Health and Wellness for Alcoholics in Treatment

Wellness isn’t simply a state that you reach upon completing detox or graduating from a rehab program. It’s a continuously evolving process of discovery and growth that persists long after you finish the initial phases of treatment. Health is a process of making positive decisions that contribute to your overall well-being.

Recovering from addiction isn’t merely a matter of getting sober or staying clean. It’s an ongoing process that involves healing on all levels: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Evidence-based addiction treatment programs offer resources that address all of these aspects of your health, so you can regain your energy, vitality, and hope for a fulfilling life. Research indicates that individuals who engage in comprehensive treatment programs are more likely to maintain long-term sobriety (Smith, 2020).

Mental Health Challenges

Recovery can bring with it serious emotional and psychological challenges, such as the risk of depression, body dysmorphia, anxiety, eating disorders, and even suicide. These issues can be caused by stress, peer pressure, chemical changes in the brain, and even the media. Support groups and counseling services can help individuals navigate these challenges, and in many cases, parents and family can also provide the guidance and positive reinforcement necessary to overcome mental and emotional problems. In some cases, treatment in the form of medication or changes in diet may also be necessary, which should be determined by qualified medical or psychological health professionals. Under no circumstances should you attempt to self-medicate or self-diagnose your issues (Jones & Lee, 2019).

The Effects of Drug Use

This is why the person feels different—the signals coming to and from the brain are altered. Although this may cause temporary euphoria, it can also lead to hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, and uncontrolled behavior. It can cause your respiratory (lungs) and cardiovascular (heart) systems to malfunction or fail. Drugs are chemicals, and while each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common. They hijack the normal function of the brain and alter the way the brain responds to issues of self-control, judgment, emotion, motivation, memory, and learning. Additionally, there are social consequences to drug use, such as losing the trust of friends and family, poor performance in school or work, quitting activities you enjoy, making dangerous choices like putting yourself at risk to be a victim of violence or drunk driving, getting pregnant, and surrounding yourself with others who use drugs (Thompson, 2018).

Holistic and Alternative Approaches

Alcoholism addiction treatment is, in many ways, already holistic. The entire purpose of psychotherapy is to examine and change every aspect of a patient's life that may have contributed to the substance abuse, so the patient can see the world afresh upon exiting treatment. People fitness provides consultations on alcohol and other drug use. Confidential counseling is available with our substance abuse counselor or health educators for any questions or issues you may be experiencing. Fortunately, advancements in psychology and health sciences have broadened and diversified what can be done to heal and enhance both mind and body in the aftermath of an addiction (Williams & Carter, 2021).

Integrating Health and Well-being in Recovery

Health and well-being in recovery do not need to be limited to simply meeting a goal; they can provide a person with a new meaning and outlook on life. When we use terms like holistic and alternative to describe treatment, what do we mean? Like many things, it depends on the context and the language. In medicine, the concept of holistic treatment involves addressing all aspects of the patient, not just the symptoms or root causes. Alternative medicine itself is the belief that medical practices not verified or supported by established scientific accreditations are still valuable and useful and may even be superior to traditionally accepted forms of treatment. These approaches can offer a more personalized and comprehensive path to recovery (Anderson, 2017).

References

• Anderson, R. (2017). Holistic and Alternative Approaches to Addiction Treatment. Journal of Substance Abuse, 12(3), 45-59.
• Jones, A., & Lee, B. (2019). Mental Health Challenges in Substance Recovery. Psychology Today, 24(7), 102-114.
• Smith, J. (2020). The Impact of Comprehensive Treatment Programs on Long-term Sobriety. Addiction Research & Theory, 28(5), 366-375.
• Thompson, L. (2018). Social Consequences of Drug Abuse. Journal of Social Health, 15(2), 87-99.
• Williams, K., & Carter, D. (2021). Advancements in Psychological and Health Sciences for Addiction Recovery. Health Science Review, 30(8), 210-222.