5 Natural Ways To Help You Recover From Drugs Or Alcohol
Note: Always consult with your doctor before quitting drugs or alcohol. Only use the suggestions listed here in a recovery plan that’s approved and supervised by a trained healthcare professional.
You’ve just made one of the most important decisions of your life:
You’re getting sober.
And even though what lies ahead of you looks overwhelming right now, you’ve already taken the first step.
The road to recovery isn’t necessarily easy – but it’s totally possible. To succeed, you need a few tools to help you along the way.
In this post, I outline effective methods you can incorporate into your recovery journey. Everything listed is natural and goes beyond just lessening your symptoms.
Keep reading to learn five different ways to help you move past addiction and into the life you were meant for.
How Mindfulness Can Help With Addiction
Addressing negative thought patterns and gaining control of your mind is a crucial step in recovery.
One way to effectively tackle difficult situations you might face during recovery is through mindfulness. It’s a bit of a buzzword today, but all mindfulness really means is being present in the moment and accepting it for what it is. This means not reacting out of fear, anger, or paranoia.
So if you find yourself in a stressful situation, but you stay calm and try to just observe what’s happening, you’re practicing mindfulness.
Two popular ways to practice mindfulness are meditation and yoga. Both of these practices help you find peace and calm by:
Focusing on breathing
Acknowledging your emotions
Noticing what you feel in your body
If yoga and meditation aren’t your thing, try one of these other mindfulness practices instead:
Painting or drawing
Playing a musical instrument
Listening to calming music
Going for a walk
Gardening
All of the ideas listed above are effective ways to get in touch with your mind and body. And once your mind is in a healthy state, it gets easier to overcome those daily hurdles.
2. Herbs That Help Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms
They might not be the first thing on your list during recovery, but herbs can support both your body and mind. They can curb cravings, reduce mood swings, and help you sleep better. And because herbs are natural remedies, they usually come with few – if any – side effects.
Depending on where you need support, a few of the herbs in this list might help:
Kudzu - If you’re looking for relief from alcohol cravings, the Chinese plant Kudzu has been proven to help. One study found that people who took Kudzu extract were successful in avoiding binge drinking and increased the number of days per week that they didn’t have any drinks.[1]
Ginseng, Ashwagandha, and Rhodiola - These three soothing herbs bring your body out of fight-or-flight and help regulate stress levels. So those nerve-wracking situations won’t seem quite so impossible next time.
Valerian Root, Passionflower, Lemon Balm, and Skullcap - These four herbs are also helpful for managing stress and anxiety. And they promote better sleep so you feel well-rested and equipped for the day.
All the herbs listed can be taken alone or in combination. Just be sure to check with your doctor to find the best herbal remedies to support your needs.
3. Key Vitamins And Minerals To Help You Heal During Recovery
During addiction, your body's working overtime to try to absorb nutrients the way it used to. But it’s been through a lot, so it needs a little more attention than usual.
If you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol for a long time, you might find yourself constantly feeling sleepy or stressed. Or maybe you’re getting sick more often than you used to. These are all signs that your body needs extra support so it can help you work towards recovery.
An easy way to give your body what it needs is by either eating foods rich in essential vitamins and minerals, or by taking daily supplements.
Important nutrients to include during the beginning stages of recovery are::
Omega 3 - Omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and also work as a mood stabilizer. So if you’re feeling depressed or anxious, this is an effective nutrient that will help regulate mood swings as you begin the recovery process.
Vitamin B - Consider adding Vitamin B complex to your daily routine if you’re suffering from poor sleep, anxiety, or having trouble remembering things. Taking Vitamin B will also improve your digestive system.
After the vitamins listed, another area that’s often overlooked are minerals. There are several minerals in particular that can help your body heal from drugs or alcohol.
Minerals to consider during recovery:
Calcium and Magnesium - Calcium and Magnesium are helpful in regulating moods so you feel more balanced throughout the day.
Potassium and Selenium - Potassium and Selenium work to support heart health and can help lower your blood pressure.
Zinc - Zinc is essential for a working immune system. It’s also great for brain function and liver health.
