Holistic approaches are part of many recovery programs.
They can help you heal and grow through all stages of recovery.
- Meditation/Mindfulness
Meditation can help you feel less stressed, more peaceful, and kinder towards yourself and others. The mental focus you develop helps you become aware of your triggers and your thinking, so you can make different and healthier choices.
Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation
This introduction to mindfulness, “5 Mindfulness Practices to Step Up Your Recovery”, explains how it relates to recovery and gives basic practices as a good way to get started and keep going.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP): Greater Good Science Center
MBRP combines practices like sitting meditation with common relapse prevention skills such as identifying triggers that can lead to relapse. Rather than trying to fight or block the thoughts and emotions that arise when withdrawing from a substance, MBRP helps you recognize and accept cravings and difficult emotions. It gives you tools to free yourself from automatic, addictive behaviors.
VA Whole Health
This section of the Whole Health Library focuses on holistic approaches to substance use treatment. It covers different meditation and relaxation practices with exercises you can try.
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE)
MORE is a unique mental training program that combines aspects of mindfulness practice with several psychological approaches. It is designed to reduce addictive behavior, emotional distress and chronic pain, while increasing healthy pleasure, joy, and meaning in life.
Research StudiesResearch Studies
At 6 months, 52 people in a Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) program reported significantly less craving, depression and anxiety. They also had fewer days of alcohol use and were better able to make choices based on their values rather than on habit.
von Hammerstein C, Khazaal Y, Dupuis M, et al. Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of a mindfulness-based relapse prevention program in a naturalistic setting among treatment-seeking patients with alcohol use disorder: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open. 2019 Jun 1; 9(5): e026839.
After taking a training in Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), 30 patients with opioid use disorder had fewer cravings and more self-control. Pain discomfort and stress improved. MORE may help treat opioid use disorder and chronic pain in people who use medication-assisted treatment such as methadone maintenance.
Garland EL, Hanley AW, Kline A, Cooperman NA. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement reduces opioid craving among individuals with opioid use disorder and chronic pain in medication assisted treatment: Ecological momentary assessments from a stage 1 randomized controlled trial. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019 Oct 1;203: 61-65.
The majority of studies in this review showed positive results in patients with substance use disorders who were treated with mindfulness meditation.
Zgierska A, Rabago D, Chawla N, Kushner K, Koehler R, Marlatt A. Mindfulness meditation for substance use disorders: a systematic review. Subst Abus. 2009;30(4):266-294.
In this study, 19 people in recovery for alcohol use disorder were taught how to meditate. Their ability to control cravings improved and their stress caused by cravings decreased.
Zgierska A, Rabago D, Zuelsdorff M, et al. Mindfulness meditation for alcohol relapse prevention: a feasibility pilot study. J Addict Med. 2008;2(3):165–173.
- Acupuncture
- Animal/Pet Therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Biofeedback
- Creative Arts Therapy: Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Poetry
- Coloring Therapy
- Gardening
- Guided Imagery
- Herbal Therapy
- Homeopathy
- Hypnosis
- Journaling
- Massage Therapy and Bodywork
- Nature
- Nutrition
- QiGONG
- Yoga