Facing the Fear of Admitting You Need Help

The renowned scholar and Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously.” This is the same type of tenacity that we must exhibit if we are to truly get the recovery help that we need. Facing the fear of admitting you need help is natural, but that fear must be faced at some point if you (or a loved one) are going to recover.

What Does It Mean to Heal at the Cellular Level?

Many people wonder what it means to heal at the cellular level. Ultimately, it is not that complicated. Healing at the cellular level is all about healing the entirety of the self rather than just single components. For example, this means that one cannot just work out and exercise to heal physically, they must also do psychological work to heal mentally and emotionally. Healing at the cellular level also means healing spiritually. 

Now, healing at the cellular level also means getting to the root/core causes of addiction. These causes are often related to issues of trauma and/or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Many people don’t realize just how often trauma and addiction are related. 

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Traumatic experiences are associated with substance use and with developing substance use disorders. Violence, abuse, neglect, and family or social conflict are among the traumatic events and circumstances that are linked with the risk of developing a substance use disorder.” Also, “Children and adolescents who experience trauma are particularly susceptible to developing a substance use disorder later in life.” Many of these people require individualized and comprehensive addiction care if they are to fully recover.

The Importance of Individualized, Comprehensive Addiction Care

There is little doubt that the boon in treatment centers over the last 20 years has been a blessing. According to the peer-reviewed thesis The Treatment of Addiction: What Can Research Offer Practice?, “Problems of substance dependence produce dramatic costs to society in terms of lost productivity, social disorder and of course health care utilization. Over the past twenty years, many of the traditional forms of substance abuse treatment (e.g., methadone maintenance, therapeutic communities, outpatient drug-free, and others) have been evaluated multiple times and shown to be effective. Importantly, this research has shown that the benefits obtained from addiction treatments typically extend beyond the reduction of substance use.…”

However, this influx of treatment centers has also brought with it some bad actors. These are treatment centers that put profits over their client’s well-being. Often, these are the same recovery centers that only offer overarching “one-note” treatment plans that forgo comprehensive planning that focuses on individual needs.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we find that these types of plans rarely work. That is why we tailor all of our plans specifically to each client. This starts with “admitting you need help” all the way through to essential aftercare planning.

Facing the Fear of Admitting You Need Help

Now, in addiction recovery, admitting you need help (or getting a loved one to admit they need help) is truly the first step to getting well. It is so important that it is even mentioned in the First Step of 12-Step recovery – “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol [and substances] — that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Of course, admitting you need help is easier said than done. There is understandably a lot of fear associated with admitting you need help. This may stem from many places. You may worry that you may endanger your job or placement in school. Perhaps, you are worried that you will be letting down your loved ones. Maybe, there is fear that once you admit you need help you will be judged. The reality is that, where it counts, none of these instances will be true.

Chances are that if you need help, the people around you know it. That is why it is often said that “we are the last to know that we have a problem.” These people want you to get well, but they may not know how to approach the subject. The fact of the matter is that when the time comes that you discover you need help, you must seize it – the window of opportunity often closes quickly and you don’t want to miss it. However, admitting you need help is just the first step.

Admitting You Need Help Is Just the First Step

After admitting you need help, you must then accept the help that is being offered. This may feel difficult at first. Often, many people feel that accepting help is a burden to others. Again, this is a fallacy – everyone just wants to see that you get well and recover!

The next important component of getting well in addiction recovery is being willing. Many people consider willingness to be the cornerstone of recovery. This is because with willingness comes action and “nothing changes if nothing changes.” One must be active in their recovery if they are to recover, and just as importantly, stay recovered in the long term and avoid relapsing.

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapses are. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention, by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.” The good news is that by admitting you need help, acceptance, and willingness, these relapses can be avoided.

How to Recover After Admitting You Need Help

Whether one wants to follow the Twelve Steps of recovery directly, their principles can certainly help to guide anyone in their recovery. The main components of the Twelve Steps are admitting you need help, “cleaning house” (meaning admitting past faults and making amends for them), and living a continued life of helpfulness, love, and acceptance.

Of course, these principles must also work in tandem with other facets of recovery. For example, many people require an intervention to start their journey of recovery. Many people also require a detox at the beginning of their recovery journey. This is often because their body is more depleted of nutrients than they realize.

Now, this is why, at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we offer pharmaceutical-grade supplements to ensure that our clients are fully healthy to continue their work of recovery. We also offer infusion therapy that can help to ensure that these nutrients are quickly and fully absorbed into the bloodstream. Of course, infusion therapy is not the only modality of recovery that we offer.

