Holistic Treatment for Anxiety and Addiction

As our understanding of mental health issues continues to evolve, the array of options for treating co-occurring disorders has correspondingly expanded. Today’s rehab programs are more sophisticated and accessible than ever before, but the sheer number of choices could start to feel overwhelming. As you research inpatient treatment facilities for yourself or a loved one, here are some advantages of holistic treatment to be aware of.

What Is Holistic Treatment?

Your overall well-being includes psychological, physical, social and spiritual components. Traditional rehab programs may include one or two of these facets, but holistic methods involve addressing all these aspects simultaneously. By combining clinically proven treatment modalities with complementary therapies like meditation, acupuncture, massage and yoga, a hybrid approach represents the best of both worlds.

Despite representing an alternative to conventional anxiety and addiction treatment, holistic programs like the one we’ve created provide the full continuum of care, including evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy.

Are You a Good Candidate for Holistic Treatment?

If you’re in the early stages of researching qualified treatment centers, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that addiction recovery isn’t a cookie-cutter process. For best results, it’s worth your time to do your homework to find a facility whose health and wellness philosophy aligns with yours.

Anyone can achieve lifelong sobriety and serenity by following a holistic treatment plan, but the holistic approach might specifically benefit you if you have any of these characteristics.

• You are returning for another round of rehab after experiencing a relapse.
• You prefer to take a secular, non-12-step approach to recovery.
• You have a dual diagnosis of addiction and anxiety or another mental health condition.
• You’re searching for a program that is versatile enough to adapt to your specific needs.
• You struggle with low self-confidence and believe you’d benefit from a program that emphasizes personal empowerment.
• You feel that science-backed treatments would suit your needs better than a mostly faith-based approach.
• You’re interested in uncovering and addressing the underlying causes of your addiction and anxiety with help from a professional counselor.
• You believe you have the inherent ability to overcome anxiety and live a healthy, happy life without relying on maladaptive coping mechanisms.

California’s Leading Holistic Treatment Provider

At Complete Harmony, our professional clinicians will develop your addiction and anxiety treatment program to meet you where you are. For people who would rather rely on secular, research-based methods, we offer supportive substitutes to the 12-step approach. If the idea of surrendering to a higher power in addiction recovery resonates with you, we will guide you through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous as the foundation of your recovery. The choice is yours.

We’ve created a hybrid addiction treatment model that fuses proven therapeutic modalities with supplementary amenities like nutrition coaching, yoga, massage, professional counseling and chiropractic care. Here, you’ll heal all aspects of your well-being. Connect with us today to learn more about holistic treatment for a dual diagnosis.

The Healing Benefits of Aromatherapy

As you work on rebuilding your physical, mental and spiritual health through your recovery journey, there are many alternative therapies you can try, including aromatherapy, which relies upon the therapeutic use of essential oils from plant extracts. You can use aromatherapy on its own, or in conjunction with other holistic treatments like yoga and massage, as part of your well-rounded self-care routine. Here’s everything you need to know to get started with your practice.

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

The use of aromatherapy dates back centuries, and today, aromatherapy is one of the fastest-growing areas of complementary medicine in the United States.

Practitioners of natural medicines believe aromatherapy works by stimulating the smell receptors in your nose, which then send messages into the limbic system — the part of your brain that regulates emotions.

You can inhale the highly concentrated oils directly or indirectly through an essential oil diffuser, or apply them to your skin through massage, lotions or bath gel. A word to the wise, however: You can’t use all essential oils topically in their undiluted form. Most need to be added to carrier oils such as olive, grapeseed or sweet almond. If you aren’t sure how to mix your own essential oils, many companies offer essential oils that are pre-blended with a carrier.

How to Choose and Use Essential Oils for Better Well-Being

Unsurprisingly, essential oils derived from different plants have a wide range of benefits. Some, like peppermint, help create a more alert, uplifted mood, while others, like lavender, are deeply soothing and can relieve anxiety and insomnia. Try different oils on different days to see what works best for you.

• Bergamot: Bergamot can be a way to treat stress, depression, anxiety and skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. It can help stimulate your internal organs and provide an overall mood boost on days when you’re feeling low.
• Cedarwood: Cedarwood oil has calming properties that many users say help alleviate stress and anxiety. It’s an excellent way to improve mood, and plays a role in aiding respiratory problems, skin problems and urinary tract infections.
• Chamomile: Chamomile is a potent calming agent, as well as an antibiotic, antiseptic, antidepressant and all-around mood improver. It has analgesic properties and can also help fight inflammation.
• Lavender: In addition to providing some users with rapid relief from anxiety and stress, lavender users say it serves as an antiseptic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic and sedative.
• Peppermint: Peppermint oil has a wide range of therapeutic properties in alternative medicine. It is a cooling agent that may enhances mood, sharpens focus, combats irritation and redness, alleviates symptoms of congestion and aids in digestion.
• Tea tree: Proponents of this versatile essential oil say it has abundant healing properties. Not only is it a natural immune booster, but it may also help the body fight off infection. It works to heal skin conditions, burns and cuts and is an insecticide. In addition, it can help soothe and treat cold sores, respiratory conditions, muscle aches, the flu and dandruff.

Holistic Addiction Treatment on a Continuum of Care

At Complete Harmony, we take a whole-person approach to healing the disease of addiction. When you need California drug and alcohol recovery for yourself or a loved one, explore our innovative, non-12-step treatment options, then contact our rehab team.

4 Reasons to Add Massage Therapy to Your Recovery

Recently, massage therapy has made many headlines for its role in pain management, leading some experts to question whether this holistic treatment holds one of the keys to combating the opioid epidemic. 

In fact, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) has been actively engaged with several organizations and agencies regarding massage therapy for an alternative to opioids.

Whether or not massage therapy can help prevent addiction is still out for debate. What we do know, however, is that it has produced proven results when used as part of addiction recovery. Research has shown that the power of touch can help decrease stress, reduce anxiety and depression and help clients release negative thoughts and memories.

Here are a few more benefits of massage therapy:

• You’ll boost your immunity. Even one, 45-minute massage session can create positive changes in your body’s immune system. This is because it increases the number of lymphocytes, which are the white blood cells that help protect your body from disease. 
• You’ll sleep better. Several studies have linked massage with reduced fatigue and improved sleep. One explanation: It increases delta waves, or the brain waves responsible for deep sleep. 
• You’ll better manage anxiety and depression. Massage releases oxytocin and serotonin –happy hormones – and this can help lower your stress and boost your mood. Plus, massage therapy can target certain pressure points to relieve tension.
• You’ll be more focused. Numerous studies have touted massage therapy for its role in improving brainpower, productivity, alertness and focus – all helpful while working hard to absorb strategies and tools for staying sober. 

California Holistic Addiction Treatment

Bodywork and massage therapy and bodywork are one of the many holistic therapies offered at our CA alternative rehab center. To learn more about our alternative, non-12-step program, call today: 866-930-4673.