Addiction doesn’t just affect vital organs and functioning in our bodies. It affects the way we perceive our surroundings and it significantly impacts that way we communicate with others, too. Most people would agree that when we’re abusing substances, we’re not our natural selves – we’re less coherent and more likely to act in ways that we would never exhibit having been sober. Even before abusing substances, our mind, body and spirit can be dismantled from trauma, mental illness, health conditions and other life circumstances. We are likely to find ourselves arguing with loved ones (or disconnecting from them altogether), abusing substances as a way to cope with painful feelings, missing out on important life events in pursuit of drug use and so much more.
A 2017 report published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction asked over 800 people in addiction recovery what had contributed most to their wellness overall. Here were the most common responses:
- Friends
- Family
- Religion or spirituality
- Meditation or mindfulness
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Pets
- Art, poetry, or other creative activities
- And more
As you can see, all of the elements that seemed to provide around 800 people with clarity and sustenance throughout their recovery revolved around the mind, body and spirit. In 2018, the U.S News highlighted numerous benefits of practices aimed at holistic health – such as stress reduction, lessened pain, enhanced sense of self, increased self-esteem, reduced opposition to treatment, positive behavioral changes in recovery, improvements in sleep and much more. Our lives consist of much more than substance abuse, so why would we focus solely on that in recovery? By addressing many of the areas that make up our lives, we’re much more likely to adapt a healthier way of thinking and being – which could dramatically change the outlook of our health over time.
If you’re ready to start a holistic approach towards healing and restoration, speak with a professional from Cumberland Heights today. Your life matters – and by focusing on many aspects of your life that have previously held you back, you can take bigger and more meaningful strides towards living a healthier, happier life.
Cumberland Heights is a nonprofit alcohol and drug-addiction treatment center located on the banks of the Cumberland river in Nashville, Tennessee. On a sprawling 177-acre campus, we are made up of 2 12-Step immersion campuses, 12 outpatient recovery centers and 4 sober living homes. We believe that each person has a unique story to tell – and that’s why we always put the patient first.
