Fighting addiction is one of the hardest battles I have ever fought. It requires every ounce of your energy, complete dedication, and devoted commitment to cleansing your body of the substances that have you hooked. I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout my youth. Not only was I damaging my body, but this addiction was affecting my family, it was then I knew I had to seek help from a rehab program. That decision was one of the smartest choices I’ve ever made.
Today, I am proud to say that I have been sober for over 9 years and continue to live a healthy and productive life. My struggles with addiction will always be a part of who I am, but I am extremely proud of the progress I’ve made, the man I’ve become and the my relationship with my family is stronger than ever. I wouldn’t have been able to stay sober this long without learning some techniques and remedies that helped me along the way. Things like yoga, exercise, and healthy nutrition have helped to keep my body feeling great and made my mind sharp.
I’ve created a list below that provides 7 natural remedies which helped boost my addiction recovery in hopes that you can use my knowledge during your own journey towards sobriety.
1. Yoga
I’ll start off my list by providing an ancient and intriguing remedy that strengthens both your body and your mind. Yoga is essentially meditation combined with movement. It provides mental clarity as well as physical exercise in a way that is hard to put down into words. I personally found yoga to be the perfect remedy for when my mind was racing a million miles per hour with thoughts of substance abuse. By incorporating yoga into my daily routine, I was able to control my mind and my breathing all while feeling more connected with myself.
2. Coffee
Some might think of caffeine as a drug, but I actually use it as a tool to drive away my addiction and stay focused on my recovery. A cup of coffee is something that I look forward to every single day. It always boosts my productivity and mental clarity. It can also be used as a much healthier substitute for those struggling with addictive substances like as cocaine and ecstasy. I will warn you though, coffee is delicious and can be addictive, so drink it in moderation!
3. Grapes
Believe it or not, grapes are actually one of the most popular remedies for dealing with alcohol addiction. This tiny and delicious fruit contains the purest form of an alcohol-making agent, which is a great substitute for alcoholics craving for a drink. They are also rich in potassium, and are known to have strong cleansing power for removing toxins in the liver. Personally, I think grapes are super tasty and an essential part of my healthy diet.
4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids
If you’re not familiar with Omega 3 Fatty Acids, they are powerful fats that your body needs to function. Typically, we think of the word “fat” as a bad thing. The truth is, your body needs fat to function. There are good fats and bad fats, and Omega 3 Fatty Acids fall directly under one of the good kinds. When you are on drugs, you are basically frying the neurotransmitters in your brain and damaging the tissues and cells in your body. Omega 3’s help protect your body during the time it is recovering from the damage you have done. It’s also been known to increase your brain’s growth hormone and improve sleep patterns. Eating fish or walnuts is a great way to get your Omega 3’s.
5. Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is something that has helped me avoid consuming alcohol for many years. It’s delicious, refreshing, and a great substitute for alcohol. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs during the recovery process. By choosing juices high in Vitamin C, you can boost your immune system and help your body get back to normal. I’ve become a juicing fanatic in recent years. I love picking out my favorite fresh fruits and putting them in my juicer for a quick nutrition boost.
6. Exercise
This remedy might be the single most important thing I’ve discovered during my journey towards recovery. I absolutely love to exercise, because it helps to relieve my stress and improve my overall well-being. When I took my first steps towards recovery, exercise was crucial. I’ve incorporated exercise into my daily routine and haven’t looked back. There are so many different forms of exercise to partake in that it never gets old for me. I love playing basketball and lifting weights, but you should choose forms of exercise that you are passionate about and enjoy doing.
7. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important vitamin that your skin synthesizes when it is exposed to the sun. I happen to think most people don’t get enough sun exposure on a regular basis, particularly if they work in an office. This also holds true for people that have been dealing with substance abuse. Getting some sun can put you in a great mood and also help dramatically with any withdrawals symptoms you might be suffering. Literally every tissue in your body has receptors for Vitamin D, which means your entire body needs it to function. This powerful vitamin has even been shown to protect against the dopamine reductions from methamphetamine.
Take Away
Recovering from addiction is not an easy task. To be successful, you need to actively seek out new information and remedies that will help you stay committed to sobriety. I truly hope that my seven remedies above will make a dramatic difference in your life like they have for me. Which of the above remedies seems the most appealing to you? Are you currently incorporating any of these remedies in your life? Please leave me a comment below and share your thoughts!
Melissa Bell
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