Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual: The Long-Term Positive Effects of Recovery

The Buddha famously said, “You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.” This is emblematic of how important it is to focus on healing at the cellular level for the long-term positive effects of recovery.

Understanding the Prevalence of Addiction

Addiction is highly prevalent and affects millions of people in the U.S. and abroad every year. The good news is that addiction is highly treatable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “A substance use disorder (SUD) is a treatable, chronic disease characterized by a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems. In 2022, more than one in six Americans aged 12 or older reported experiencing a SUD.”

It is also important to understand that addiction is a very deadly disease, and, yes, it is a “disease.” Many people get confused about the concept of addiction and think of it as some type of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply untrue. Addiction is a chronic disease similar to other chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. The reality is that without some type of professional intervention, addiction is almost always going to get worse, never better.

One should also remember that addiction is a “family disease.” This is because it does not just affect the individual but affects everyone around that individual (especially the family). As is often said in 12-Step recovery, “Addiction is like a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” This is also true of individuals who struggle with co-occurring disorders of addiction and mental illness.

The Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders

Many people are unaware of how prevalent co-occurring disorders of addiction and mental illness are. They are also unfamiliar with what having co-occurring disorders entails. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “In addition to increasing the likelihood of some illnesses, substance use disorders can influence a person’s treatment for medical conditions. Patients with substance use disorders and other co-occurring mental disorders typically have a harder time staying in treatment, and following treatment guidelines, which leads to worse health outcomes. Substance use can also lessen the effectiveness of medications for some conditions.”

Having co-occurring disorders can also often hinder the positive effects of recovery. Often, one of the disorders overshadows the other and can make diagnosing co-occurring disorders very difficult. For example, the signs and symptoms of addiction coincide with many of the signs and symptoms of clinical depression. This is also why being able to spot the specific signs of addiction and/or mental illness can be so important.

The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction and Mental Illness

Now, of course, the signs and symptoms of addiction and/or mental illness are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Not being able to stop once starting drinking or using
• Experiencing trouble at work or school
• Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and wellbeing
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

Often, people minimize addiction and/or mental illness or even falsely categorize it. However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help sooner rather than later is critical. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It is also important to reach out to the right recovery centers when it comes to getting the right long-term treatment.

Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual: The Long-Term Positive Effects of Recovery

Many people ask, “What does it mean to heal at the cellular level?” The answer is that one must recover holistically, meaning one must heal the whole mind, body, and soul.

It is also about healing the capital “S” “Self,” and all of the components that go along with it. This includes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components. Beginning with the most visible, one must ensure that they heal physically.

The Positive Physical Effects of Recovery

The negative physical effects of addiction are many. This includes harm to one’s internal organs (especially the stomach and liver). Addiction can also affect one’s physical abilities, which includes an individual’s strength and flexibility. The good news is that the positive physical effects of recovery can be just as dramatic. Recovery can bring about a whole new physical change. Yes, this includes one’s fundamental physical well-being. 

However, it also includes one’s ability to take care of themselves physically with diet and exercise. Physical fitness also cuts down on premature death. According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), “An increase in physical fitness will reduce the risk of premature death, and a decrease in physical fitness will increase the risk. The effect appears to be graded, such that even small improvements in physical fitness are associated with a significant reduction in risk. In one study, participants with the highest levels of physical fitness at baseline and who maintained or improved their physical fitness over a prolonged period had the lowest risk of premature death.” Physical exercise can also help someone heal mentally.

The Positive Mental Effects of Recovery

As previously mentioned, there are many correlations between addiction and mental health. This is why it is so important to experience the positive mental effects of recovery.

Recovering one’s mental faculties is critical for healing at the cellular level. One of the best ways to experience this type of mental recovery is via various psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR). These types of therapies are particularly beneficial in getting to the underlying issues of one’s addiction. It is important to remember that addiction is about much more than simply picking up the drink or the drug. This is why it is often said in 12-Step recovery that, “It is about the drinking much more than it is about the thinking.”

EMDR can be particularly beneficial for mental recovery. Many people feel overwhelmed by EMDR, but it is actually very straightforward and safe. 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 also helps with emotional recovery.

The Positive Emotional Effects of Recovery

Addiction is often emotionally devastating to everyone involved. This is why emotional recovery is so important. 

Now, there are many ways to heal emotionally, but some of the best healing methods are holistic healing methods like yoga therapy and mindfulness meditation. Both of these types of techniques have been practiced for thousands of years, but have since moved into the realm of recovery. It is now well-known that mindfulness meditation can be highly emotionally beneficial. 