Accepting Help With Multiple Modalities

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we offer multiple means, methods, and modalities for recovery. These are taken from every area of the recovery realm. For example, we utilize psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR).

We also offer experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy, surf therapy, and art therapy. Also, as part of our holistic approach, we utilize mindfulness meditation, massage therapy, and yoga therapy. Then, there is a focus on health with nutrition therapy.

Utilizing Nutrition Therapy for Recovery

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we have a maxim – “Food is medicine.” That is why we focus on nutrition and have some of the most respected nutritionists and dieticians on staff. We are one of the few recovery centers that keeps a licensed naturopath doctor on staff.

Many people don’t realize that nutrition therapy 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. In order 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,” and “Anti-Nutrients are food products that have no biological necessity.”

Of course, here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we don’t just focus on nutrition. We also focus on satiation, satisfaction, and flavor. That is why we hired world-class chefs who utilize amazing local ingredients to make meals tailored for each and every one of our clients. Some of the produce that they use is cultivated by our clients directly on our thirty-acre luxury property utilizing horticulture therapy.

Utilizing Horticulture Therapy for Recovery

When you walk onto our luxury property, you will see an amazing landscape covered in beautiful fruits and vegetables. There are rows of citrus and coconut trees, dots of beautiful pineapple patches and guava bushes, and vegetable boxes that are bursting with local varietals. All of these fruits and vegetables have been tended to by clients who are recovering by getting their hands dirty and connecting with the natural beauty of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Horticulture has been used as a healing practice for thousands of years. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.” Another way that people connect to nature here on Hawaii’s Big Island is via nature immersion therapy.

Utilizing Nature Immersion for Recovery

It has long been known that interacting with nature can make you happier. According to the U.S. National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of well-being and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.” Interacting in “green spaces” has also been shown to have many other benefits. 

This is especially true for individuals with co-occurring addiction and mental health issues. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “[N]ature-based therapy (including nature-based rehabilitation and horticultural therapy) has been demonstrated to positively affect individuals with mental health disorders. The research found that nature-based therapy improves patients’ self-esteem and decreases depression; improves motivation and social interaction; reduces healthcare consumption; increases mental well-being, and engagement, and can give participants a sense of meaningfulness. Overall, the potential of nature-based therapy is highly promising.”

Utilizing Psychotherapy for Recovery

As previously mentioned, psychotherapy can be an essential component of recovery. Because psychotherapy is “evidence-based,” it is often used as the foundation of many treatment plans that utilize multiple modalities. One highly effective psychotherapy is EMDR.

EMDR is especially helpful in addressing those underlying traumatic issues of addiction mentioned earlier. According to the peer-reviewed journal Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, “Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, is a type of psychotherapy geared toward mitigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. EMDR is an eight-step treatment modality that aims to distance patients with PTSD from the negative self-conception that can develop following traumatic events while affirming and installing positive self-assessments. This is achieved by leading the patient through bilateral stimulation while talking through their traumatic memories and negative feelings, eventually introducing positive statements to replace the negative ones.”

EMDR is also a preferred method of recovery because it has been shown to have very minimal side effects. This is also true for many holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation.

Utilizing Yoga Therapy and Mindfulness Meditation for Recovery

Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years. Initially, they were solely used for religious or spiritual purposes, but they have since moved into the realm of recovery.

Yoga and meditation can help individuals face their fears of recovery, while also helping them to establish emotional balance, mental clarity, and physical wellness. These practices also often help individuals cultivate their own personal spiritual practice, which many people find essential for their long-term recovery.

There are also many other types of holistic healing methods that can be highly beneficial. These include massage therapy, acupuncture, aroma therapy, sound bathing, and reiki. The key is to find the right types of holistic healing methods that work for you and to integrate them into your overall plan of recovery.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Thich Nhat Hanh also famously said, “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” Yes, admitting you need help is essential. But, so is understanding that there is hope. Also, there is help.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future. Ultimately, that is what healing at the cellular level is all about.

It is important to remember that the road to recovery is about the ride, never the destination. That amazing ride can start right here on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. Recovery is out there and waiting. It’s time to face the fear and go out and get it! We can help.

Admitting that you need help can be the biggest hurdle in recovery. That is why it can be so critical to understand that many people have a fear of getting help; it is normal. However, many people and places can assist in getting the people struggling the help that is needed. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the right road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about getting the addiction help you need as soon as possible, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.