The Therapeutic Benefits of Water in Healing From Addiction
Recovering from substance use disorder (SUD) or a co-occurring mental health condition can be difficult. This can be especially so without guidance from a dedicated healthcare team. Many individuals find it challenging to maintain healthy healing or recover from a drug or alcohol relapse. However, incorporating water into one’s treatment plan can enhance therapeutic benefits. Being near water, such as viewing waterfalls, can nurture emotional release and serenity while healing from addiction. Holistic therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab helps clients step out of their comfort zone, face their pain, and realize their unique path to healing and sobriety. Clients bring their swimwear to immerse themselves in the water and beautiful scenery at our rehab center to heal from addiction.
The Challenges of Abstaining From Harmful Substances
Although an individual may have learned new skills needed to maintain sobriety, it can be challenging to stay on track to healthy healing. Even if an individual made several positive changes to their lifestyle, they may still face problems with external factors. For example, certain triggers, such as unwanted substance exposure, party invites, trauma, stress, and peer pressure, can worsen drug or alcohol cravings. Hurtful stigma and mental health discrimination can also hinder one’s ability to stay strong in the healing process. Other factors that can derail one’s recovery if left unmanaged include:
- Unaddressed withdrawal symptoms
- Poor structure
- Unresolved mental health issues
- Unaddressed cognitive distortions
- Relapse
- Lack of support
- Low self-esteem or confidence
- No goal set
- Failure to make consistent change
What Is a Dual Diagnosis?
Living with untreated addiction can make one feel as if one’s life is over. When an individual begins to feel as if there is no way out, they often settle for continued substance use. This can make one feel isolated from society and lead to co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. There is no saying whether the onset of addiction comes before poor mental health, or vice versa. However, a dual diagnosis (having two or more conditions) can be difficult to manage. Addiction recovery is possible with the right support. Although there is no specific cause of a dual diagnosis, the onset of a co-occurring condition can derive from:
- Genetic or biological factors
- Stress
- Acute, chronic, or complex trauma
- Brain chemistry and structure
- Cultural influences
- Early exposure to harmful substances
The Importance of Seeking Professional Support at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Severe substance use disorder or a dual diagnosis can damage various areas of an individual’s life. For example, unmanaged SUD can significantly impair an individual’s relationships with family and friends. Their work or school performance may be severely impacted. An individual’s reputation may also be in jeopardy. If an individual with severe SUD or a dual diagnosis fails to seek professional support, they may face a series of problems. Problems commonly include divorce, family separation, academic expulsion, unemployment, problems with the law, and homelessness.
It can be dangerous to detox at home as withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. However, if one does not surrender to professional care, they may put themselves at further risk of relapse, coma, disability, or death from a drug or alcohol overdose. Additional reasons one should seek professional care or a continuum of care at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab include:
- Safe healing environment
- Structured foundation and care plan
- Root cause identification
- Managed trauma and underlying issues
- Increased motivation
- Accountability
- Peer support
- Eased withdrawal symptoms
- Medication management
- Relapse prevention
How Are Stress and Relapse Closely Intertwined?
Research indicates that stress is widely recognized as a risk factor for the onset of substance use disorder and the increased likelihood of relapse. The types of stressors that heighten the risk of addiction include adverse life events, trauma, and chronic daily life stressors. Stressors tend to be uncomfortable, unpredictable, yet distressing events for both young adolescents and adults.
Themes typically range from violence and aggression to poor support, trauma, interpersonal conflict, isolation, and loss. Work-related stressors due to a lack of support have also appeared to contribute to addiction risk. Environmental exposure to early life stressors can result in physiological, neuroendocrine, and behavioral changes, as well as lead to an impact on an individual’s level of motivation and an impairment of their ability to learn, often leading to substance use disorder.
What Is Holistic Therapy?