According to the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Psychology Review, “Mindfulness has been theoretically and empirically associated with psychological well-being. The elements of mindfulness, namely awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of one’s moment-to-moment experience, are regarded as potentially effective antidotes against common forms of psychological distress – rumination, anxiety, worry, fear, anger, and so on – many of which involve the maladaptive tendencies to avoid, suppress, or over-engage with one’s distressing thoughts and emotions. Though promoted for centuries as a part of Buddhist and other spiritual traditions, the application of mindfulness to psychological health in Western medical and mental health contexts is a more recent phenomenon, largely beginning in the 1970s.” It can also help spiritually.

The Positive Spiritual Effects of Recovery

Many people worry that they will have to suddenly become religious if they choose the path of recovery. This is simply untrue. It is a myth. However, many people do choose a spiritual path as they continue on their journey of long-term recovery.

In 12-Step recovery, many people decide to adopt a Higher Power of their own understanding. Yes, some people choose this to be an established religious “God,” but others choose to make it their own concept such as nature or other people who have been in recovery longer than them.

Adopting spirituality can also reduce relapse rates. According to the peer-reviewed journal Substance Use & Misuse, “Despite the paucity of research in this area, spirituality has been shown to be a significant and independent predictor of recovery and/or improvement in indices of treatment outcome. Levels of spirituality increase between treatment entry and subsequent recovery, and levels of spirituality may be greater in individuals whose recovery is successful compared to those who have relapsed. Length of sobriety has also been positively associated with spirituality, while commitment to a higher power may lessen the severity of relapse episodes.” Spirituality has also been shown to help individuals in recovery socially.

The Positive Social Effects of Recovery

Many people in active addiction struggle with relationships. This is not their fault. It is merely that nature of addiction – to push everyone and everything one holds dear away.

The good news is that there are many ways to regain and establish relationships in recovery. This comes from putting in hard work and taking the time to make amends (“saying sorry” for past misdeeds). It may also come from utilizing group therapy.

Unfortunately, many recovery centers still don’t put adequate focus on group therapy, despite its efficacy. According to the Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, “In spite of considerable research advances in the past 15 years, evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for substance use disorders (SUDs) often are not utilized in treatment settings or lag years behind in their uptake. Several reasons have been identified for this research-practice gap, including organizational barriers, the complexity of comprehensive SUD services, the difficulty of balancing treatment fidelity with individualized care, and pessimistic beliefs or ambivalent attitudes among clinicians about EBTs.” Group therapy can also help one when it comes to functioning in their career.

The Positive Occupational Effects of Recovery

Many people worry about pursuing recovery because they worry about what is going to happen to their careers. The reality that one should think about is how much harm untreated addiction is currently doing to one’s career.

It is also important to understand that, in many instances, one does not have to completely put their career on hold while one recovers. The key is to find the right treatment center that is going to cater to individual needs without jeopardizing their recovery.

The reality is that the recovery industry is worth billions of dollars. This also means that there are many predatory treatment facilities that put their financial bottom line above their client’s needs. This is not the case here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab where our treatment plans are always individualized and comprehensive. It is always about the client over the finances.

Healing With Nutritional Therapy

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in the maxim, “Food is medicine.” This is why we have such a focus on healthy foods and eating habits. Also, this is why we have exceptional licensed nutritionists and dieticians on staff (including a licensed naturopath doctor).

Our health nutrition also focuses on the importance of the gut microbiome, which can be critical for healing at the cellular level. According to the peer-reviewed journal Intestinal Research, “Complex microflora-microflora and host-microflora interactions affect the immune system, epithelial and barrier function, as well as the large metabolic capacity of the gut microbiome. Conversely, the immune, epithelial, and barrier functions of the gut affect the aforementioned interactions. In addition to this complex mechanism, interactions between external environmental factors and host gut immunity and microbiome are instrumental in creating a unique gut environment and maintaining gut integrity in each individual.” Also, “External environmental factors include geographical and ecological factors, diet, and drugs such as proton pump inhibitors or antibiotics.”

However, we don’t just focus on nutrition at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab. We also focus on satiation and satisfaction. This is why all of our meals are tailored for each and every client and are prepared by world-class chefs. Also, our food often consists of fruits and vegetables that were grown directly on our luxury 30-acre property and cultivated via horticulture therapy.

Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, healing at the cellular level is our motto. We believe that to fully recover, one must heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

The Buddha also famously said, “Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.” Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we offer that wisdom and guidance.

Recovery is just over the horizon line of the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. The key is to go out there and get it. We can help.

Many people understand the overall harm that addiction causes. However, it is important to discuss all of the positive aspects that return when one chooses to recover. This includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual effects of recovery. It is also important to get to the underlying root/core causes of addiction to heal at the cellular level. 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 positive path toward recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about healing at the cellular level, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.