Medication and behavioral treatment have always been the go-to routes for anxiety management. In reality, traditional treatment is not for everyone. It’s not the only option, either. Holistic modalities and self-healing practices have garnered more widespread attention in recent years as alternatives. These tools can be used alone or combined with traditional therapies to provide the best results.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Self-healing practices and holistic remedies usually fall under the umbrella of what is called “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM). According to a 2022 study in Medicine (Baltimore), CAM includes “any therapeutic practice that does not belong to the field of traditional medicine.” Remedies like herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, mindfulness, and meditation can all be considered CAM.
In recent years, these complementary and alternative therapies have risen in use and acceptance. Medicine (Baltimore) even mentions they are generally “considered as a natural and safer choice to solve common health problems,” including anxiety.
Benefits of Self-Healing Practices and Holistic Remedies for Anxiety
Historically, medical treatment has separated the mind and body into two completely different entities. This can often leave a lot to be desired when it comes to traditional treatment and therapy. Instead, holistic care views the mind and body as interconnected. These remedies can help one overcome conditions like anxiety by taking the whole person and even their environment into account. This is vastly different than simply treating symptoms of the disease.
Unresolved Trauma and Nervous System Regulation
It’s also important to note that many mental health disorders, like anxiety, can come from unresolved trauma. Trauma can linger in both the mind and the body, making it crucial to heal both as one. When it comes to anxiety, your nervous system can also take a lot of hits and become dysregulated. Being in a constant state of fear or panic can cause you to feel unsafe in your own body. Holistic remedies and self-care practices aim to help you come back to a regulated state. This is where you can feel safe and in control once again.
Self-Healing Practices and Holistic Modalities
Even though self-healing practices can be done on your own, they can also appear in group settings, classes, and even recovery programs as integrated holistic therapies. There are an endless amount of practices out there, but it’s important to remember that not every one will work for you. Self-healing is all about the journey of reclaiming your inner power to find the methods that help you the most.
Breathwork
Practicing breathwork is an excellent method to help you ease anxiety. This ancient Eastern practice consists of intentional and controlled breathing that will bring your focus back to your body. You can practice breathwork on your own each morning as a way to get energized, or in the evening to relax. You may also want to seek out breathwork classes that use an experienced facilitator to guide you along. Many holistic recovery centers, like The Guest House, also have their own in-house breathwork program.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Meditation and mindfulness have reached huge levels of popularity in recent years as a method for healing anxiety. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), mindfulness involves “maintaining attention or awareness on the present moment without making judgments.” Focusing completely on the task at hand, like driving a car, walking, or even brushing your teeth, can be a mindful practice.
Meditation is a form of mindfulness where the focus is on mind and body integration to enhance your overall well-being. The NCCIH mentions some types of meditation that can involve “maintaining mental focus on a particular sensation, such as breathing, a sound, a visual image, or a mantra, which is a repeated word or phrase.”
Journaling
Another great way to calm your mind and focus on the present moment is by keeping a journal. The practice of journaling may seem extremely simple, but its benefits are widespread. Journaling enables you to get racing thoughts out of your mind and onto paper, where they will hold less power over you. If you’re feeling anxious, sad, or emotional, you can find solace in your journal.
Somatic Therapy
Anxiety and other mental health conditions often have the root of unresolved trauma. Since trauma lives in both the mind and the body, it’s important to find practices that will help you heal through both. Somatic therapy is one such practice that consists of light body movements, like hip opening exercises, that will help you efficiently process traumatic energy stores. You may cry, feel sad, or even a little “off” as you are going through this process. Rest assured that these are all normal reactions. Sometimes, you have to really feel this energy in order to heal this energy.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Much like somatic therapy, EFT consists of processing energy stores. During EFT you tap on different meridians, or pressure points, on your body. This is usually done while reciting a mantra or verbally moving through a traumatic experience.
Self-Healing Practices and Holistic Care at The Guest House
Even though self-healing practices can be done on your own, they can be a lot more effective when combined with a structured recovery program. At The Guest House, we offer a full range of holistic care to complement traditional modalities for your anxiety healing journey. Our individualized process puts you in the driver’s seat of your own recovery and allows you to explore the methods that work best for you.
Our wide variety of cutting-edge therapies include practices like breathwork, meditation, and yoga. We also offer outdoor programs like adventure and equine therapy that will allow you to explore the great outdoors. Our beautiful 52-acre estate will even provide the perfect backdrop to continue your own self-healing practices, like journaling under the shady trees. There is truly something for everyone at The Guest House. Here, you can rediscover yourself while healing your mind, body, and soul.
Self-healing practices and holistic remedies have been garnering much attention in the medical community. The idea of healing the mind and body together and looking at the whole person can have wide-reaching benefits for anxiety recovery. At The Guest House, we offer a multitude of cutting-edge therapies that will help you come back to yourself and the present moment. Our highly-trained staff can lead you through powerful breathwork, somatic therapy, and even mindful exercises to heal your mind, body, and soul as one. Here, you will find outstanding individualized treatment that allows you to explore therapies that work best for your unique situation. For more information, call us today at (855) 483-7800.