More and more individuals are taking a keen interest in holistic therapy. Holistic care at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab takes on a whole-person approach as it is a comprehensive treatment. Natural healing works to address an individual’s mind, body, and spiritual needs. Various holistic methods provide limited to no side effects. This type of care is natural yet effective in easing the effects of addiction as well as teaching individuals with SUD or a dual diagnosis unique strategies to cope with their condition. Holistic methods of care can reduce the stress that contributes to addiction, improve both mental and physical health, and promote long-term recovery for easier living. Enhanced benefits include:
- Empowerment
- Improved self-awareness
- Mind-body connection
- Improved mental clarity and focus
- Emotion regulation
- Relapse prevention
The Value of Holistic Therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab for Addiction
Unlike most alcohol and drug rehab programs, Exclusive Hawaii Rehab focuses on our clients, not their condition itself. We know that our clients are far more than their addiction, and we treat each individual as the whole person they are. Our dedicated healthcare team delivers exceptional service and works to resolve the underlying causes of our clients’ drug or alcohol addiction, eating disorders, or mental health disorders to ensure a safe recovery. The dedicated healthcare team at exclusive Hawaii Rehab encourages clients to use holistic therapies like meditation to heal. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab also provides a safe space where clients can face their fears and embark on their journey of a lifetime.
Benefits of Water: The Link Between Water and Mental Health
Due to rapid urbanization, the increasing daily life stressors have increased psychological pressure, further heightening the risk for depression or anxiety. Thus, the need for psychological care is growing. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI), waterscapes have been known to have psychological benefits for improved mental health. They have more benefits than green spaces. Being near water or exercising in water (water-based therapy) can be advantageous to one’s overall health. Waterscapes with healing effects have been proven to divert negative emotions through mitigation. Physical activity in nature worked to reduce anxiety for enhanced emotional well-being.
Benefits of Water: Reducing Stress and Anxiety With Water-Based Therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab to Calm the Mind
Understanding that stress and anxiety are associated with the risk of addiction, water-based therapy can help. Clients at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab enjoy unique water-based therapy as it calms their mind and body while promoting relaxation for relapse prevention. Spending time in nature, surrounded by the calming sound of the ocean and crashing waves, can help foster a deeper sense of peace for eased symptoms. Clients have the opportunity to swim in the ocean with sea turtles, as well as participate in warm-bath therapy, aquatic therapy, or immersion therapy for enhanced healing. These are all helpful in addressing the mental, physical, and psychological needs when healing from addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Benefits of Water: The Efficacy of Water-Based Therapy for Stress and Anxiety
Water-based therapies help address mental health and wellness by supporting relaxation and reducing mental and physical symptoms that often contribute to a co-occurring SUD. According to Frontiers in Psychiatry, exercise has been proven to improve the effects of anxiety and one’s overall mood. Physical activity increases the level of endorphins and dopamine for a soothing effect. Statistically, aquatic exercise significantly improves mental health.
Activating one’s brain and mood is significantly important to motivate exercise. Aquatic exercise has been shown to boost an individual’s mood. Simply touching water can reduce stress and the effects of poor mental health. Reduced gravity can decrease pressure in one’s knees, spine, and areas prone to pain. Therefore, light water aerobics can have a better therapeutic effect on an individual’s anxiety and mood altogether.
The Importance of Peer Support in Addiction Recovery
Untreated SUD or a dual diagnosis can be detrimental to one’s health. Recognizing that maintaining abstinence from drugs and alcohol can be difficult, peer support plays a crucial role in the recovery process. Those facing challenges staying on track to healthy healing may benefit from shared experience and empathy. Knowing that stigma and discrimination can hinder one’s ability to sustain recovery, peer support can break those barriers for a greater sense of belonging. Peer support can provide encouragement and motivation to come back from what may seem like a major setback. Ongoing support from peers can deliver new coping mechanisms, resources, and opportunities for community connection. Additional benefits that can come from peer support include:
- Accountability
- Reduced isolation
- Increased resilience
- Improved social skills
- Greater sense of purpose
- Relapse prevention
Benefits of Water: Maintaining Sobriety With Peer Support on the Beach at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Clients at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab have the opportunity to enjoy water-based therapies with peers to receive enhanced care. Our clients love participating in local activities such as surfing, hiking, and engaging in any beach activity with green turtles and tropical fish. Peer groups are typically hosted outside in the beautiful Hawaiian scenery. Sometimes there are even whale sightings. Clients enjoy swimming with the manta rays, but cannot swim with the dolphins due to recent changes in the law.
Benefits of Water: What Is Surf Therapy?
