holistic healing

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Why is Yoga a Part of Recovery?

February 17, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

When we begin our recovery, some things are obvious. We obviously need to go through detoxification as we become sober. Therapy makes a lot of sense, we have been through a lot. Meditation can be very calming and help us clear our minds. Learning coping skills, having some recreation and group activities… all of these make sense. One thing stands out, though: why is yoga a part of recovery?

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a practice that is thousands of years old. Originally, it was a spiritual practice, handed down through generations. Modern yoga is often seen as more of a physical workout. Many do find it very relaxing and find that it centers them, or helps them to feel mentally and physically well.

The truth is that yoga is a physical, spiritual and mental workout. The holistic focus of yoga does so much more than make us burn calories, sweat, or tone our muscles. Yoga also helps us feel relaxed, focused, and mentally healthy, too. There are three main components of yoga that help us to be well:

1) Breathe – a big part of yoga is to learn and practice deep breathing. This helps in multiple ways. Breathing is a cleansing practice. Not only are we focusing on taking in more oxygen, which helps our bodies and minds, but we also focus on exhaling. When we exhale, the air leaves our bodies, but negative energy is also released with each time we breathe out. Breathing helps us to cleanse our minds, bodies, and spirits and to invite new, healing oxygen and energy into our bodies. It is not just about the physical exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. Breathing is healing on a physical and emotional level.

The focus we acquire as we breathe is also very beneficial. We become more in tune with how our bodies are feeling and what is going on inside of them. This is so healing after substance use, where we physically punished our bodies and emotionally disconnect from our physical and mental pain. With every deep, cleansing breath that we take, we are healing the mental and emotional connections to our physical bodies.

2) Meditate – meditation hones our minds and acts as a workout for the control center of our bodies. As Yoga is a meditative practice by nature, we increase our ability to focus and clear our minds. This is very calming and relaxing for many of us who have physical side effects from substance abuse that make it difficult for us to hold still or remain calm and relaxed.

Meditation also helps us to exercise the part of our minds that will help us to control our cravings. The more we meditate, the better we get at conditioning our minds to resist cravings. Meditation is a very powerful tool against substance cravings, which impact us mentally, emotionally and physically. The mental conditioning and healing that yoga provides is exactly what we need in our recovery.

3) Tone Our Bodies – this is one of the obvious benefits, as many of us know yoga to be a physically challenging endeavor. The stretching and holding of various positions does wonders for the body in the recovery process. It may not seem like it would be much of a physically demanding workout, but the act of holding our bodies still is an excellent physical challenge. This is healing, as our bodies have suffered a lot during our substance use. Learning to use them in a way that requires strength and relaxation, concentration and endurance, all at the same time, helps us to improve our body strength, conditioning, and control.

This focused, intense muscle workout also helps us to regain mastery over our bodies. Not just the ability to hold still and stretch and hold our muscles into unholy positions, but the ability to control what our bodies are doing. We can feel the sensations as we stretch and hold, we can be acutely aware of everything going on in our bodies. For us to focus mentally, emotionally, and physically can be exceptionally healing.

Why Yoga?

Yoga is not just any exercise. It is a complete, holistic workout for the mind, body, and soul. While that would be healthy for anyone, yoga is particularly helpful in helping us heal from substance abuse. It is kind of like re-learning to walk, except the skills we acquire such as breathing, meditation, and toning of our bodies may be new skills to us. Yoga empowers us to take control and heal our minds, bodies, and souls in a way that is realistic and helpful.

Your recovery should heal you holistically – emotionally, mentally, and physically. Yoga is a rigorous and demanding workout for all aspects of your being. You can recover without yoga, but the benefits of yoga are beneficial to explore as you progress on the journey of sobriety.

Yoga can take your weaknesses and makes them strengths. It can give you more power and control over your body, mind, and soul than you may have ever thought was possible. This is why yoga is a part of recovery. The mindfulness of self and healing that occurs can improve life in significant ways, and you are worth that.

