Having a dual diagnosis of alcohol or drug addiction together with a mood or personality disorder such as depression, anxiety or bi-polar disorder requires great care and special attention during the addiction recovery process. Traditional treatments like antidepressants, mood stabilizers and other medications are still preferred by many patients and their doctors, but alternative holistic dual diagnosis treatments are gaining popularity over strictly pharmaceutical methods. This is because in addition to wanting natural treatments, patients experience more success during recovery and maintaining sobriety when treated holistically.
Holistic dual diagnosis treatments seek to heal the person as a whole — mind, body and spirit. Instead of treating the substance addiction and the underlying disorder separately, a holistic approach treats all the issues as one. Since most addictions are a symptom of an underlying problem, thus making them an interconnected web, holistic treatments for dual diagnosis are often much more effective. It’s also proven that dual diagnosis sufferers have a better chance of recovery when all disorders are treated by the same treatment plan at the same treatment facility.
THE THREE CATEGORIES OF HOLISTIC DUAL DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT
Body
Substance addictions can ravage the body and aggravate symptoms of depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Holistic treatments to heal the body include:
* Massage therapy
* Acupressure
* Diet and nutritional counseling
* Ayurveda
* Yoga
* Martial arts
Mind
Over time, addicts create a great disconnect between their body and mind. Holistic treatments help bridge this gap and can help alleviate symptoms of psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Holistic treatments to heal the mind include:
* Psychotherapy
* Hypnotherapy
* Journaling
* Art therapy
* Dream work
* Yoga and meditation
* Guided imagery
The ability to control and quiet one’s mind is a key step in the recovery process.
Spirit
For many people, a healthy spirit and sense of self is absolutely necessary to experience true recovery. Holistic treatments to heal the spirit include:
* Yoga and meditation
* Energy healing (Reiki)
* Spiritual counseling
* Prayer
As you can see, yoga is a very powerful form of holistic dual diagnosis treatment for the mind, body and soul.
CHOOSING A HOLISTIC DUAL DIAGNOSIS REHAB
A good dual diagnosis rehab will offer a wide range of treatments, including conservative and holistic methods. No one treatment works for every individual, so it’s important to keep an open mind when seeking a dual diagnosis rehab. Weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus alternative methods of treatment and always seek medical advice before choosing to engage in any type of treatment. Some people find that medications will aggravate symptoms of depression and anxiety, but for many others pharmaceuticals are the only way they can safely detox and treat their dual symptoms.
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