Traditional forms of treatment for addiction and mental illness don’t always tackle all of our systems simultaneously, our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual systems as a whole. They often will treat, but not cure, individual symptoms without addressing the underlying reasons as to why we’re so unwell. Some medications, for example, will make a particular symptom go away for some time, but as soon as we discontinue using it, the symptom returns. We therefore aren’t really healing ourselves. We’re masking our pain, avoiding it, and preventing true healing from taking place. Holistic healing, on the other hand, takes into account all the different parts of who we are. We’re addressing our mental health, our emotional well-being, our physical bodies, our energetic balance and alignment, and our spiritual life. We’re figuring out what unresolved issues are fueling our pain, and what we can do to heal ourselves from within.
There is still a lot of cultural skepticism about holistic healing methods. The misinformation and misunderstanding prevail, even though many methods are growing more and more popular, and more people are sharing their stories of drastic healing and profound transformation. Holistic healing is still sometimes considered to be inferior because certain methods haven’t been scientifically proven, or because the medical community doesn’t condone them. When it comes to our own individual recovery, we should explore what works for us and follow our instincts, because our minds, hearts, bodies and spirits always know what is best for us.
Holistic methods can provide thorough, comprehensive healing that more traditional methods can’t always provide. People talk about feeling like brand new people, totally transformed from the inside out, no longer suffering from the ailments that haunted them for so much of their lives. Meditation, yoga, energy healing such as acupuncture and tapping, Reiki and chakra alignment are all powerful holistic methods, some of which have been studied and supported by medical and scientific research. When we’re working with holistic methods, sometimes we’ll feel relief immediately, and sometimes we’ll need to commit to a regular practice, as is the case with meditation.
Our addictions are debilitating and overpowering forces in our lives. We need all the help and support we can get, and for many of us, we find that in holistic healing methods. They’re definitely worth exploring and learning more about.
At The Guest House Ocala, our recovery programs include many experiential modalities including traditional therapy, conscious connected breathwork, equine therapy, somatic experiencing, art in healing, grief therapy, mindfulness and other forms of therapy. Call 855-483-7800 today for more information.