Surf therapy supports mind-body healing through physical activity and connecting with nature. According to BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, surf therapy is gaining popularity to improve mental health. Surf therapy can be defined as a unique, holistic healing method. This practice combines surf instruction and group activities to promote physical, psychological, and psychosocial well-being.
Benefits of Water: Surfing With Friends on the Beach at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab for Good Mental Health
At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we provide a variety of therapeutic modalities for whole-person healing to support our clients in dismantling the roots of their distress with individualized care. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab offers a local break 15 minutes away, called Honoli’i. We offer world-class surfing and boogie boarding. Clients sometimes go a couple of times a week, bobbing up and down with the green turtles.
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab’s surf therapy includes opportunities for individual mentorship, social skill-building, psychoeducation, and group discussions for resilience and personal growth. Through the power of socializing, nature, and water-based exercise, clients effectively dismantle the root of their self-destructive behaviors. Participating in surf therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab does not require one to know how to surf. Part of the therapeutic process is engagement in the practice of trying. Taking on the challenges of surfing is geared less toward learning to surf and more toward fostering personal development for your well-being.
Benefits of Water: Restoring Balance in Recovery With the Ocean for Emotion Regulation
According to Frontiers in Psychiatry, coastal environments are increasingly recognized to have a beneficial impact on one’s health and overall well-being. The ocean represents a safe haven. Participants in a recent study experienced emotional restoration and a blast of nostalgia. Water-based therapies have been known to foster improved coping skills to better manage challenging thoughts and feelings for emotion regulation. Developing mindfulness and meditative skills along the coast has been shown to help individuals effectively respond to stress, impaired mood, and burnout associated with their condition.
Combining Other Holistic Healing Options With Water-Based Therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Each individual has their unique history with addiction. Sometimes, a complementary approach to care can ensure a safer healing process. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab’s clients benefit further from integrating other holistic modalities in their individualized treatment plan. A specialist at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab may ask a series of questions regarding the client’s medical history, trauma history, strengths, and care concerns. The specialist may then tailor specific services to the client’s general needs to improve their recovery outcome. An individual may inquire about adding services to the beginning of care or aftercare to make for a smoother transition into independent living.
For example, some individuals experiencing problems maintaining sobriety may benefit from water-based therapies in combination with other holistic healing methods. Sometimes, complementary care can be enjoyable with peers or alone. This depends on the client’s severity of their condition, treatment requirements, and overall preference. Other natural modalities one with substance use disorder or a dual diagnosis may consider include:
- Mindfulness therapy
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Energy healing
- Essential oils
- Mindfulness
- Sound Bath therapy
- Music therapy
- Horticulture therapy
Considering an Alternative to Water-Based Therapy? Move Forward From a Relapse With Nature Immersion Therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Knowing that untreated trauma or anxiety is a common risk factor for developing substance use disorder, water-based therapy may not be for everyone. For example, an individual who has suffered a drowning accident, boat or watercraft injury, or uncontrolled submersion may prefer nature immersion therapy. Fortunately, Exclusive Hawaii Rehab is located in one of the most beautiful and inspiring landscapes on the planet. We are surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty on our 30-acre private estate with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, coupled with the 14,000-foot snow-capped dormant volcano just behind our facility.
The idea that nature is a form of medicine that the human body and mind need is rooted in one’s intimate connection with their natural surroundings and the life that flourishes there. By immersing in nature at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, our expert team helps clients reconnect with their true nature in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world – Hawaii. Benefits clients have gained from nature immersion therapy at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab include:
- Improved sleep
- Reduced stress
- Better relationships with loved ones
- Improved memory
- Better attention span
- Stimulated creativity
- Reduced blood pressure
- Decreased stress hormones
- Reduced muscle tension
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, our approach is not a one-size-fits-all approach to care. We provide a proven method of self-exploration to help each individual identify the underlying patterns that are holding them back. You are not broken. Everyone deserves to heal. We view healing as a highly collaborative endeavor and see ourselves as partners in the process. Our comprehensive treatment program provides a clear roadmap to positive transformational change. With compassion, support, and our safe and healing space, you can successfully meet the challenge of overcoming addiction. Call our rehab center at (808) 775-0200 to gain the support needed to naturally overcome substance use disorder for a greater quality of life.