detox Archives - Pucker Mob

Addiction And Cravings: How Exposure To Nature Helps

Addiction recovery comes with cravings.

Addiction treatment has several approaches. It includes both medication and therapies. Most addiction treatment programs include some tools to handle cravings and accelerate sobriety.

What many of us might not know is that nature has a powerful impact on combating addiction and cravings. This is why rehab in Dallas by Infinite Recovery is situated in the middle of nature, as it exposes the patient to nature which has many benefits.

Japan’s ‘Forest Therapy’ Programs

In Japan, the policies regarding the conservation and protection of forests and green areas have taken off. You see, Japan is famous for its stressful and emotional work conditions, along with a high suicide rate in the concrete jungle.

So to address the mental health stigma of the country, the Forestry Agency of Japan sponsors the practice of ‘shinrin-yoku,’ or simply “forest bathing.”

Since 2004, Japan Forestry has invested around $4 million into forest therapy research. Research has found that simply being in nature can actually relieve stress along with increasing productivity.

By measuring the participants’ blood pressure and the number of the ‘natural killer’ or NK cells in their bodies, we can understand how forest therapy is helping them.

For your reference, we should mention that NK cells are those white blood cells that assist in preventing viral; infections and reject cancer and tumor cells.

After the policy implementation in Japan, South Korea has also spent approximately $140 million on a new National Forest Therapy Center. Some of the western countries, such as Finland, are also funding similar types of studies after the Japan forest therapy programs get some optimistic results.

For replicating these results, several Japan Forestry industry experts have been hired by a number of these programs.

Nature, Cravings, And Mental Health

From kids to adults, health experts always recommend that everyone spend time in nature. Now, individuals recovering from any type of substance abuse especially need to spend time in nature.

A study done by the University of Plymouth shows that there is actually a link between nature, reduced craving strength, and frequency of addiction. The link between mental health and nature is simply undeniable.

Nature can be both maintained or maintained by environmental green areas, for example, nature preserves and parks.

In urban areas, where people have greater access to nature, they usually have less anxiety and depression, less mental distress, healthier cortisol, and greater well-being than those living in urban areas with less green space.

Consistent exposure to green space from childhood can actually prevent some psychiatric disorders, such as preventing anxiety and preventing depression. However, the beneficial effect of exposure to nature is not limited to children.

While exposure to nature can effectively improve their mental health, green space also has a strong benefit for adults as well.

In urban settings, adults often deal with several stressors from family, work, a daily commute to bills, along with balancing home life. Because adults who are in the recovery process from any type of substance abuse also suffer from many stressors.

The stress can often result from focusing on healthy meeting attendance, maintaining sobriety, and step work. Nature is effective in reducing the stress that mostly triggers cravings. There is also a link between exercising and an increase in mental health along with reducing stress.

At the same time, we can not deny the connection between exercising and being outdoors. It is also true that everyone is not a fan of exercising or might be limited to exercise by the seasonal weather.

So to be clear, having access to nature or green space is beneficial, whether it is with exercise or without.

Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders

The connection between substance abuse and mental health has been a long topic of discussion, particularly in recent years. Mental health disorders can trigger substance abuse disorders, and mental health disorders also can be triggered by substance abuse disorders.

Addiction is a threefold disease, which affects the body, mind, and spirit all, and thus the treatment also includes treating all these three.

Just like any other mental disorder, addiction is also treatable. As we have mentioned earlier, mental health and addiction are interconnected. When you are getting a part of nature, your mental health improves, and it helps in dealing with substance abuse cravings.

Nature and green space have calming effects on both our bodies and minds. Even the color green soothes not only our eyes but also the green nature soothes our mind and soul.

Exposure To Nature Alleviates Cravings

The exact reason behind green spaces assisting in alleviating unhealthy cravings has not been declared yet; the effectiveness is proven. While everyone does not go with holistic recovery, there are also some individuals who are more into the 12-step meetings or therapy.

However, nature can work wonderfully in treating mental health issues. Research has shown that individuals who have visibility of green spaces from their homes and also have access to green spaces in their neighborhoods have less frequency and intensity of cravings.

This craving applies not only to drugs and alcohol but also to nicotine and unhealthy foods.

Incorporate Green Space Into Your Daily Life To Recover From Addiction

Some of us are not lucky enough to have access to nature or at least a small green space. We are either living in extremely urbanized areas or having longer work schedules.

That is why we are here to guide you on how to incorporate green space into your daily life and recover from drugs or alcohol.

Visit your local park.
In your home, open your curtains and see the outside greenery.
HavegGreen spaces in your home and office.
Opt for a 12-step fellowship meeting that is outdoors.
Make some time and visit the local reserves and parks.
Start a community garden.
Go for a walk around your community.
During the weekdays, if weather permits, eat your lunch outdoors.
In case you have dogs, take them to the nearest dog park.
Try a leisure activity outdoors on the weekend, such as step work, reading, or meditation.

All the benefits of being outdoors and seeing nature are extremely helpful. Spend some time in the lap of nature, even though it is just a short amount of time per day. Nature is free and full of benefits. And paired with the decrease in strong, lasting cravings for drugs and alcohol, it can significantly improve your mental health.

