| Those suffering from addictions habitually engage in | | | | interprets that thought as some kind of threat to the |
| compulsive behaviors to avoid feelings of depression, | | | | body. |
| anxiety, and other distressing mood states. Holistic | | | | For example, a worry of any kind usually has some |
| Therapy offers opportunities to safely experience | | | | kind of thought attached to it. But it is not the thought |
| painful emotions while learning ways to manage | | | | that a person is feeling but the body's response to that |
| destructive thoughts and behaviors. | | | | thought. |
| Many addictions recovery treatment programs focus | | | | Through a complex process the brain interprets the |
| on the distorted thinking and destructive behavior of | | | | "worry" thought as a threat to the body and |
| the addict with less attention to the underlying | | | | immediately begins preparing it to defend itself by |
| depression and anxiety that drive negative thoughts | | | | pouring adrenalin, cortisol, and a host of other |
| and behavior. At best addicts in treatment might attend | | | | chemicals into the body to prepare it to fight, flee, |
| lectures and participate in groups where speakers and | | | | freeze, or hide. That is how the brain responds to any |
| participants talk about and share these feelings, but | | | | stress. And the felt sensation of those changes and |
| they seldom offer sufficient opportunities for addicts to | | | | many others is tension, tightness, pressure, heaviness |
| directly and safely experience what they are feeling | | | | or a host of other physical feelings. These changes |
| and to creatively manage their feelings. | | | | are commonly although not always consciously |
| Holistic Therapy incorporates methods that do just this. | | | | experienced as depression and/or anxiety. At their |
| Through a skillful blending of eastern methods of | | | | most powerful, these changes can elicit the |
| healing with western methods of psychotherapy | | | | excruciating pain associated to a heart attack. With no |
| Holistic Therapy teaches recovering folks how to use | | | | means to slow this process down it is not surprising |
| their senses to assess what their emotions are telling | | | | that recovery fails. |
| them and how to effectively manage the associated | | | | Holistic Therapy teaches us how to effectively and |
| distress. | | | | consistently ease those distressing physical sensations |
| We have at least seven senses--touch, taste, smell, | | | | by noticing what each of the senses is picking up. By |
| hearing, sight, balance, and internal sensations. Every | | | | helping to identify what thoughts are occurring and |
| second of every day our senses are picking up | | | | how the body is feeling Holistic Therapy gives |
| information, sending it to our brain, with our body | | | | recovering folks the power to manage the depression |
| consequently responding depending on how the brain | | | | and anxiety that fuels addictive behavior. |
| interprets the data. Short of some kind of brain | | | | As human beings we think, feel, sense, and do. We |
| damage our responses will always include feelings. | | | | also have a mind-body-spirit that needs careful tending |
| Surprising to many recovering addicts is the idea that | | | | if we are to live peacefully and productively. |
| we cannot feel a thought. They are additionally | | | | Recovering from addiction, healing from the destructive |
| surprised to learn that depression and anxiety and | | | | consequences of addiction requires a treatment |
| other uncomfortable feelings are always physical | | | | program to engage all these parts of Self. Otherwise, |
| sensation in some form. However, a thought can elicit | | | | what results is a temporary respite with relapse |
| a great deal of physical distress in the body if the brain | | | | following on its heels. |