People with Chemical Dependency-Coping-Skills Training for People with

Chemical Dependency When an addict decides to quit doing the addictive

behavior the body will inevitably go through withdrawals from the substance.

The Effects of Withdrawal on the Body

Fatigue

Anxiety

Depressed Mood

Irritability

Paranoia

Aggression

Dehydration

Electrolyte Disturbance

Poor Concentration

Dyspepsia

Sweating

Fever

Intense Cravings

Extreme Restlessness

Generalized Pain throughout the body

Extreme Pain occurring in muscles, and bones

Vomiting

The Effects of Withdrawal on the Body

Cold Sweats

Delirium Tremens

Diarrhea

Seizures

Excito-Neurotoxicity

Hallucinations

Malnutrition

Loss of Appetite

Headaches

Agitation

Alcoholic Hallucinosis

Anorexia

Panic Attacks

Anxiety Attacks

Catatonia

Confusion

Depersonalization

De-realization

The Effects of Withdrawal on the Body

Diaphoresis

Euphoria

Nausea

Hypertension

Hyperthermia

Insomnia

Migraines

Palpitations

Psychosis

Rebound Rem Sleep

Tachycardia

Tremors

Death

Thoughts of Suicide

Suicide Attempts

So to help negate the effects of withdrawal we must find alternate ways to keep the body in shape, and help restore normal functioning to the body after addiction.

Treatment Plans for the Body

An important aspect of the therapeutic treatment plan is to focus on the body. When someone is addicted they do not function properly without the need for whatever that they may be addicted too. The effects of withdrawal on the body are numerous. Developing coping mechanisms will help people adjust to the withdrawal effects. An exercise routine triggers the release of endorphins. Endorphins are shown to have a good feeling effect on the bran, and body. They also help to control pain, and reduce depression. They can reduce anxiety symptoms, relieve stress, relieve tension, and cause cravings to become lesser. Exercise also helps to aid in increasing the confidence and self-esteem in clients.

Yoga to Combat the Effects of Withdrawal

Yoga is an ideal way to deal with withdrawal. Yoga teaches discipline, mind and body control. Some yoga poses detoxify the body, and it helps correct posture. Yoga is effective on the biology and the psychology of an addict. An addict’s body and mind are out of control, yoga creates an inner peace that helps calm the internal disorder. A recent study was done that showed yoga was just as effective as traditional psycho-dynamic theory. When a person learns how to calm themselves through proper breathing this will allow them to be able to control their urges, and feel more at peace during the hard times of withdrawal.

Yoga Therapy Yoga has a calming effect on the body, and allows us to

break down barriers that have held us back. When you do yoga you can focus on the moment at hand, and not things that are bothering you. When recovering from addiction impulse control is key to recovery. Yoga helps with impulse control by working to negate the unhealthy impulses. Yoga has been shown in experiments to alter brain chemistry. Yoga has been shown to reduce cravings, anxiety, fear, etc. Yoga affects the basal ganglia in the brain to lower dopamine activity. In yoga a very important aspect is proper breathing. When you learn to breathe properly, and focus on your breathing you will be able to calm the body better, and help reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

Yoga Therapy Khundalini yoga has been found to emphasize intense breathing patterns. This

in turn triggers endorphins and stimulate the brains into being happier. Yoga is being used in more and more treatment facilities to combat the effects of withdrawal. There are effective poses that will work for detoxing the body these poses are: downward dog, the warriors pose, twisting chair pose, revolved lunge, seated twist, forward fold, and the supine twist. The supine twist creates pressure on a person’s internal organs. This helps to encourage the elimination, and digestive processes. The forward fold is a pose that works on the liver and also the kidneys. It works to improve digestion. It also has another added benefit it works to relieve stress, and anxiety. The seated twist also works on the kidneys and liver. This pose helps to detoxifying the body. The revolved lunge works on the liver. It encourages the organs to release toxins, and waste. Downward Dog gets the heart higher than the head. It allows for circulation of blood and lymph. It works to tone the abdomen, which helps with digestion. It is recommended for everyone to drink lots of water after doing yoga because it helps to release the toxins out of the body from your bloodstream.

Nutrition Nutrition is another way to combat withdrawal. Studies have shown

that limiting the intake of sugar and caffeine helps by reducing cravings. Eating nutrient rich foods will help with maintaining sobriety. Taking vitamins is also a healthy idea to help your body stay healthy. Vitamins are depleted during withdrawal, and studies have shown that vitamins supplements can help during withdrawal. A doctor should be consulted during this time to see which vitamins (B Vitamins are usually deficient in people going through withdrawal) would be beneficial during this time of withdrawal. In Australia, the government recommends that all persons going through withdrawal take a thiamine supplement. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruit, lean meat and fish. Drink lots of water. Give your body time to rest, and relax. Taking a long bath can help with pain, and muscle aches from withdrawal. Other medications can be prescribed to patients to help with the withdrawal effects on the body.

