are easy to do!
Movement and Exercise
Physical activity heals your body, adds structure, reduces stress, and can make you happier, all of which can go a long way to preventing relapse. You can start with gentle activities body-mind movement or stretching; some easy, stress-reducing stretches include chin tucks, neck rolls, and shoulder stretches. If you’re up to it, you can move on to more demanding exercises like running, weightlifting, and biking.
Plan places in your day for“movement snacks”. If you are sitting for long periods get up to bust a move every 20 minutes.
Consider purchasing a fitness tracker or smartwatch to measure your progress. These tools can track your steps, workouts, and heart rate, as well as offer a host of other functions. You can personalize them to fit your style or activity.
We love MOVE-MINDFULLY a simple app for movement snacks.
Art Therapy
Drawing and painting are not only activities for children to express emotions. In fact, art can have a profound impact on people who are battling an addiction, as it can help elevate feelings of happiness, reduce stress and anxiety, and create a sense of accomplishment, which boosts self-confidence.
Additionally, those who pursue creative activities in classes or group settings can develop new friendships to replace the ones that may have been cut following the decision to seek treatment for substance abuse.
Animal Therapy
Animal therapy, also called pet therapy or animal assisted therapy, refers to various services using animals to help people. Animals may be able to provide comfort, alert others if someone is in danger, or even perform direct actions to help a your specific need. It is a type of complementary or alternative therapy. It should enhance but not replace other treatments.
Adventure Therapy
Person with substance use disorder often turn to drugs as a way to escape the mundane of everyday living. Adventure therapy can address this need for mental stimulation. Adventure therapy may consist of activities such as camping, hiking, boating, or completing a ropes course. They are thoughtfully designed by therapists to mirror their patient’s personal struggles and satiate sensation-seeking behaviors.
Many wilderness adventures can become stressful and are used as an opportunity for person with substance overuse to learn how they react to negative stimuli. This can make them more aware in their day-to-day life and help them avoid turning to their drug of choice.
Neurofeedback/Biofeedback
Performed in a clinical setting, neurofeedback relies on electrodes to monitor the way the brain reacts to situations. Likewise, biofeedback monitors muscle tension and heart rate. Each of these provides real-time measures of the mind and/or body’s reaction to visual and audio stimuli.
Toronto Neurofeedback & Psychotherapy Centre explains that a typical feedback session would involve first identifying areas of the brain that the subject must learn to control during negative situations. Essentially, biofeedback and neurofeedback sessions help a person with substance use disorder identify when their brain is inching toward a thought or feeling that might trigger a craving.
Psychodrama
As an experiential treatment, psychodrama is held in a group setting and allows the participants to act out a hypothetical, though plausible, scene. For instance, a psychodrama session might re-create an argument with a spouse that would lead an addict straight to the arms of their dealer. The supervising therapist may participate by doubling, which is where they would narrate the addict’s potential thoughts and feelings during the scene. This can help the addict break through the wall of denial that has been their crutch.
Red Shoes Rock and Better Endings New Beginnings are dedicated to helping people who have been affected by challenges before birth live with power and purpose. Visit us online to learn more about what we do and how you can be involved.
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