Find out the value of yoga in recovery. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 today. You can heal your mind, body, and soul.

The Healing Powers of Acupuncture

February 10, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

The healing power of acupuncture has been around for centuries in some parts of the world. However, Western medicine is still trying to figure out exactly how and why it works so well here in 2020. They simply know that it does work, as there is plenty of scientific evidence to demonstrate that it is very effective in healing. Many people use acupuncture in dealing with a lot of physical issues. Did you know that acupuncture is also helpful with recovery?

Healing Mind and Body

One of the factors that makes acupuncture so powerful is that it is a holistic healing technique. That is, it focuses on healing our complete selves, mind, body, and spirit. The concept is developed around restoring balance to the energy field or life force in our bodies also called the qi. In restoring this balance, healing can occur. This is not some weird, made-up concept, there are elaborate maps of our bodies that technicians study to help diagnose and treat problem areas. This is also something that has been developed and practiced for centuries, with great success now in many parts of the world.

In balancing this energy or life force, the healing comes not only to our minds but also to our bodies, which is essential with substance use. Not only does acupuncture help heal both, but it also helps align our minds and our bodies, and many have said that acupuncture has also been very healing for them spiritually. Acupuncture is just one method of treatment of many different types of treatments that are available for substance use. However, when it is combined with other therapies and treatments, it can be very powerful and effective at connecting all of the treatments. Increasing the power and healing of treatment altogether.

Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the ways acupuncture is often used in treatment is to help lessen withdrawal symptoms. Nothing can ever take all of the symptoms away, but the healing powers of acupuncture can help ease some of the symptoms. The less intense our withdrawal symptoms are, the easier it is for our bodies to heal, and the easier it is for us to do the work to heal our minds, too.

One of the other reported effects of acupuncture is that it helps to physically and mentally calm us. People are more easily able to relax mentally and physically, which also helps increase the healing process. There are also reports of improved sleep, which can also help us navigate withdrawal symptoms more peacefully.

Physical Effects

Acupuncture, particularly when used for a period of time, has been shown to reduce the cravings that come with substance use. Again, there is nothing at this time that is known to remove them altogether, but each craving that we don’t have is one less opportunity for relapse. Not a lot of treatment methods are able to alleviate cravings, they teach us how to deal with them. However, acupuncture has the power to actually help reduce the number and intensity of cravings.

Speaking of relapse, acupuncture has been shown to decrease our chances of using substances again. One study found that in a group that had repeatedly relapsed previously, more than half were able to stay sober after six months of acupuncture treatment. Again, there is no guarantee that we will not relapse, but isn’t it ideal to fortify ourselves as much as possible against it?

Healing Our Minds

There are so many ways in which substance use impacts our minds. Many substances actually alter our brain’s function, and it can take time to heal. Yet acupuncture can help with so many of the problems that come along with substance use. For example, acupuncture has been shown to decrease instances of depression and anxiety related to substance use. Using acupuncture can also lower the number of headaches and body aches that we have.

Acupuncture is also effective at improving concentration, especially when substances have interfered with our concentration levels. Again, not a lot of other methods are able to help in this area. If we have experienced decreased energy as a result of our substance use, acupuncture can also help boost our energy levels to normal.

One of the more powerful ways that acupuncture can help heal our brains is by helping with stress reduction and dealing with trauma. To have something that can physically impact how our mind processes and heals from trauma is such a blessing, it is like a bonus in our mental and emotional healing process. Studies show that acupuncture also helps our ability to cope, increases our ability to both achieve calmness and remain calm and it can help us to cope better, too. The possibilities of healing are seemingly endless.

While acupuncture is never touted as a stand-alone method of treating substance use, because it addresses our mind, body, and soul, it is a powerful holistic tool that can improve the outcome of other treatment methods when used together. Even if acupuncture is new to you, it is worth giving yourself this gift. You can find holistic healing that physically, mentally, and spiritually helps your healing in recovery. Discover the benefits of an ancient treatment that can bring new healing into your life today. Make the call to begin your recovery, and make sure that acupuncture is part of your journey.

