Exploring Alternative Therapies in Substance Abuse Treatment

Debra Riley

Published

Substance abuse is a global pandemic, especially among the youth. Substance abuse, in most cases, results in addiction disease that becomes challenging to cure. It is easier to avoid abusing drugs than treating the addiction.

Addiction messes with your physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being. However, all is not lost, as various substance abuse treatments exist.

Contemporary therapies, such as rehabilitation, can be combined with alternative substance abuse treatments for a comprehensive recovery. 

This post will explore alternative therapies you can leverage to treat substance abuse or your loved ones. 

alternative therapies substance abuse treatment

Nutrition Therapy

The body is one of the places substance addiction hits the hardest. This is because maintaining healthy feeding habits becomes challenging as the brain that controls hunger and satisfaction is the first part of the body that drugs and alcohol alter.

When the brain is altered, you will likely experience nutritional imbalances due to affected metabolism. As you continue with your nutritional therapy, you should consider browsing for Scottsdale, UMR drug rehab near me, to retain your brain’s functionality to signal the body the need to feed.

You will likely get detoxification that allows your body to retain normal body functions at the beginning.

Exercise

Addiction recovery can benefit greatly from regular exercise. Exercise is generally known for improving mood, increasing self-esteem, and keeping your brain active for more functionality.

Most people in substance abuse are triggered by idleness. Therefore, exercise keeps them occupied while still aiding in recovery and helps in relapse prevention. They should start gradually but intensify as their body gathers more strength.

A person with substance abuse is likely to have weak muscles and low body energy. Therefore, they must train their body gradually.

Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a concept from the East that helps recovering addicts be more self-aware of their behaviors, thoughts, and physical presence. Often, individuals deeply rooted in substance abuse are out of touch with their reality.

In as much as some people get into substance abuse as a form of entertainment initially, there is just a part of them that they need to escape from, which they replace with the love for drugs and alcohol.

Mindfulness practices such as meditation help individuals recognize faultiness in their thoughts, behaviors, and self-views. Mindfulness entails conscious breathing exercises, which help individuals focus on what is going on in their minds.

Mindful breathing helps recovering addicts control their relapse thoughts by focusing on something else for a few minutes to allow the substance abuse thoughts to disappear. 

addiction

Peer Support Groups

As part of recovery, finding the right peer group, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, can help you draw motivation from your peers’ sobriety stories. These groups are non-judgmental, allowing individuals to share their failures and weaknesses throughout their fight with substance abuse problems.

Some of these groups are large; therefore, ensure you get a sponsor with whom you can connect personally to help you retain your sobriety.

You must call your sponsor when you feel at the edge of relapse, and they reach out to you immediately while guiding you out of the drug or alcohol use thoughts.

substance abuse treatment

To Finish Off

Lastly, substance abuse treatment utilizes several methods that complement each other. After the medication treatment, recovery does not end there. You must enroll in alternative treatment methods to help your brain rewire back to sobriety.

However, prevention is better than cure. If you get a chance to avoid drugs and alcohol would be a better option. Always remember to reach out to family and friends for support throughout your journey.