It’s such a sad story. Each year, we lose more and more people to the opioid crisis. Opiate addiction is a major health concern. Thanks to soaring overdose deaths (deaths in the U.S. from opioid-related overdoses jumped another 21 percent in 2018), American life expectancy dropped for several years in a row during the late 2010s. In a land already riddled with cancer and heart disease, this one is particularly painful because of the preventable nature of its destruction.
And it’s not some street drug such as heroin or crack cocaine that’s bringing down everyday working people in the United States, but rather a series of prescriptions being willingly given by doctors across the country, ostensibly to treat pain. OxyContin, Fentanyl, Percocet, whatever name it goes by, opium derivatives are still among the most highly addictive substances known to man.
It’s no great secret that powerful painkillers have become a significant problem, both in dense urban areas and in rural cities and towns. This opiate addiction epidemic touches every corner of the country, from the deep South to the Pacific Northwest. Each year, the death toll climbs. Each year, someone doesn’t make it to the end of the year, and another family becomes shattered, and another life is wasted.
Mind-Body Therapies for Opiate Addiction
Mind-Body Therapies for Opiate AddictionAs a result, there has been a big spike in interest in alternative pain treatments and medicines to help with opiate addiction. Whether it be yoga, massage, or better nutrition, people from coast to coast are ditching pills in favor of a natural, pain-free life.
Even more, researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that regular yoga can greatly relieve the symptoms of chronic pain. They also studied acupuncture, relaxation techniques, massage therapy, and nutritional supplements. I have also found the Chi Machine beneficial for all types of health concerns because its benefits are similar to massage and provide movement for the body with additional stress.
While many of the studies in question did not specifically comment on the effects of alternative treatments in reference to opioid use, it does suggest that people could greatly benefit from alternative treatments or therapies where treating chronic pain is concerned. Many with addiction struggle with trauma, and some have found E.M.D.R. Therapy (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy) beneficial as well when dealing with their addiction. Many therapists are trained in this type of therapy and if you are interested, you should check your local area.
Further studies are ongoing, but the initial findings are promising. In the search for safer options than the powerful painkillers we’ve become accustomed to, alternative medicine is a welcome sight.
Healthier Habits
Developing healthier lifestyle habits benefits many of today’s health concerns. Eating healthier, drinking water, managing stress, getting enough sleep, mind-body therapies, and exercise can help. Today is the day to learn more about healthier lifestyle habits and to Join our Healthy Living Program for education and encouragement.
If you or someone you know are struggling with addiction and need immediate help, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.