Support groups, medical treatment, and therapeutic appointments are hallmarks of managing addiction to drugs and alcohol. Often adding more options can create a well-rounded treatment plan. Multiple options can also benefit people learning to manage their mental health issues.
Some people might initially look at options outside the typical medical and therapeutic ones as questionable. It is crucial to help clients understand that having an arsenal of choices is a good thing. Remind them that not everything they attempt will be a perfect fit. What counts is knowing they are open to trying new things. They often are surprised when what they initially doubted ends up making a positive difference.
The Benefits of Yoga
Practicing yoga has been a popular activity among all age groups for decades. It can be done as a solo act or as part of a class. Expenses for beginning yoga typically just include the cost of a mat. As the warmer weather moves in, clients can take their mat outside and enjoy nature while getting in a workout. Some of the benefits of yoga include:
- Relaxation
- Elevates your energy level
- Improves sleeping patterns
- Eases pain from certain medical conditions
- Provides stress relief
- Helps improve moods
- Promotes a healthy heart
- Enhances a person’s balance and flexibility
Learning to Center the Mind Through Meditation
It can be challenging for those who deal with addiction and mental health issues to focus their thinking. Racing thoughts and anxiety-prone reactions can impair their ability to feel control over their lives. Meditation helps center a person’s mind, which lends itself to feelings of confidence and positivity. Discuss with your client what they can achieve by making meditation a regular activity in their lives. Benefits can include:
- Reduces stress levels
- Lessened anxiety
- Reduces symptoms of depression
- Decreases blood pressure
- Increases positive feelings about yourself and others
- Improves sleep patterns
- Boosts circulation and aids in pain releif
- Lengthens attention spans
Letting Go on a Massage Table
Massage therapy can seem self-indulgent if taken only at face value. Many clients may not understand that it can be part of a person’s recovery and overall good mental health. Many people experience getting massages as self-care, which may be a new thing for them. More than one type of massage exists, including deep tissue, Swedish, sports-related, and trigger point.
If a client is reticent to try massage therapy, discuss how the benefits can include:
- Reduces stress hormones
- Promotes relaxation
- Reduces pain and sore muscles
- Improves skin tone
- Increases joint mobility
- Improves circulation
- Improves energy
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Lessens muscle tension
- Improves soft tissue injuries
Treat What’s “Needling” a Person With Acupuncture
The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture has been used for generations. Acupuncture is a medical procedure in which a practitioner inserts very thin needles into strategic points of a person’s body. Those who are inexperienced with the practice may assume it is a painful procedure, but the types of needles used are different than those typically found in a physician’s office. Most patients report feeling little or no pain when the needles are inserted or removed.
Traditional Chinese practitioners point to acupuncture to help balance the energy flow in a person’s body. Western practitioners tend to focus more on the benefits related to stimulating body parts. These can include muscles, nerves, and tissues. Many patients believe they experience a myriad of benefits from both sets of ideals, which keeps them returning for more sessions.
Benefits from acupuncture can include:
- Reduces headaches and migraines
- Reduces neck and back pain
- Helps reduce menstrual cramps
- Promotes relaxation
- Reduces stress levels
- Improves the immune system
- Enhances mental clarity
- Helps increase energy levels
- Reduces nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy
How Aromatherapy Can Help Recovery
Aromatherapy can seem like some “new age” hobby to some people. While it is a holistic type of treatment, many people derive positive benefits from aromatherapy. One way to engage in aromatherapy is by using essential oils. These are extracted from natural plants and often used in conjunction with a diffuser. Other ways to employ aromatherapy include the use of spritzers, inhalers, bath salts, body oils, and lotions.
There are also less formal ways to employ the use of aromas to promote mental health benefits. Many people enjoy using scented candles and favorite scents of incense. Those who receive benefits from aromatherapy count improved health related to their bodies and minds. These benefits can include:
- Improves sleep patterns
- Reduces anxiety levels
- Helps reduce stress
- Improves digestion
- Helps manage pain
- Reduces headaches and migraines
- Helps boost immunity
- Aids in fighting bacteria
When it comes to recovery for addiction and mental health issues, a few approaches are common. Medical interventions and therapy prove helpful to many people. It can expand a person’s recovery when they explore alternative treatment methods to complement the more traditional ones. These can include yoga, meditation, massage therapy, acupuncture, and aromatherapy. Sustain Recovery recognizes that their clients are individuals and knows how to formulate the right treatment program for them. If you have an adolescent or young adult client who needs help with addiction to drugs or alcohol, we are happy to explore our options for them. We also treat co-occurring mental health conditions. We offer inpatient, outpatient, and residential programs for young people looking to change their lives. Our beautiful Southern California location offers proven programs that teach young people how to take responsibility for their lives and embrace long-lasting recovery. Call us to discuss the needs of your clients today! (949) 407-9052.
