Whole Mind-Body Healing: Understanding Alcohol as One’s ‘Drug of Choice’

Addiction Recovery Publishing Addiction Treatment April 2, 2025

There is a traditional proverb that is often used on Hawaii’s Big Island that goes, “Kahuna Nui Hale Kealohalani Makua.” This translates to “love all you see, including yourself.” Now, this is a beautiful sentiment, but it is unfortunately often lost on individuals who are struggling with excessive alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The good news is that when it comes to understanding alcohol, there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for recovery.

Better Understanding Alcohol

Alcohol is the most consumed intoxicating substance on the planet. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), “224.3 million people ages 12 and older (79.1% in this age group) reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime.” This includes “111.1 million males ages 12 and older (80.1% in this age group)” and “113.2 million females ages 12 and older (78.1% in this age group).”

Now, it is not that drinking on occasion is to be demonized. Millions of people will consume alcohol in moderate amounts in their lives and be fine. However, even these individuals may experience some adverse effects in one way or another.

The reality is that many people who start drinking moderately end up drinking to excess, and these people can end up acquiring AUD. AUD leads to many serious issues, not the least of which may be extreme physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain, as well as premature death.

Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD affects way more people than one might realize. According to NIAAA and NSDUH, “28.9 million people ages 12 and older (10.2% in this age group) had AUD in the past year.” This includes “16.8 million males ages 12 and older (12.1% in this age group)” and “12.0 million females ages 12 and older (8.3% in this age group).”

Many people are also confused about what AUD actually is. These people are often under the misconception that AUD is some type of “choice” or moral failing. This is simply untrue. AUD and addiction are diseases. Addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer than it does a “choice.” AUD and addiction are also “family diseases.”

Now, what exactly does “family disease” mean? It means that AUD affects more than just the individual who is struggling. AUD affects everyone around that individual. This is especially true when it comes to close friends and family members. However, the good news is that being so closely associated also allows the family to be of the most help when it comes to getting their loved one into treatment. The key is knowing the signs and the symptoms to look out for.

Better Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder: The Signs and Symptoms

Now, the signs and symptoms of AUD and addiction (also co-occurring disorders) are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms of AUD. The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:

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

Now, many people can minimize AUD or falsely categorize it as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is vital. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences.

Understanding Alcohol as One’s ‘Drug of Choice’

One reason why alcohol remains many people’s “drug of choice” is that it is the most accessible drug available. Anyone can go into a store and buy it (without limitations). There are also fewer consequences for possessing and using alcohol. Also, alcohol is a “gateway drug,” which means that many people use alcohol before they use other substances (like cocaine and heroin).

According to the peer-reviewed journal Preventive Medicine Reports, “The concept of ‘gateway hypothesis’ has been studied since the 1970s as the theory suggests that an adolescent’s early experimentation with alcohol or tobacco or cannabis escalates to more addictive illicit drugs later in adulthood. The most commonly used illicit substances include heroin/opioids, cocaine, and or amphetamines and their designer drug analogs, considered illegal by the criminal justice system in the United States and other jurisdictions.” This is also the reason why many people go back to alcohol after experimenting with other substances.

The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for recovering from AUD. The key is to find the right combination that works and also focuses on healing the individual at the cellular level.

Whole Mind-Body Healing: What Does It Mean to Recover at the Cellular Level?

Healing at the cellular level is all about healing every aspect of the capital “S” Self.” This means whole mind-body healing: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. How does this happen? It happens by ensuring that the individual receives focused and comprehensive care tailored just for them.

Many recovery centers only offer overarching “one-size-fits-all” treatment plans. This is often due to a focus on the bottom line over the client’s well-being. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that this type of recovery rarely works, which is why all of our plans are comprehensive and individualized. This includes our recovery plans that focus on AUD.

Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder Recovery

AUD recovery must utilize as many effective means, methods, and modalities as possible. This ensures that the most balanced mind-body healing takes place.

These modalities should come from all areas of recovery. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and group psychotherapy, experiential therapies like nature-based therapies and art therapy, and holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation.

Recovering From AUD With Holistic Healing Methods

According to the master yogi and spiritual leader B.K.S. Iyengar, “We must create a marriage between the awareness of the body and that of the mind. When two parties do not cooperate, there is unhappiness on both sides.” This is where yoga and meditation come in. These practices have been happening for thousands of years. Originally, they were solely used for religious or spiritual purposes, but they have since moved into the realm of recovery.

