Holistic treatments may encompass many different methods of both conventional and alternative medicine, but the overarching theme is that the person will ultimately build a better, more balanced sense of self while coming to love who they are in the process. The four main elements of the self are often explored and brought into balance, which can greatly aid the recovery process.
The four elements are:
In order to heal, one must first explore the cause or mindset that triggered the disorder. Toxic and negative thoughts should be eradicated and replaced with positive ones. Holistic medicine encourages group and individual therapy to help with redirecting thoughts and changing behaviours.
Changing your environment can be a refreshing and much-needed aspect of successful recovery. More often than not, the environment you were in before treatment had qualities that did not support your best mental health. Taking action to experience an environment conducive to treatment gives you a healthy change of pace and a better idea of the spaces you’ll need for long term recovery. Maybe you need to remove yourself from unhealthy environments or experience 24/7 support in the early stages of your recovery. Luckily, there are plenty of resources available for you to experience time away in a treatment-specific centre.
Part of a successful recovery requires special attention to your own health and wellness habits. Although symptoms experienced with mental health conditions might make it difficult to take good care of yourself, the perfect wellness routine is the one that is realistic to you. Setting attainable goals that feel like a good fit for your stage of recovery is important if you want your routine to improve your overall sense of wellbeing. Eating healthy during recovery also promotes your best energy levels and mental health. Maybe a realistic routine is simply getting more sleep if you are just beginning treatment. Perhaps you feel like an ambitious fitness routine will motivate you more. However, you choose to implement healthy habits, do what works for your stage of recovery.
Healthy habits to practice include:
If you are new to your journey of recovery or treatment, asking for help and advocating for yourself might be a daunting experience. Especially with some cases of asking for help and taking the first step towards sharing personal struggles, the stigma around mental illness, unfortunately, prevents people from getting help. Remembering that you are not alone will remind you to explore resources and advocate for yourself if needed. There may be moments in your recovery where you feel you need extra support in the treatment and that you need more resources available for you to recover. Self-advocacy simply means communicating to ensure your needs are met.
Examples of Self-advocacy include:
Achieving progress in mental health recovery means having a realistic sense of where you are now and where you’d like to be. Learning how to set SMART goals ensures that you can stay motivated and follow clear next steps to reach any goal you set for yourself. Remember that any goal in your recovery is perfectly acceptable, as long as you are realistic and aim for something that will make you feel good.
A great example of a recovery goal is to have attended every psychologist appointment in a month. Another could be having purchased healthy groceries during your next shopping trip. No matter your goal, let your recovery go at your own pace and you will always feel proud of your progress.
More ideas for SMART recovery goals include:
At ZwavelStream clinic, you will be met by a team of warm, dedicated and experienced professionals. We strive to provide our patients with a mixed therapeutic model of psychiatric care so that you can discover a renewed sense of wellness that extends beyond mental health. We have helped numerous patients on their road to recovery, and we can help you too! By utilizing the information above you can start taking back control, and also enjoy the benefits of a healthy and happy mind.
Zwavelstream Clinic is set in the Bronberg, with lush vegetation, manicured gardens, as well as spacious and tastefully furnished rooms. Our mental health clinic was inspired by the desire to provide a psychiatric unit in an environment that “de-institutionalizes and de-stigmatizes” mental health hospitals.
There’s no shame in seeking treatment to improve your mental health. It’s an act of great courage to take that first step and reach out. At ZwavelStream Clinic we provide a safe space for those looking for just this kind of support and guidance. So if you recognize yourself or someone you love may need help, please contact us.
