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