The iconic American poet Walt Whitman famously wrote, “I cannot be awake for nothing looks to me as it did before, Or else I am awake for the first time, and all before has been a mean sleep.” This is symbolic of what life can feel like when one chooses recovery and gets sober. However, even in a healthy recovery, one can find themself saying, “I’m sober, what’s next?” If this is you, don’t fret! The good news is that there are many tips and tools that can help your sobriety become the foundation of a life beyond your wildest dreams.
What Does It Mean to Heal at the Cellular Level?
Just like questioning “What’s next?”— many people also question what it means to heal at the cellular level. Healing at the cellular level is all about healing all aspects of the self. It means to heal holistically. Now, this does not imply holistic in strictly the Eastern medicine sense, rather it means to heal the “whole” self. To heal at the cellular level means that one must heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually.
Healing at the cellular level should also align with a multi-angled plan of recovery. This means that one should not limit oneself to one type of treatment. There are a multitude of means, methods, and modalities that one can use to help them recover at the cellular level. The key is to ensure that these modalities get to the underlying root/core causes of addiction.
The Importance of Getting to the Underlying Issues of Addiction
Many people don’t realize just how important treating the causes of addiction can be. These people often only focus on “the drink or the drug.” However, it is much more than that – it is why we take the drink or the drug in the first place. This is why many people say, “I decided to get help for my drinking, but I stayed when I discovered it was my thinking.”
The underlying root/core causes of addiction are also often related to issues of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Also, many people don’t realize just how prevalent PTSD is. According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), “PTSD is a widely accepted diagnosis, but some believe that the term medicalises understandable responses to catastrophic events and further disempowers those who are already disempowered…. About 3% of the adult population has PTSD at any one time. Lifetime prevalence is between 1.9% and 8.8%, but this rate doubles in populations affected by conflict and reaches more than 50% in survivors of rape.” Now, garnering a better understanding of addiction can be just as helpful as understanding its causes.
Better Understanding Addiction
Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. Addiction is perhaps the most pervasive “disease” on the planet, and, yes, it is a disease. Many people stigmatize addiction by labeling it as some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is a fallacy. It is now widely agreed upon by most medical professionals and in most addiction recovery circles that addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes than it does with a choice.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Scientific breakthroughs have revolutionized the understanding of substance use disorders. For example, severe substance use disorders, commonly called addictions, were once viewed largely as a moral failing or character flaw, but are now understood to be chronic illnesses characterized by clinically significant impairments in health, social function, and voluntary control over substance use… All of these disorders are chronic, subject to relapse, and influenced by genetic, developmental, behavioral, social, and environmental factors.” It is also important to understand that addiction is a family disease. It is a disease that has been tearing families apart for centuries.
So, what exactly is a “family disease?” Family disease simply refers to an issue that affects the entire family and not just the individual who is struggling. Often, it is associated with addiction (and co-occurring mental illness). This is often why addiction is referred to as “a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” The good news is that while the family is often the most affected, they also often have the greatest opportunity to help. This is due to proximity and personal relationships. However, they must be able to spot the signs and symptoms if they are going to be able to truly help a loved one get the help they need.
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of these addictions are going to vary based on the individual. However, there are some universal signs and symptoms to look out for. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Loss of appetite and sudden changes in weight (loss or gain)
- Engaging in other risky behaviors
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
- Having feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or hopelessness
- Feeling depressed
- Feeling overly anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Not being able to stop using and drinking once started
- Harming oneself or others
- Having suicidal ideations
As one can see, addiction should never be minimized or categorized as a “choice.” It can be life or death. This is why, if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. The good news is that there is hope and help, as long as one finds the right care that is individualized and comprehensive.
The Importance of Individualized and Comprehensive Addiction Care
The sad reality is that many people end up at a recovery center or addiction treatment facility that does not fully meet their needs. This is often because they wind up at a recovery center that only offers overarching “one-note” treatment plans. They fail to see the importance of individualized addiction care.
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we know that this type of treatment rarely works. We have seen it time and time again with our clients’ experiences before coming to stay with us on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we know that getting to know our clients from the very beginning is essential. It helps us to cater a treatment experience that won’t just be effective but will be effective long after a client has left.
At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we also believe in comprehensive addiction care. This means using more than just one modality, and focusing on that holistic healing that was previously mentioned. That is why we focus on the multi-angled approach, which we will touch on in just a moment. But, first, let’s talk about that question – “I’m sober, what’s next?”
I’m Sober, What’s Next?
The good news is that getting sober can open up your world to an expanse that is only limited by your imagination. This is because you no longer have active addiction holding you back.
Of course, it will take work to get to this point. This often comes from hard work and rigorous action to repair relationships, including the relationship that you have with yourself.
It is also important to understand that being “sober” is not just a “one-and-done” event. It is a lifelong commitment to living the life that you both deserve and desire. Utilizing the multi-angled approach can help you get to this monumental place – a place of peace and serenity.