Find out for yourself how healing acupuncture can be in your recovery. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 today.

Can I Use My Creativity in Healing?

January 28, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

Art, music, and creativity, in general, have historically come from human suffering. Specifically, many of the greatest artists in history have suffered from substance abuse or mental illness or both. Tragically, however, too many of the greatest artists have had their artistic contributions cut short by substance use or mental illness. In death, they are lauded, but sometimes it is their counterparts, artists who have sought healing and live long and artistically productive lives who are the real heroes. It is one thing to be able to express the human condition in pain. It is another to be able to convey the healing process in art, music, or other forms of creativity. Can I use my creativity in healing? Yes. Please.

Inspiration

Too much of our famous art and music have their inspiration in pain and suffering. While this is helpful to express and gives us a relatability when we are also suffering, it demonstrates the disproportionate levels of suffering as opposed to human triumph. In the same way that we can feel solace when hearing a song about the pain of substance use, we need more songs about the freedom of recovery. When we admire the artwork of an artist that was notably unwell mentally, we feel admiration that beauty came from such suffering. What we really need is more art to inspire others to do the same as us: recover.

Not only can we receive artistic inspiration from our own recovery process, our music, art, and other creative endeavors can become the source of inspiration for other people. By using our healing as inspiration, we become the reason that others seek healing. We can literally change the world with our creativity. So can I use my creativity in healing? Yes. Please.

Healing

Artists know that creativity is a process that is as unique as our art. We can seek inspiration from inside of us, we can find inspiration in the world around us. Some of the most powerful visual art, some of the most impactful music, and some of the most incredible writing and other creative endeavors come from inside of us.

While the art based on suffering sometimes grabs the attention because of tragedy, the art we produce when we are healing can actually be more powerful. The dramatic changes we experience coming out of the darkness of addiction and into the light of recovery are some of the most beautifully documented creative pieces because they document such a significant change in the human condition.

Whatever our art form is, however it is that we like to express ourselves, even if it is multiple art forms, recovery is the perfect time to dig deep into our souls and express what we are feeling. The power in our work can help other people, but the real power belongs to us. As we create, we are processing our healing. And as we process, we document our journey for ourselves.

The Process

Art is often very cathartic. All creativity can be. Whether we are sculpting with clay, playing guitar, choreographing a dance, or writing a poem, the process is for us. The process is how we grow, and how we learn to express ourselves. In recovery, the actual process can be particularly cathartic. Our brains are healing, our bodies are getting stronger, and our emotions are changing moment by moment. By doing something familiar and enjoyable to us, we channel the healing throughout ourselves into our creative projects. This helps to reinforce the healing throughout our minds, bodies, and souls, comparable to a holistic salve.

Using our creativity can also help us work through aspects of our recovery, such as when we are “stuck” mentally or emotionally, or when we are resisting therapy or other methods to help us heal. Art can put a face to the resolution of past pain, and creativity can express the hope we feel as we grow stronger in ourselves each day. The healing power of creativity is like the icing on the cake of the healing we experience in recovery, and the actual act of using our creativity can be a big part of the process.

The Product

The music, art, writing, or other creative manifestations we produce can be surprising. Whatever body of work we have to compare it to from before our recovery is likely to be very different than what we produce within recovery. Equally surprising, it may end up being the changes within our work during the recovery process. Even if what we produce will not wind up in a museum or win a Pulitzer Prize, it may inspire others and can serve as a constant reminder of our own creative recovery journey.

Can I use my creativity in healing? Yes. Please do. Don’t let your art be cut short like so many who have gone before you. Your creativity is part of you and expressing it will help your healing process. Additionally, your creativity may be the inspiration for others to seek change and improve their lives. The change you seek might be your own, but the creativity you harbor could change the world. Your inner artist is begging to come out. Be the change that your life needs. Be the artist the world needs. Let your recovery be the inspiration.

