More young adults are struggling with their mental health now than ever before. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately “57.8 million adults aged 18 or older” had a mental illness in 2021. Specifically, “young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence.” Of these young adults experiencing mental illness, many struggle with substance use. More specifically, these individuals face unique challenges during treatment and recovery for substance use disorder (SUD).
Thankfully, many treatment methods can help young adults manage these unique challenges, but a holistic approach can be particularly helpful. Holistic treatment can help young adults learn healthy coping techniques, access resources, and engage more with their care team. Continue reading to learn more, and contact West Coast Recovery Centers today if you are a young adult seeking traditional and holistic treatment for SUD today.
What Unique Challenges Do Young Adults Face During SUD Treatment and Recovery?
Anyone with SUD experiences a number of challenges, but the challenges young adults experience are unique in that their brains are not yet fully developed. Substance use at an early age can be detrimental. From teenagers to individuals in their early 20s, early drug or alcohol use can lead to memory problems, cardiovascular concerns, and other physical conditions. Substance use and abuse may even lead to social and behavioral concerns, making the already unique challenges of SUD even more daunting.
As mentioned, a significant concern regarding substance in young people is that their brains are not fully matured. This may make the healing process more challenging or time-consuming in some cases, but it all depends. Additional unique challenges this age group may experience during SUD treatment or recovery include the following:
- Negative influence and pressure from peers to begin or continue substance use
- Inability to understand, control, or cope with complex emotions, especially the younger they are
- History of substance use in the family, specifically among parents, guardians, or other parental figures
- The added stress of social norms and other constructs placed on upon young adults at an early age
- Teenagers or individuals in their early to mid-20s are less likely to seek out or afford proper addiction treatment
Challenges such as these can significantly impact the effectiveness of a treatment program. Thankfully, professionals nowadays are better equipped to treat this age demographic, and many do so through a holistic approach to treatment.
What Is a Holistic Approach to Addiction Treatment?
A holistic approach to addiction treatment refers to a treatment program that addresses physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. It provides a whole-person approach to treatment that offers healing for more than just the addiction. In many ways, holistic treatment focuses on wellness, which is excellent because living a life of recovery requires overall healthier life choices.
What many love about holistic treatment is that it can be tailored to each individual care plan. Holistic therapy features many personalized practices that anyone can experiment with. These practices can effectively help young individuals maintain their sobriety long-term.
Some popular holistic and mindfulness-based practices people utilize include:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Breathwork
- Nature therapy
Many still question, though, how practices such as these can benefit their addiction treatment journey. So, let’s dive into understanding these benefits a little more.
How Do Holistic Practices Benefit Addiction Treatment?
Holistic addiction treatment methods have many benefits because they take into consideration so much more than just symptoms. This approach addresses traumatic experiences, spiritual needs, physical factors, and individual needs. Traditional methods of treatment are generally not as tailored in comparison.
The primary benefit of a holistic approach to treatment for young adults is that it prepares them for life post-treatment. Using holistic practices can teach necessary skills to avoid future substance use. Unfortunately, there is no cure for SUD, and life post-treatment will come with a whole new set of challenges. A holistic treatment plan will address the challenges and treat the entire person, helping adolescents or teenagers develop healthier habits and behaviors that encourage healthier decision-making.
Why Should Young Adults Consider Traditional and Holistic Treatment?
Many treatment professionals believe the key to successful treatment is a program that combines traditional and holistic treatment, but why might that be? In short, holistic and conventional evidence-based practices are effective concurrently because they complement each other. Traditional modalities help people uncover the root cause of addiction, and holistic therapy offers practical tools to cope with that root cause.
Additionally, clients are more likely to fully engage and interact with their treatment plan when they feel it is individualized. The whole-person approach makes them feel better about the plan and allows them to feel valued and cared for as an individual seeking treatment for SUD.
If you are a young adult struggling with SUD, we want you to know you are not alone. Millions of others are going through a similar experience, and there is hope for a better tomorrow. A better future awaits you today. Consider how a holistic approach to treatment can help you recover from SUD, and contact West Coast Recovery Centers today.
Each year, it seems more and more people are experiencing struggles with their mental health. Among these individuals, there appears to be a high number of young adults, in particular, who are struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use disorder (SUD), and a number of other mental health conditions. Unfortunately, because of unique challenges, many of these young adults are sometimes unable to seek treatment. However, those who do should look for programs that take a holistic approach to recovery, as it can help them engage more with their treatment and maintain sobriety long after leaving treatment. To learn more about the benefits of holistic treatment or to seek treatment for yourself, call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 today.