Acupuncture and Acupressure Another way that can help addicts with the withdrawal process is acupuncture

and acupressure. Acupuncture therapy is generally combined with yoga or a tai chi therapy to fully utilize the benefits of each therapy when using for addictions. Acupuncture sessions increase blood circulation to organs, balance the energy levels of the body, relieve tension in the body, promote relaxation, and release stored toxins from your cells. Passages Malibu states that “it is very crucial to not only heal the mind and spirit, but the body as well. If you have been abusing drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time, harmful chemicals remain in your blood stream, leaving behind damaging toxins in your muscles and fatty tissue. Our muscles have ‘memory’ that retains trauma or mistreatment, which can eventually lead to physical pain and even relapse.” If you have been abusing drugs or alcohol the changes can take a serious toll on the body. By using acupressure and massage it works the proper parts of the body it can help reduce anxiety, relieve pain from migraine headaches, increase flexibility, strengthen the immune system, increase blood flow, exfoliate the skin, and help rid the body of toxins.

Massage Therapy Massage therapy sessions not only provide our clients with

a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation, but they also physiologically help facilitate total overall recovery. Massage therapy will help the body feel more balanced and content, with reduced anxiety, and diminished physical detox symptoms. There are different forms of massage therapy that will help with the addiction withdrawal. Each client will respond differently to different types of massage. Swedish, deep tissue, facial, Thai, and stretching massages can help. Massage and acupressure is used in conjunction with acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to increase the healing aspects of massage and acupressure therapy.

Outdoor Therapy/Rope Therapy Outdoor therapy is a new therapy for addiction that

emphasizes being in nature, and exercising. A new therapy that I have recently found out about is rope therapy. The rope therapy course allows individuals to achieve a vast amount of different goals by emphasizing affirmative accomplishments and challenge individual anxieties and fears. The therapeutic accomplishments that will be experienced while doing the rope course therapy include: positive risk taking, increased self-confidence, growing comfort zones, advanced leadership skills, overcoming fears, and an overall increase of individual and team development.

Tai Chi Therapy Tai Chi therapy is a holistic therapy that helps with chemical dependence. Tai

Chi is depicted by gentle, calm movements of your arms, legs, and body. Tai Chi aims to reduce pressure and stiffness. It helps the body to feel a sense of serenity. Tai Chi has been described as meditation in motion. Tai Chi also is used with meditation to relax the body and clear the mind. Meditation slows the mind and quiets the inner noise in the body. It works to center the body. Meditation can be difficult because it is a seated meditation. So some addiction recovery patients prefer Tai Chi because it is a moving mediation. The mind can focus on the body’s movements, the techniques that are used, and the experience while slowly learning to meditate. When the meditation begins to work the patient will feel individual insights come to perdition, self -discipline improving, and a reduction in self-destructive behaviors. Tai Chi and meditation work together to provide mental and physical calmness produced in a natural way. It also works to keep the emotions in balance, which in turn reduces the need to cope with unhealthy options like addiction. It allows the ability to handle stress to increase and the body can deal with stress better. The sense of being centered and grounded increases and the ability to overcome challenges increases.

Adventure and Art Therapy Adventure and Art therapy has been shown to help with addiction. Adventure

Therapy includes a variety of entertaining, safe, and stimulating endeavors that enhance individual development, and team shaping. Adventure therapy is designed to help improve confidence and self-esteem. It works to expand comfort zones, improve leadership skills, increase goal setting, improve trust and teamwork, overcome fears, and foster personal and team development. Adventure Therapy will work to engage clients in meaningful activities that bring drive and motivation into your life. The adventure therapy can include hiking, walking, biking, tennis, team sports, kayaking, and other motivating outdoor adventures. Art therapy is also incorporated into some addiction therapies. It allows patients to express what they are feeling without having to do it verbally. It sometimes can be used to express feelings and what is going on inside of the body when patients don’t feel like verbally communicating what is going on. The art techniques that are incorporated In the therapy is drawing, painting, watercolors, collages, etc. Sometimes a vision board is used, and it allows clients to make a collage of images, pictures, and clippings from various media sources and other items that help clients realize their goals, hopes, and dreams. By using a vision board it allows the client to summarize in the collage the things that they want to achieve in their life.

Animal Assisted Therapy Equine assisted therapy is another alternative treatment that has

proven effective to help clients with addiction. It allows clients to interact with horses in a variety of tasks to strengthen and develop verbal and nonverbal communication. It also helps the client to creatively think to solve problems. It instills trust, leadership, responsibility, confidence, and develop relationship skills. This therapy aids in the psychotherapy that is received by most addiction therapy clients. After equine therapy a patient generally experiences spiritual growth, psychological, and emotional growth. Animals can normally mirror what the human body language is telling them to do. There is actually no riding in the equine assisted therapy. The presence of animals has shown to lower stress levels, and the heart rate in humans. So therapy with any animal helps to combat chemical dependency.

In conclusion, there are many types of therapies to help heal the body after addiction. All of the therapies presented in this paper will help to reduce the effects of withdrawal, and allow the body to heal. Exercise, relaxation, and proper nutrition will go a long way to combat the effects of withdrawal on the body. We must utilize the therapies above to provide a good set of guidelines when dealing with people who have chemical dependencies. There is hope through these therapies, and with these therapies people have a brighter future and can beat chemical dependency.