Be inspired as you heal and be healed by your inspiration by calling AToN Center at (888) 813-5928. Change your world and inspire others, too.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

January 9, 2020 // by ATON RECOVERY

With the looming threat of relapse being an occurrence amongst those in recovery, a lot of effort goes into finding better ways to prevent relapse. There are no guarantees in life, but some methods are simply more effective. One method that studies are showing a lot of success with is called Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, or MBRP. Ultimately, success in recovery will be up to the individual. This is why MBRP is so successful, as it gives ownership to the individual for their own success.

What is MBRP?

The main idea of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention is to take the core ideas from common Relapse Prevention techniques, but add the concept of mindfulness, which is also taught with stress reduction and used in cognitive therapy during treatment. Just like other relapse prevention methods, identifying high-risk situations for potential relapse is still at the core.

In MBRP, we are taught to identify early warning signs, increase our awareness of emotional or intellectual cues, and also to identify cues that are directly tied to previous substance use. We are encouraged to develop coping skills and find a belief in ourselves to be able to maintain our recovery. The objective is to make us as self-sufficient as possible in our recovery, taking responsibility for our actions.

Why Use Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the powerful tool of acceptance and being present in the moment. Because it is so commonly being used in multiple types of therapy, it is a natural fit for relapse prevention. During treatment, we learn to be present and see things for what they are, no judgment. Mindfulness can help us see where we are presently, whether we are having cravings or otherwise thinking about substance use.

Mindfulness is particularly helpful in managing cravings, for example, as it is a skill that we can use to learn to accept and tolerate the consequences of what is happening. This decreases our need to act on a craving by indulging in a substance. Obviously, it is a skill that is honed through experience. But when practiced throughout our lives, it transforms us from simply reacting to “skillful responding.” By training our minds to be in the present and re-training our reactions to everything around us, mindfulness becomes an ideal skill to have to maintain recovery both emotionally and physically.

How Does MBRP Help Prevent Relapses?

By combining the basic concepts of relapse prevention with the powerful tools of mindfulness, we create an ideal, self-sufficient method to maintain our recovery. MBRP helps us to identify triggers but also gives us the tools to neutralize those triggers once identified. According to a study done in 2012, comparing MBRP to the treatment, as usual, those who used MBRP had a significant improvement over the others in terms of substance use, craving, awareness, and acceptance. A significant difference was the way relapse prevention was viewed. Instead of avoiding or suppressing cravings, MBRP teaches tolerance and response to them, which leads to a more positive outcome. There is a lot of research that shows suppression and avoidance is actually more harmful in the long run.

Also of note was the decrease in the severity of the cravings, as MBRP trains us to accept and tolerate positive and negative effects without reacting, the cravings actually lose some of their power over us. MBRP is not just a mind over matter skill set, it is a matter of training our minds to have control over our bodies, environment, emotions, and more. MBRP is powerful in preventing relapses because it addresses potential relapses from every possible angle and gives us the control to navigate our experiences.

Why Does Taking Responsibility for Recovery Work?

Some recoveries are based on an accountability system, where we report to others our progress and lean on others in times of need. While it is always ideal to have a support system in place, cravings often hit at inopportune moments. Triggers can happen when no one else is around. So ideally, we should have a self-sufficient system in place to help us manage our own recovery. We can still seek support from others as needed, but we will have our own mental armor with MBRP to be able to maintain our recovery around the clock.

Taking responsibility for ourselves is an ideal tenet of the human experience. Those who take responsibility for themselves are productive, happy and successful at what they do. Imagine being able to truly take responsibility for our own recovery. Obviously, there are still resources and support available, and reaching out for support is actually part of being responsible. However, self-managing our recovery helps us to be more successful in tolerating cravings and triggers, which in turn improves our self-confidence. We know we are not alone, but we also have the confidence to face it alone when necessary.

After doing the work to stop our substance use, discover and address the reasons that we used substances, and learn so many new skills to help us, protecting our recovery should be a high priority in our lives. With Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, we offer ourselves one of the best sets of tools to prevent relapses, as well as owning our recovery. We can be self-sufficient and ultimately more successful at recovery and in life. We just need to make that call today.

