How do you know if recovery will last?
It’s easy to say you’re “clean” from drugs or alcohol. But true recovery only occurs when you heal your entire body, mind, and spirit. And here’s the truth…
Treatment alone doesn’t always get the job done.
The Problem:
Most treatment programs only address the obvious physical symptoms of addiction. They want you to stop using drugs and alcohol. But they ignore the underlying mental, emotional, and physical damage addiction causes.
That’s why most people relapse and go back to active addiction.
Natural health and wellness strategies help you take a whole-person approach to recovery. This allows you to create the foundation for long-term success. An effective rehab center New Jersey residents know and trust will incorporate these natural health and wellness practices in addition to other evidence-based treatments to give you the very best chance for long-term recovery.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- The Truth About Recovery Success
- Natural Health’s Role in Addiction Treatment
- Mind-Body Practices That Actually Work
- Building Your Wellness Foundation
- Nutrition & Physical Health in Recovery
The Truth About Recovery Success
Recovery is possible.
In fact, it’s more possible than you think.
Did you know that 29.3 million U.S. adults report resolving a significant substance use problem in their lives?
That’s over 11% of the entire adult population in the United States!
Get this: about 75% of individuals who experience addiction will eventually recover from their substance use disorder.
It’s pretty incredible when you think about it. Addiction isn’t a life sentence.
You CAN recover with the right support and treatment.
The hard part is finding an approach that works for you as a whole person rather than just treating your symptoms.
If your body, mind, emotions, and spirit are all impacted by addiction — shouldn’t your recovery process address all of those areas too?
This is exactly what natural health and wellness strategies can do for you.
Natural Health’s Role in Addiction Treatment
Natural wellness practices aren’t meant to replace traditional recovery programs. Instead, they are meant to be used alongside other evidence-based treatment methods for a more well-rounded healing process.
Addiction changes your brain chemistry and biology. It damages your physical health. It causes emotional wounds and spiritual emptiness. Focusing only on one area leaves you vulnerable to backsliding and relapse.
Natural health strategies help by:
- Decreasing stress naturally through yoga, meditation, and more
- Repairing physical damage with nutrition and exercise
- Healing emotional trauma with mindfulness practices
- Building spiritual connection that gives life meaning beyond substances
Studies have shown that nature-based interventions have been found to have positive effects in 85% of addiction treatment cases. Spending time in nature while gardening, hiking, participating in outdoor programs, and more are all considered natural strategies that produce healthy environments where substance use becomes less likely.
Mind-Body Practices That Actually Work
Your mind and body are not separate in recovery. They are one.
Your mental state directly affects your physical health. Your physical health directly affects your emotions. And your emotions, if not properly managed, can trigger cravings and relapse.
Mind-body practices can help…
Meditation & Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation teaches you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
This skill is huge for addiction recovery because it allows you to sit with your emotions and mind instead of numbing out with substances.
Regular meditation practices have been shown to calm racing thoughts and anxiety, improve emotional regulation, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and more.
No need to sit cross-legged in silence for hours each day. Just 10 minutes can make a difference.
Yoga for Healing
Yoga is the perfect combination of physical movement, breath work, and meditation for people in recovery who need to reconnect to their bodies in a positive way.
Yoga helps by:
- Improving flexibility and building strength
- Teaching you to stay present in the moment
- Creating a sense of peace that many find greater than any high substances can give
Breathwork Techniques
It might sound silly but conscious breathing is one of the most powerful tools in your recovery toolbox.
When you are triggered or start to feel stressed/anxious, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. This activates your body’s fight-or-flight stress response which makes the whole situation worse.
Deep intentional breathing reverses the process and helps you gain back control.
Building Your Wellness Foundation
Recovery is a lifestyle.
You have to build new healthy habits to replace old destructive ones if you want long-term success.
The goal is to create a new way of living that naturally supports sobriety by taking care of the basics that keep your body and mind in top shape.
Quality Sleep Matters
Lack of sleep will make recovery so much more difficult.
Not only will you experience higher cravings and lower willpower, but you are also more vulnerable to relapse when you don’t get enough quality sleep.
Your brain is healing and creating new neural pathways in early recovery, and this happens during deep sleep cycles.
Try to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night, create a bedtime routine, avoid screens before bed, and make your bedroom a peaceful sanctuary.
Movement & Exercise
Exercise is truly like medicine for people in recovery.
It helps release natural endorphins that improve mood and reduce cravings, repair the physical damage caused by substance abuse, and provides a healthy outlet for stress and difficult emotions.
You don’t have to become a hardcore fitness person, just be sure to move your body every day in some capacity. Walking, swimming, dancing, hiking… whatever you enjoy!
Stress Management
Stress is a huge relapse trigger.
If you don’t learn how to healthily manage stress in recovery, your long-term sobriety is at risk.
What are some healthy stress management techniques?
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Spending time in nature
- Creative expression
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Mindfulness meditation
Key is having a variety of tools at your disposal. What works one day may not work the next, so it’s important to mix it up.
Nutrition & Physical Health in Recovery
What you put into your body matters more than you think.
Substance abuse depletes your body of essential nutrients, damages your organs and tissues, weakens your immune system, and throws your hormones out of balance. Eating a healthy, whole foods-based diet rich in nutrients helps your body to reverse the damage and support your recovery process.
Rebuilding Your Body
Try to eat whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish and repair your body. Lots of veggies and fruits for vitamins/minerals, lean proteins to help repair damaged tissue, healthy fats for brain health and hormone production, and complex carbs for sustained energy.
Avoid processed foods and simple sugars and caffeine where possible as these can create mood swings and cravings.
Hydration Is Key
Drinking enough water each day helps your body flush out toxins and supports every function within your body. Dehydration is common in addiction, and many people mistake thirst for cravings.
Aim for at least 8 glasses of water per day and more if you are active or outside a lot.
Supplements & Natural Support
There are certain supplements that can also help support your recovery by providing your body with the nutrients that are typically depleted from addiction. B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium are particularly good for brain health and reducing stress.
Of course, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements to determine what your body specifically needs and which products are safe.
Final Thoughts
Natural health and wellness strategies are not some “woo-woo” alternative to traditional addiction treatment. They are, in fact, essential pieces of a comprehensive recovery plan that works.
By taking care of your physical health, mental wellbeing, emotional healing, and spiritual growth simultaneously, you give yourself the absolute best chance at creating a sustainable foundation for sobriety. It’s this holistic approach that recognizes you are more than your addiction.
When combined with other evidence-based treatments such as therapy and support groups, natural wellness practices can create the tools you need to build the happy, healthy life you deserve.
Addiction recovery is more than just not using drugs or alcohol. It is creating a life so good that you don’t ever want to go back to using. Natural health and wellness strategies are just one piece of this larger puzzle, but an extremely important one.