Alternative Drug Rehab Programs
Venturing out finding support for your dependence can be unnerving and maybe overpowering, considering the huge number of treatment choices accessible to you. Preferably, any sort of treatment for a SUD or AUD is best when it is customized to you as a person. What works best for one individual may not be the equivalent for another. It is important when choosing rehab you find a facility that feels like a solid match for you. This will increase the likelihood of sustaining your desire for lasting change and long term recovery.
Taking the first step towards getting help for your substance use disorder can be scary and perhaps overwhelming, especially considering the multitude of treatment options available to you. Ideally, any kind of therapy, including addiction treatment, is best when it is tailored to you as an individual. What works best for one person may not be the same for another. When treatment centers and therapists apply cookie-cutter approaches, they often fall flat because they fail to address the underlying issues and unique personality characteristics of each individual. It’s important that you find a place that feels like a good fit for you, as that will help to instill, increase, and maintain your motivation for recovery. Fortunately, complementary and alternative approaches have been gaining a lot of traction in recent years, increasing the availability of these methods.
These include but are not limited to:
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) where the use of medications like naltrexone, vivitrol and suboxone are prescribed. Some refer to these as harm reduction models.
*Accupuncture *this may affect physiological activities related to substance abuse.
*Aromatherapy *this assists in the exploration of emotional and psychological strain that may the root causes of substance abuse.
*Chanting *provides inner dialogue and exploration of spirituality
*Neurofeedback *by working with electrodes and visibly interacting with brain waves, individual can alter responses and decrease symptoms associated with addiction, depression, anxiety and other disorders.
Yoga and meditation help alleviate stress, reduce anxiety and increase relaxation as additional coping skills.
Nutrition, vitamins and supplements can assist with restoring the body to optimal functioning and getting it back in balance.
TMS
There is new tool called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This device uses magnetic pulses to modify activity in different areas of the brain. Studies have shown that rTMS “can induce significant and long-lasting behavioral alterations, including reduction in craving and consumption of drugs of abuse.” According to a January 2014 article from the peer reviewed journal Behavioral Neurology.
Earlier this year, Swiss researchers published results from the first LSD study approved by the FDA in 40 years. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, New York University and Harvard Medical School are all engaged in similar studies. And while most of the research focuses on the effect of psychedelic drugs on depression, there’s evidence to suggest they can also be a powerful tool in battling addiction.
*Exercise
*Clinicians are finally starting to recognize the significance of incorporating high- intensity aerobic exercise like spinning and swimming into recovery plans. Aerobic exercise puts a demand on the brain to produce an excess amount of endorphins, dopamine
