Holistic Care and Treatment

Mindfulness Games for Groups

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Mindfulness

Mindfulness is intentionally paying attention, and being present in the moment with compassion, with acceptance, and without judgment. It is a practice to engage in for mind-body health, and an important part of the recovery process. Substance use alters the natural rhythms of the body and mindfulness can help bring you back in tune with those changes. It can help ease you off of autopilot and into a stress-free life of awareness. Practicing mindfulness can be easy and fun. Next time you’re hanging out with a group of friends, try playing some of these mindfulness games and exercises; you might …

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Applying the “Stages of Change” Model to Drug Addiction Treatment

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Holistic Care and Treatment

Individuals with a substance use disorder are oftentimes in denial about their addiction for a period of time. Denial is a simple way to minimize and rationalize any problem at hand. It is a defense mechanism that shifts the blame away from the denier and hands it off to anyone available to accept the responsibility. Disordered substance users will argue against evidence, minimize the facts, and deny responsibility. Denial functions as an ego defense mechanism for them that is meant to ward off discomfort caused by repeated emotional injuries. It results in poor treatment outcomes and is a major obstacle …

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Alternative/Integrative Medicine Finally Becoming More Mainstream

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Pain

Holistic lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, meditation, etc., have been shown to improve health and sometimes even reverse certain disorders. As opioid overdoses and fatalities become more commonplace, physicians and patients alike are turning to these alternative/integrative solutions for their medical problems. This is an important shift for mainstream medicine, as the focus has historically been on medication and surgical options. This pharmacological option is still viable in many cases but encouraging consideration of alternatives, especially for patients with chronic pain, is sure to at least somewhat decrease the prevalence of opioids in our society. Read more about this …

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Courage – April 2016 Dream Journal

April 6, 2020 / Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks

Dream Journal Volume XXXIIX / April 2016 Note From Dr B. The Ancient Greeks identified four Cardinal (pivotal) Virtues sustained in the face of difficulty: prudence (or wisdom over time), justice, courage, and temperance. Courage is sometimes equated with endurance, the ability to stand firm and immovable in the midst of danger, toils, and certain death. It is the midpoint between cowardice and recklessness, which are the objects of fear and daring, respectively. Fear is a powerful feeling that arises when we sense danger, and when level of danger increases we feel more fear. Cowardice is the shortage of courage keeping …

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What is Trauma Informed Treatment?

April 7, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Mental Health

Trauma: a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems, usually for a long time; a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury; an emotional upset; an injury to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent -Merriam Webster Dictionary Many individuals seeking mental health or addiction services have experienced some form of trauma in their lives, yet there is still a disturbing lack of education on its pervasive influence. The trauma-informed treatment model, set forth by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is …

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Care Plans for Chronic Pain

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Pain

The ongoing opioid overdose crisis has prompted the CDC to take action in the form of developing new guidelines for qualified prescribers. First and foremost, the CDC stresses that opioid therapy should be utilized only if all other treatment options have been exhausted. Opioids can vastly improve functionality and quality of life, but the benefits must be weighed against the risks of tolerance, addiction, overdose, etc. If opioids are absolutely necessary, the prescribing physician and patient should work together to formulate a safe plan of approach and establish realistic treatment goals before starting therapy. These goals should be re-assessed throughout …

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Hope – February 2016

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics

Dream Journal Volume XXXVI / February 2016 Note From Dr B. Hope is the driving force behind recovery. You can see it in the glowing smile of the elderly man who finally made it through a full year without a drink. You can feel it in the bouncing step of the middle-aged woman whose regular physical therapy sessions have caused her pain levels to decrease. You can hear it in the proud applause of parents watching their now drug-free son walk across the stage to receive his college diploma. You can taste it in the glass of water that the teenage …

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Holistic Nutrition to Treat Addiction

April 6, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Nutrition

When you’re struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol and it’s mealtime, it’s all too easy to stop in at your favorite fast food place and pick up a burger, fries and a soda to go. But while that may be fine for an occasional treat, if you’re suffering from the disease of alcohol or drug addiction, it’s important to think about what you’re putting- and not putting – into your body on a regular basis. Holistic nutrition to treat addiction is a part of the recovery process, and well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks will not only aid in your …

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What are the Benefits of Antioxidants?

April 7, 2020 / Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Medical Consequences, Nutrition, Outer Banks, Prevention

Substance-use exerts a large amount of physical stress on the human body. Drugs take precedence over basic necessities during active addiction, so health often falls by the wayside. Malnourishment, for example, causes the body to function improperly due to a lack of essential nutrients. Some drugs create the illusion of “fullness” so the body doesn’t convey to the brain that it needs sustenance. Some drugs nurture such a strong dependence that users forget to eat or simply aren’t motivated enough to find nutritious food options. Poor diet can cause damage to the digestive system, resulting in indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, etc. …

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Honesty – January 2016

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Art Therapy, Chicago, Dream Journal, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics, Tobacco/Nicotine

Dream Journal Volume XXXVI / January 2016 Note From Dr B. The idea of making a “New Year’s Resolution” is appealing to individuals across the globe, but it also adds a great deal of pressure to the actions of the upcoming year. People oftentimes make unrealistic promises (ex. I will exercise every single day from now on) and end up disappointed when they are unable to live up to the standard of perfection they set for themselves. So, as a means of relieving ourselves of this unnecessary stress, I propose that we all strive for progress in this upcoming year instead …

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