In recover from mental health issues and addiction it’s important to think outside the box. Talk therapy, combined with arts expressions or other evidence based therapy, helps teach clients coping mechanisms and positive thinking. Here are 5 unconventional treatment methods that really work.
What makes people so intriguing is the uniqueness of every individual. We all think and react to stimuli with different responses. It is what defines a human and differentiates us from animals. Drugs and alcohol play games with the mind just as mental disorders can control the body, and overcoming addictions and diseases varies from person to person. What worked for me might not work for you. And that’s okay. Typical treatments can help you conquer a disorder, but what if you aren’t getting results? Unconventional treatments might be exactly what you need to overcome an illness, and here are several methods that really work and add a special element to the process.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing was created as a way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder by replaying and working through painful memories of an event. Clients picture the traumatic moment and describe it in detail. The body slowly learns how to react to it mentally instead of physically. EMDR can be applied to various disorders and even can help clients overcome addictions; many people begin using drugs and alcohol as a way to dull the pain caused from a past experience.
Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy is a building experience that combines several types of treatments. While talking with a therapist is a great way to communicate feelings and dive deeper into the mind, sometimes the body needs more. Experiential therapy gets the client outside and into the world. You get to meditate, hike, go swimming, and enjoy life doing things that stimulate the body and mind. Re-creating events and making them positive helps the mind relax and develop a healthy relationship with past negative experiences. Experiential therapies have been proven to work and are a great tool to treat depression, eating disorders, addictions, and personality disorders.
Psychodrama Therapy
Psychodrama therapy places a client on a stage with other actors. The individual gets to replay an event and release emotions openly without judgment. I have watched children explain a memory with actions that they simply don’t have the words for. You can cry, scream, shake, laugh, and roar how you need to. Psychodrama therapy is flexible and can be applied to most disorders and addictions, no matter how old or young a person is.
Biosound
Meditation is a powerful tool to use in recovering from substance abuse. It strengthens the mind so a person can fight physical and mental urges that accompany addictions. Biosound involves a relaxing room and vibrations to help a person reach a theta-level meditative state. A therapist can use words of affirmation, imagery, and music to guide the client into this ultimate state. I have personally benefited from daily meditation, as it helps me relax, learn, heal, and accept the things I cannot change.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
This is one of the best unconventional treatment options for people struggling with substance abuse problems. When you are physically and mentally addicted to a substance, it can feel impossible to quit using in one day. Dialectical behavioral therapy accepts the person and the addiction in the moment. The change can be slow, but it is not forced upon a person. Instead, the therapist offers direction and words of encouragement. The therapist guides individuals in the thinking process, so they can develop a plan of change by their own choice. Dialectical behavioral therapy is also used frequently on people with borderline personality disorder and as a way to diagnose it.
The various types of therapies are one of the best things about treating an illness or overcoming an addiction. Treatment doesn’t force people into neat little boxes where they don’t fit. You get the chance to try a therapy that works for you. If it doesn’t work, you can always try another one. You might get lucky like I did and grow passionate about the therapy you used. Unconventional therapies can heighten the recovery process and make it an experience that is enjoyable and worth the work.
Unconventional Treatment at Morningside Recovery
Morningside Recovery believes that unconventional treatment plans can help people from all backgrounds. Therefore, we offer many addiction therapy services such as:
If you’d like to learn more about our programs, call us today at 855-631-2135. A life of health and happiness is just a phone call away.