Fortify yourself against relapses at AToN Center. Call (888) 813-5928 right now to gain the skills you need to succeed at recovery now and for your lifetime.

Can I Be Whole Again?

December 31, 2019 // by ATON RECOVERY

Imagine waking up in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. Your mind is clear, your body well-rested. You don’t have a hangover, and there is no evidence of alcohol or drugs around you. Yet there is not that nagging, unforgiving need for a drink, either. And that pain – the empty, hollow, relentless pain – you don’t notice that, either. You feel somehow strange, at peace and content. This may sound like an impossible dream for you. It may be difficult to even imagine it. You have been through so much, but sometimes you wonder, can I ever be whole again?

The answer is actually in your hands. That scenario could be closer than you think. AToN Centers are luxury residential treatment centers located in beautiful San Diego, California. In addition to the on-site chef, pools, saunas, spas and other amenities, they offer methods and curriculum for you to find that peaceful, substance-free life you imagined. AToN offers you the chance to make yourself whole again.

Holistic Treatment

Perhaps you have tried to quit using substances on your own before. Maybe you have even lived sober for a period of time. However, refraining from drinking or drug use is only treating the symptoms of substance abuse. The reasons for your continued substance use are deeper and need to be addressed before healing can begin.

AToN Center believes in the holistic treatment, which addresses all aspects of your mind, body, and soul. Programs like SMART Recovery are offered which address more than just abstinence from substances. They address the mental, physical, and emotional sources of addiction, and offer a myriad of tools for you to choose from to navigate your own healing process. They give you the tools, you forge your own new path. This holistic and empowering approach gives you the best opportunity for success and can help make you whole.

Comprehensive Healing

Anyone who has ever had a serious illness or disease and then been made whole knows the power of healing. Healing from addiction may differ in that there are no MRIs or tests that show disease or injury. However, if there were, tests would show that addiction impacts our whole lives, mind, body, and soul. Therefore, healing must address all components of our lives, too.

For comprehensive healing to happen, you need to find a group of methods that address your whole being. For example, yoga helps to heal the mind, body, and soul simultaneously. Good nutrition and exercise address the body, but can also heal the mind. Various forms of therapy can heal the mind and the soul. There are so many different methods to choose from. The important part is choosing the things that will specifically help you.

Often the source of our substance use stems from some sort of trauma in our lives. In order for us to be whole, we need to address that trauma and heal from it. If you have childhood trauma or PTSD, you will want specific trauma therapy, which may include the use of a therapeutic technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR. If you have suffered grief or loss, you will want to specifically address grief within therapy and find peace and healing. Working with trained, licensed professionals on an individual basis will bring healing and closure.

Turning Weaknesses to Strengths

As you work to heal yourself and learn new skills, you can see your weaknesses become strengths. As you heal the deep underlying pain that inspired your substance use, you have less need to self-medicate or numb the pain. If you have been neglecting your body during substance use, you might find particular joy in regular exercise and healthy eating habits.

Even in sobriety, you will still have cravings from time to time. But because you are now practicing mindfulness meditation, you are able to cope with the cravings and stay true to yourself. When at one point in time, your biggest fear was relapsing, you know have tools and knowledge to prevent relapse. Where there was fear, now you have knowledge. And what once were weaknesses are now strengths.

Finding Balance

One of the keys to the feeling whole is finding balance in your life. In the beginning, you will be juggling a lot of new habits and knowledge. It may even seem a little overwhelming at first. But you can find what works in your life, building your own daily routines and self-care. Finding and maintain balance may seem impossible, but as you heal you will realize that it is not only possible but that you can make it happen for yourself. As you remember the holistic methods of addressing mind, body, and soul, you will find a balance for your own lifestyle. With so many tools at your disposal, you can adapt at any time based on your needs and environment.