Iron - Iron helps relieve those pesky withdrawal headaches, and can also boost your energy levels and fight depression.
Amino acids - Amino acids fight the cravings commonly felt during the recovery process. And they help restore healthy brain chemistry, so you don’t feel as many ups and downs.
And if taking various supplements every day doesn’t appeal to you, remember you can find these vitamins and minerals in a healthy, balanced diet.
Be sure to consult with your doctor and share any symptoms you’re experiencing, so they can help you choose the right vitamins and minerals for you.
4. Benefits Of Exercise And Staying Sober
Recovering from addiction is an intense and difficult time for many people. One way to deal with heavy thoughts or emotions is through exercise.
During recovery, exercise helps you to:
Find meaning. Choosing an exercise program that interests you can help fill the void you might be feeling after quitting drugs or alcohol. Training for a 5k or learning to kayak is a great way to stay focused and build habits that help you meet your recovery goals.
Manage stress. You may feel unexpected ups and downs as your body detoxes. Exercise is an effective outlet for stress, anger, sadness, and other emotions that can make it difficult to cope.
Improve physical health. It goes without saying that exercise benefits your physical health. You’re doing your heart, lungs, and muscles a favor every time you exercise. And adding regular exercise into your routine can help your body to properly detox and perform well.
Feel excitement. Exercise can give you feelings of euphoria as your body releases chemicals that naturally boost your mood. And extreme sports like snowboarding, rock climbing, aerial arts, or mountain biking can give your brain an adrenaline rush.
It’s important to choose a form of exercise that interests you. That way, it’ll be easier to stick with and won’t feel like a chore. Pick something that sounds enjoyable.
5. Why Relationships Are Important In Recovery
It’s tough to kick an addiction on your own.
Having people around will make the journey far easier.
Whether you’re starting a new community or rebuilding your old one, it’s important to only keep good-intentioned people around. So when you’re choosing which relationships stay and which ones go, keep these four things in mind:
Choose people you respect. The people closest to you should be the ones you know you can trust and respect. This might eliminate a number of people in your circle. For example, hanging with people you partied with generally isn’t a great idea. It’s better to surround yourself with friends and family who live in a way you respect and are striving towards.
Choose people who support you. Only choose people who have your best interests in mind. During recovery, this may not always look the way you want. Sometimes the people who are “supporting” you are actually enabling you to stay in the life you’re trying to leave. And sometimes the people who look like they’re punishing you are choosing to exercise that tough love that helps you stay on course.
Choose people you can depend on. Right now, you need people around you who will be there for you. If you ask them to come to your support group or visit you in rehab, they’re the ones that show up consistently.
Choose people who encourage you. It’s hard to walk the straight and narrow if the people around you are negative, pessimistic, or discouraging. Obviously, you don’t need to seek out someone who’s a bundle of fake positivity. But you do need people around who believe in you.
As you step into a new life, it’s the perfect time to reevaluate your relationships. Cut ties with the negative people holding you back. And rebuild relationships with the people who lift you up.
Keep a community around you that cares about you.
One that helps you up if you fall.
One that’s not afraid to tell you the truth when you need it.
And ultimately, one that’s rooting for your success.
Moving On From Addiction
The recovery process comes with plenty of highs and lows, but the more you can face your challenges head-on and conquer them, the more likely you’ll be to succeed.
And you’ve already done the hardest part, just by choosing to quit.
Remember to focus on healing your mind, unlearning negative thought patterns, and getting comfortable with your own thoughts and emotions.
Give your body the foods, vitamins, and supplements it needs to fully recover from the damage done by drugs or alcohol. And further embrace a healthy lifestyle by adding exercise into the equation. Talk with your doctor to find solutions that work for your physical needs.
And just as important, keep people around you who love and support you authentically, and are there by your side when you need them – every step of the way.
So you can successfully beat addiction. And live the life you know you were meant for.
References:
Sources:
Natural Recoverers Kick Addiction Without Help
5 Natural Ways To Help Beat Drug Addiction
How Alternative Therapies Can Be Used To Treat Alcohol Addiction