I’m Sober, What’s Next? A Multi-Angled Approach to Recovery
The multi-angled approach is all about utilizing the most effective means, methods, and modalities in tandem to ensure that the greatest outcomes can be achieved.
These should be modalities from all realms of recovery. This includes “evidence-based” psychotherapies, nature-based and creativity-inspired experiential therapies, and holistic healing methods like music therapy, massage therapy, yoga therapy, and mindfulness meditation. It also means utilizing the critically important aspects of exercise, diet, and nutrition.
I’m Sober, What’s Next? Nutritional Therapy
Once you get sober, it is important to live a sober life healthily. This includes your diet. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we have a maxim: “Food is medicine.” This is because we believe nutrition to be an essential part of healing at the cellular level. That is why we have some of the most renowned nutritionists and dietitians working with us. We also have a naturopath doctor who works closely with all of our clients.
It is important to remember that nutrition is as much about what stays out of our bodies as what goes in. According to The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (JPN), “Nutritional Therapy uses food to prevent and reverse diseases that plague most western societies: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, arthritis, and depression. For food to be therapeutic, it must be nutrient-dense, measured in part by the nutrients and anti-nutrients contained in consumed foods. Nutrients are plant and animal sources providing macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, probiotics), and fiber.”
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we also believe in the importance of food being full of variety, delicious, and satiating. That is why we have world-class chefs on staff who tailor every meal to the individual’s needs and likes. They also use organic and local ingredients to create amazing and memorable dishes.
I’m Sober, What’s Next? Psychotherapies
There are also many types of psychotherapy that can be effective at helping you enjoy your continued sobriety. These psychotherapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. They can also be helpful for treating one’s ongoing sobriety and co-occurring mental illness. DBT works particularly well at addressing underlying issues of co-occurring mental illness and addiction. This started with borderline personality disorder (BPD) but has since expanded to most issues.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, “Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapeutic intervention with a growing evidence base in treating individuals who have received a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Over the past three decades, there have been several randomised controlled trials across different sites that have demonstrated the efficacy of DBT in treating individuals with this diagnosis. Results have demonstrated reductions in several outcomes associated with BPD, including self-harm, suicidal behaviours, and hospital admissions.” EMDR can also be particularly helpful for multiple issues.
The Benefits of EMDR
When it comes to continued sobriety, it is important to utilize modalities that have minimal side effects. This is the case with most psychotherapies, especially EMDR. This is because EMDR is non-invasive and largely controlled by how you feel in the moment. This means that an EMDR session only has to go as far as you want it to.
EMDR offers a myriad of benefits for long-term recovery and sobriety. According to The Permanente Journal, “Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an empirically validated psychotherapy approach that medical personnel can employ to treat the sequelae of psychological trauma and other negative life experiences. Its ability to rapidly treat unprocessed memories of these adverse experiences has important implications for the medical community, as they appear to be the foundation for an array of clinical symptoms. Clinical applications of EMDR include a wide variety of psychological problems affecting patients and family members, as well as stress-induced physical disorders and medically unexplained symptoms.” There are also many holistic modalities that can help expand one’s sobriety.
I’m Sober, What’s Next? Holistic Healing Methods
Holistic healing methods have been utilized for thousands of years. These are practices like yoga and meditation, which were originally used for religious and/or spiritual purposes, but have since moved into the realm of recovery and long-term sobriety. These holistic methods have been shown to have many benefits for long-term sobriety. The following are just a few:
- Acquiring a better sense of self
- Finding a better sense of mental balance and clarity
- Helping one connect with others and heal relationships
- Increased positivity and wellness
- Improved breathing
- Better strength and posture
- A greater focus on mindfulness
- Creates empathy
- Connects individuals with new, relatable people
- Encourages spirituality
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Can help individuals who struggle with suicidal ideations
As one can see, these benefits are vast and varied. Mindfulness meditation also offers a series of other benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency. Physiological benefits include reduced blood pressure, heart rate, lactate, cortisol, and epinephrine; decreased metabolism, breathing pattern, oxygen utilization, and carbon dioxide elimination; and increased melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), skin resistance, and relative blood flow to the brain.”
Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™
Walt Whitman also famously said, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.” This is symbolic of the joys of recovery and long-term sobriety. So, when asking the questions, “I’m sober, what’s next?” The real question should be, “I’m sober, what isn’t next?” The entire world is at your fingertips. You have found a new freedom, and it is time to utilize it.
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we believe in healing at the cellular level. That is why all of our plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future.
If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired, then the time for recovery is now. You can do this! We can help.
There are many exciting new things that you can do now that you are happy and healthy in your sobriety. This includes such things as physical activity, spiritual progress, and reconciliation of relationships. These new healthy activities can also help you avoid a potential relapse. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of mental illness, addiction, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about all of the amazing new possibilities that open up once you get sober, please reach out to our team of experts at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ today at (808) 775-0200.