Feeling Whole

When you seek holistic healing for your substance abuse, you can address all levels of your addiction and find healing for pains that may have eaten at you for years. Feeling whole happens when we make daily conscious choices that give us health. When you call AToN Center and begin your healing process, you can actually find that health and peace within you. That image of waking up well-rested with a clear mind in beautiful surroundings is a dream that you can make come true. It’s just a phone call away.

It’s time for you to feel whole again. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928 to start your personalized healing process.

The Healing Powers of Meditation

December 23, 2019 // by ATON RECOVERY

Are you tired of being a slave to substances? Do you want to remember what it feels like to feel good again? Do you have physical issues that have been caused b substance use? In addition to the physical demands that addiction places on our bodies, it can take its toll on our mental and emotional well-being. Learning mindfulness meditation can be the perfect antidote for the physical, mental, and emotional suffering that we have been through.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is an ancient practice of using mind and body to create a state of peace, relaxation, and harmony between our whole selves: mind, body, and soul. It generally involves finding a relaxing position, clearing the mind, then focusing on something to achieve a calm and stable state. From there, we can access our minds to achieve desired goals and emotional states.

While it was anciently used as a part of religious traditions, it is more commonly used now for the benefits of health and wellness. The goals of meditation range from increasing peace, self-concept, or achieving enlightenment to reducing stress, pain, anxiety or depression. One of the benefits of meditation is that it can be done virtually anywhere, and there isn’t really a right or wrong way to do it, so it is up to the individual to use it in the way that works best for them.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Mindfulness meditation is a specific form of meditation that focuses on bringing us into the present and observing and experiencing things without judgment. The process consists of focusing on our breathing and clearing our mind of distractions until we are completely present. Once we are present, we can observe things without judging them or placing old ideas on them. We simply notice them.

This process is powerful because it allows us to train our minds to live mindfully. When we simply notice things without placing judgment or emotion on them, we live more peacefully and are better equipped to make good decisions about what is happening in our lives. It also gives us a tool to use when our emotions begin to escalate or we have stress. We can meditate to achieve a peaceful state and then see our lives through the lens of non-judgment again.

Mindfulness meditation also promotes wellness in mind, body, and spirit. When we are calm and at peace, it promotes good health emotionally, mentally and within our bodies. We achieve more prolonged periods of peace and are more likely to live a healthy lifestyle as we practice mindfulness meditation regularly. We can enjoy better eating, fitness, and sleep habits with a clear mind and holistic habits.

How Can Meditation Heal?

More research is showing actual healing properties associated with meditation. Mindfulness meditation has shown a significant reduction of the symptoms from anxiety, depression. It has also been successful in treating chronic pain. However, newer research indicates very measurable improvements in the brain itself. It has been shown that mindfulness meditation improves the area of the brain where memory, learning, and emotion take place.

Meditation has also been proven to be helpful with such health conditions as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis, and high blood pressure. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to help with many facets of addiction, including reduced cravings and relapse prevention. It is particularly helpful for those dealing with the powerful effects of nicotine addiction.

But it doesn’t take an MRI or other tests to measure our own healing. We can enjoy any number of healing elements when we develop regular patterns of mindfulness meditation. We can improve our sleep, improve our ability to focus, help manage our weight, as well as experience individual healing from our own addiction. There is actually no limit to the healing accessible to us through mindfulness meditation. It is a limitless tool for us to access anytime to achieve emotional, mental, or physical healing.

Are There Other Benefits to Meditation?

Mindfulness meditation promotes a more balanced life. It is like a mental and emotional anchor that simultaneously gives us the power to more successfully navigate our lives. Meditation teaches us to navigate our own minds, which in turn creates greater neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the ability to re-wire our brains or modify how they function. While we may not be able to program them like a television remote, we can strengthen our ability to access memories and emotions or decrease substance cravings by simply meditating on a regular basis.

Mindfulness meditation is a powerful tool that helps to regulate emotional, mental, and physical health. If you are looking for something that promotes relaxation, emotional balance, improves physical health, and has healing properties, then AToN Center can teach you. Meditation can be the foundation for your recovery and is very compatible with other methods of treatment. It is the antidote for the pain and suffering of addiction, giving us a life of clarity, peace, and balance instead.

