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Alternative Treatments to Bolster Your Addiction Recovery

By: Benefits by Design | Tuesday August 27, 2024

Updated : Friday September 6, 2024

Text: Alternative Treatments to Bolster Your Addiction Recovery . Image: group of people sitting in a circle talking.

This is a guest blog post by Susan Treadway of Rehab Holistics.

As any addict will tell you, quitting is a lot more complicated than stopping a certain set of behaviors. It takes discipline, dedication, but also encouragement and validation. Sometimes it requires a little something extra, and this extra something can be completely unique to each person and their addiction. To help employees find that extra something, we’ll present some alternative addiction recovery methods and when they should, and shouldn’t, seek them out.

Traditional Recovery

People become addicted to drugs and alcohol for different reasons, which is why not all addiction treatments work for everyone. Traditional 12 step programs will try to bring addicts to accept a higher power. Through strengthening belief systems, down-and-out addicts are able to finally believe in their ability to overcome addiction and get back to a healthier, more wholesome lifestyle.

Not for Everyone

But what if the addiction is only part of a bigger issue? As Gulf Breeze Recovery states, people have different faiths and different needs, which means AA doesn’t fit everyone. Sometimes, people become addicted to certain substances because the substance serves as a coping mechanism for handling anxiety, depression, or even past trauma. In instances like these, sometimes a recovering addict needs more than just the power to believe they can overcome their addiction.

Use Employee Benefits

Employers can offer holistic addiction recovery support as part of an employee benefits program to demonstrate a commitment to the overall well-being and health of your workforce. By providing comprehensive care that addresses not just the physical but also the mental and emotional aspects of addiction recovery, they help employees achieve lasting recovery and improve their quality of life. This support can lead to increased employee retention, reduced absenteeism, and a more positive and productive work environment, ultimately benefiting the company’s bottom line.

What are the benefits of benefits? Mental health and substance use support

Video Journaling

Video journaling can be a powerful tool in your addiction recovery journey, offering a personal and reflective way to track your progress and emotions. Using a simple free video maker online, you can document your daily experiences, challenges, and victories, creating a visual record of your journey. This process not only helps in recognizing patterns and triggers but also provides a sense of accountability and motivation as you see tangible evidence of your growth. Sharing these videos with a supportive community or therapist can further enhance your recovery efforts, offering insights and encouragement.

Counseling

If you feel like your addiction is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, then it might be time to take the plunge and figure out what’s lying beneath the surface. The best way to plumb the depths of your psyche is with a professional who can safely guide you to discover the reason for your addiction and how to best address the underlying problem. There are even certain counselors who specialize with addiction patients. Of course, this alternative recovery treatment is only practical if you don’t already understand why you became addicted in the first place.

Diet and Exercise

Many recovering addicts turn to diet and exercise to fill the void left in their life when giving up addiction. Exercise is known to release endorphins in the brain, creating a euphoric experience also known as a runner’s high. Coupled with the boost of self-confidence you’ll receive once you see and feel your body’s transformation, healthy living can inspire and supplement your recovery.

Massage Therapy & Acupuncture

Stress can come from all directions, and when the burden gets too heavy, people will turn to whatever they can for relief. For some, this comes in the form of alcohol and drug usage, which creates another opportunity for addiction to occur. It’s for this reason that some recovering addicts will enroll in yoga classes or try massage therapy and acupuncture. These alternative therapies provide a healthier method of removing stress from the body.

These alternative recovery treatments are not for everyone. Instead, these methods are focused at addressing specific underlying causes of addiction. By supplementing sobriety with these alternative recovery treatments, recovering addicts can be back to living their best life in no time.