When it comes to understanding alcohol and AUD recovery, yoga can be a highly effective tool. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent, reduce, or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility; promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function; promote recovery from and treatment of addiction; reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain; improve sleep patterns; and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”

Meditation can also be a highly effective modality of AUD recovery. 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.” Psychotherapy can also be critical for recovery.

Recovering From AUD With Psychotherapies

Group psychotherapy can often be a highly effective means of recovery. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “The natural propensity of human beings to congregate makes group therapy a powerful therapeutic tool for treating substance abuse, one that is as helpful as individual therapy, and sometimes more successful. One reason for this efficacy is that groups intrinsically have many rewarding benefits – such as reducing isolation and enabling members to witness the recovery of others – and these qualities draw clients into a culture of recovery.”

There are also many other effective psychotherapies when it comes to treating AUD. CBT can be particularly effective because it can get to the underlying causes of addiction. This psychotherapy helps the individual to see the negative way in which they have been viewing themselves and the world around them. When they see this, they can then begin to change the behaviors that are associated with the root/core causes of their addiction (the underlying issues).

According to the peer-reviewed thesis Cognitive Behavior Therapy, by Doctors Chand, Kuckel, and Huecker, “Cognitive behavior therapy is a structured, didactic, and goal-oriented form of therapy. The approach is hands-on and practical, wherein the therapist and patient work in a collaborative manner with the goal of modifying patterns of thinking and behavior to bring about a beneficial change in the patient’s mood and way of living his/her life. It is used to help a wide range of problems, and appropriate treatment protocols are applied depending on the diagnosis and problems the patient is facing.” CBT can be even more effective when an individual is working with other people in recovery.

Recovering From AUD by Working With Others

Working with other people in recovery is a vital component of long-term success. It is so important that the primary text of 12-Step recovery (often referred to as the Big Book) even has a chapter dedicated to it: “Working With Others.” The chapter states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail. You can help when no one else can.”

Yes, working with others can prevent a relapse. Also, many people don’t realize just how common relapses can be. 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.” Experimental therapies can also help to reduce the chance of a relapse.

Recovering With Experiential Therapies

Experiential therapies are much like their namesake states. They are more about experiences than they are about discussion. There are many types of effective experiential therapies, and they generally fall into two categories. One is more creative, like art therapy, and the other is more nature-based, like nature immersion therapy and surf therapy.

Surf therapy has been shown to be highly effective at helping people with AUD recover. According to the peer-reviewed journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, “There might be a synergy between the psychological benefits of physical activity and the restorative effects (i.e., reduced stress, increased well-being) of contact with a natural environment. Exercise outdoors in water (compared to out of water) produced greater improvements in self-esteem and mood, potentially protective against future long-term health threats. A systematic review of blue space interventions (i.e., those including one or more types of visible outdoor surface waters) showed that mental health, especially psychosocial well-being, can be improved with investment in blue spaces.” It also works well alongside art therapy.

Art therapy has also been shown to be highly effective at treating AUD and addiction (especially when it comes to addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders). According to the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, “Art therapy is used most commonly to treat mental illnesses and can aid in controlling manifestations correlated with psychosocially challenging behaviours, slowing cognitive decline, and enhancing the quality of life. [It] can help people express themselves more freely, improve their mental health, and improve interpersonal relationships. The basis of art therapy is established on the idea that people can recover and feel better via artistic expression.”

Recovering at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

There is a saying that is often heard in the rooms of recovery. It is known as “the responsibility statement.” The statement goes, “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of [recovery] always to be there. And for that I am responsible.” Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we take our responsibility about recovery very seriously. That is why we only offer individualized and comprehensive recovery plans with a focus on the future. We believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.”

The key to recovering at the cellular level is to find the right recovery center that utilizes the right tools for the individual. That recovery center must also be willing to adjust to the individual’s needs. After all, it is about the individual, not just the disease.

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in loving our clients until they learn to love themselves. This is the essence of “Kahuna Nui Hale Kealohalani Makua.” Recovery is present on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island. It is on the beautiful blue horizon, and it is within reach. The key is to go out there and get it. We can help.

Many people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD) also struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Many of these people have realized that the first step to using again is taking a drink, which is why it is considered a gateway drug. It can be a slippery slope. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities when it comes to AUD recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of mental illness, addiction, or both, we can help get you on the positive path to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about AUD, call Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.