AToN Center teaches daily meditation as a powerful tool in the recovery process. It is scientifically proven to heal not just our bodies, but also our minds and our souls. You can access the healing powers of meditation as well as all of the other benefits as you begin your healing process from substance abuse. The only question left is what are you waiting for?

At AToN Center we believe in the healing powers of meditation. Call (888) 813-5928 to begin your path to healing today.

Why is Holistic Healing So Important?

December 13, 2019 // by ATON RECOVERY

We often hear about holistic medicine and treatments. Some people refer to holistic healing methods as an alternative, non-traditional, or unorthodox, as if to exclude traditional Western medical practices. However, holistic actually refers to the treatment of the whole person. Rather than looking only at symptoms, the health of the body, mind, and soul are treated collectively. But why is holistic healing so important?

Holistic Healing in Recovery

If a person has an illness, and only the symptoms are treated, then the illness is likely to return or may never heal. However when all of the factors impacting the illness are taken into account and they are all treated together, then the illness can finally heal.

Apply this concept to addiction: if we only take away the substances, then it is likely that we will drink or use again because we didn’t change the underlying causes of our substance abuse. However when we treat the mind, body, and soul in relation to our substance abuse, our chances for successful recovery improve greatly. By integrating healing in all aspects of our lives, we achieve change in our whole life. This is the holistic approach to recovery.

At AToN Center, we embrace holistic recovery. We use best practices for treatment of addiction, whether they be traditional Western medicine, psychology, alternative medicine, or any other category. We simply gather the best methods and tools for recovery with the goal that each person will find what works best for them to navigate their lives.

The Whole of Holistic

Part of holistic treatment is making sure that all facets of the person are addressed: mind, body, and soul. That means a balanced approach to healing. If we focus only on the mind, then the other facets suffer, but the progress we made in our mind may regress, too. All facets of our beings are intrinsically linked. So it naturally follows that treating the whole is necessary to achieve harmony and complete healing.

While there are some methods that help to heal the mind, body, and soul simultaneously, such as yoga or massage, and other methods that may overlap two areas, many methods focus primarily on facet at a time. This is why it is so important to have as many tools for healing at our disposal, so we can find address our own needs for each aspect of our own recovery.

Mind

The mind is our control center or computer. When we drink or use drugs excessively, there are physiological changes that occur within the brain that can impact our behavior, sleep, and thoughts. Cravings originate in the brain, it is the primary source of substance use motivation. It is also where the origin of our substance abuse is stored, so it is crucial to treat the mind.

One of the most obvious methods to treat the mind is through therapy. There are many methods that are particularly helpful in recovery, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR.) Hypnotherapy and breathwork are also great tools to heal the mind. The idea is to reverse any possible physiological changes within the brain and to create new thoughts and ideas about ourselves, our behaviors, and our health.

Body

There are a lot of physical side effects to substance abuse, including a lowered immune system, liver and kidney damage, heart and lung problems, and memory loss, seizures, and stroke. There is unfortunately sometimes damage to our bodies that cannot be reversed. However, no matter where we are at, our bodies can always be improved and many conditions healed if we are willing to make changes in our daily routines.

A big factor in healing the body is food. The food we eat can either offer our bodies quality nutrients and help in our healing, or it can contribute to poor health. The choice is ours. Another choice is exercise. Regular fitness can boost both physical and mental health. Treatments like acupuncture also focus on healing the body and can be personalized to fit our needs.

Soul

Our soul is our emotional component, our essence. There is no measurement for the damage that addiction does to our soul. But it is closely tied to the experiences that drive substance use as well as how we feel about our physical health. However, just because there is no scientific measurement for the damage, it doesn’t mean that it does not exist. And it definitely does not mean we should ignore it.

Meditation is a great way to treat our souls. It allows us to train our minds to allow our souls to thrive. We can learn to be present and to live without distraction, which can help heal our whole selves, actually. Another great treatment for our soul is Watsu. This is done in a swimming pool and is meant to recreate the safe feeling of being in the womb. It can be healing not only for the body, but also for the mind, and soul.

Healing the body, mind, and spirit to provide us with the best opportunity for success, that is why holistic healing is so important. All of the treatment options above and more are available at AToN Center to assist you in your holistic recovery. Let us help you find the direction in your life by giving you all the tools you need to forge your own path of recovery: mind, body, and soul.

Choose to heal your life holistically today. Call AToN Center at (888) 813-5928.

Are You Speaking Lovingly?

April 3, 2018 // by Aton Center

Buddhism offers very sound advice on how best to unite with others. Metta, the Pali word for loving-kindness, is a cornerstone of Buddhist spirituality. In Latin, Spiritus means “Breath”. How we choose to communicate with others may or may not “breathe” life into our relationship.

At AToN Center, we offer evidenced based research in all of our holistic approaches, educational classes, and therapy sessions. One of AToN Center’s guiding principles is, Maintaining Healthy Relationships. To support this goal, residents learn about healthy communication and the value of treating one’s self and others with respect, and kindness.

The following article (https://www.thoughtco.com/right-speech-450072) will help you learn more about the importance of choosing actions that breathe life into your personal – and intrapersonal—relationships.

Chris McDuffie, MA CADCC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Building Assertiveness in Early Sobriety

April 1, 2018 // by Aton Center

People in early recovery often need help developing assertiveness skills. Problems related to caustic relationships, codependency and fear of conflict and criticism must be addressed. Depression, self-loathing and toxic shame add to the complexities of becoming assertive. Dr. Randy J. Peterson’s book, The Assertiveness Workbook is highly recommended to help those needing to learn how to assert themselves.

Dr. Peterson accomplishes building assertiveness by reviewing the four primary communication styles: assertive, passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive. He writes, “Being assertive requires: 1) that you have some very specific skills and 2) that you use these skills when it is appropriate to do so.”

At AToN Center our holistic approach to recovery helps the recovering individual build self-esteem through our Cognitive-Based Theoretical approach, our individual and group sessions and our rich educational curriculum. Our residents benefit from learning to identify the benefits of healthy assertiveness.

When the recovering addict becomes self-aware, goal orientated, physically healthy and appropriately assertive they find themselves happier and more content. Practicing healthy assertive techniques in all relationships allows the sober individual to maintain healthy choices and relationships.

Chris McDuffie
CD Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516

Developing Inner Strength with Pema Chodron:

January 18, 2018 // by Aton Center

Meditation Skills for the Advanced Meditation Practitioner

Buddhist Monk, Pema Chodron is a leading expert on using one’s inner strength to help defuse suffering. In this exciting lecture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLw5QFaFUgI), Pema leads the listener through the advanced meditation practice of Tonglen. Tonglen is an ancient Buddhist practice that is often referred to as, The Lion’s Roar.

Toglen, as explained and narrated by Pema is suggested for advanced practitioners of meditation which invites the practitioner to remember trauma, or other events that generated suffering and to diffuse the energy that has culminated in guilt, shame, and/or remorse. Toglen is called the Lion’s Roar because it reminds the individual that their inner strength is more powerful than the residue of any action or inaction than generated suffering.

Pema also helps the practitioner of Tonglen understand that fear manifests itself as guilt and shame. Moreover, we are reminded here that one need to be very mindful of one’s actions when one attaches to or avoids processing the energy that is manifested while in the emotional state of guilt and shame. The listener to this exciting presentation is invited to partake in a brief Tonglen sitting meditation. I advise only advanced meditation practitioners to partake in this guided meditation as its power lies in the ability of the individual to sit in and explore one’s source or suffering. For many in early recovery, this process may feel very overwhelming and triggering.

At AToN Center, we incorporate many holistic and therapeutic practices that help each client. I hope that this article helps you as you gather resources to help relieve suffering and prevent relapse.

Chris McDuffie, MA CADC II
Chemical Dependency Counselor
AToN Center 888-535-1516