Understanding the Roles of Rehab Centers

We live in a world where many good people are forced into making bad decisions by the environment around us. No one drinks alcohol or does drugs because they like them, it is a sign of suffering from the inside. Going to rehab to treat such big problems is a huge step in the right direction. It is important to understand what rehab centers actually do in order to get the treatment that you or a person near you needs to get.

It is a unique experience

Everyone’s experience during rehab is unique and is filled with many ups and downs. As the philosophy goes over at 90210 Recovery in California, the treatment should always be based on you. The rehab center’s first role is to uncover the root cause of the addiction in order to tackle the problem adequately. Everyone has their own unique problems, and trained professionals are aware of this and they know how to handle unique cases with a lot of experience behind them.

You can not expect to get immediate results from rehab, it is a process that takes time. Sometimes more, sometimes less, and be prepared for it. If you are close to someone who is in a rehab center, the last thing you want to do is to put pressure on them for it to be faster. The staff at a rehab center is there to help out at any point during this unique process.

Detoxification

The term detoxification is the real deal here, it is not a random drink the internet tells you to drink for detoxification. During rehab, it is important for the patient to be in a safe environment

while they cope with withdrawal symptoms. That is what detoxification refers to here, to let the body recover from everything that was put through. Not only in the short term but also help the patient out to find ways to deal with any future cravings that might appear.

Therapy

While your body is getting used to not consuming the addictive substance, therapy will also start to take place. Therapy is not a process where someone deals with all of the problems you have for you. The role of the staff there is to provide the individual with everything they need in order to deal with addiction.

This includes physical needs, such as a calm surroundings where the individual has a lot of opportunities to start a new hobby. The other part includes psychological support to diagnose the problem and start the process of healing. This includes making new habits and ways of thinking in order to solve the problem that caused this addiction.

These are just the basic roles of what a rehab center does in the process of healing. It is very important to know and understand these core principles so you can know what to expect. It is always possible to make a change for the better, it is sometimes very hard to make a change. If it was easy, then there would not be a problem, but it is not and the fact that you or someone you know is doing something about it is very encouraging and strong.

How to Detox After the Holidays

It happens every year. The holiday temptations are just too much to resist. After all, how can you say no to that gorgeous cheese plate, those yummy Christmas cookies, or that delicious holiday ham? And let’s not forget the cocktails, pumpkin spice lattes, and eggnog. But once the holidays are over, all of that overindulgence is bound to leave you feeling more than a little bloated and sluggish.

There’s no doubt that most of us could benefit from a reset after the holidays. But that doesn’t mean you need to kill yourself at the gym or live on celery sticks for the next few weeks to get things balanced again. With a little support and a nudge in the right direction, your body can detox itself after the holidays. No crash diet required!

Back to Basics

Sometimes it’s the simplest changes that can have a positive impact on how you feel. Lemons are known to offer several health benefits, including stimulating digestion. When you combine the benefits of lemons with water, you’re also hydrating your body, which is key in order to detox and feel better in general.

Start each day with a cup of warm water and fresh-squeezed lemon to nudge your digestive system into motion. And then, sip on lemon water throughout the day to keep your liver and kidneys in tip-top shape and encourage the detoxifying process.

Green tea is also great for digestion and boosting metabolism. You can even add lemon to your green tea for an extra boost. If you’re suffering from heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, or irritated bowels, try sipping on fennel tea after meals. It soothes the digestive tract and calms the stomach while improving digestion.

Nourish Your Body with Fruits and Veggies

It’s tempting to skip meals after you’ve overindulged, but you’re much better off nourishing your body with nutrient-dense fruits and veggies that are also hydrating. When in detox mode, limit your intake of animal proteins and go for plant-based proteins instead. Plant-based foods are easier on the digestive systems and will support your body’s efforts to detox itself.

Consider Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon hydrotherapy is a safe and gentle way to improve your digestion, remove harmful toxins and excess waste from your intestines, and rebalance your gut. A colonics treatment will reset your digestive system by cleansing your bowel. Not only that, but colon cleansing can also give you an energy boost, improve your mood, relieve chronic headaches, clear up acne, and reduce joint pain and inflammation throughout the body.

Try Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a great way to give your digestive system a break without having to endure a full-on fast. It can help you lose weight and detoxify your body without feeling like you’re on a diet. To do an intermittent fast, eat your last meal of the day no later than 7 PM. When you get up in the morning, have a cup of bulletproof coffee to help you feel satiated until lunchtime When you’re ready to break your fast, eat a healthy lunch as you normally would. This will keep your body in a healthy fasting state for around 16 hours, forcing your body to burn fat as fuel and your gut to reset. You don’t need to do this every day, once a week is plenty.

Get Moving

Exercise is important for your overall health and giving your sluggish digestive system and metabolism a boost, but that doesn’t mean you have to drag yourself to the gym. Find a form of exercise you love, such as dancing, swimming, or simply taking long walks in the fresh air. Yoga is a great way to get your body back into balance, plus it relieves stress and boosts your mood. You could attend a class in your community, or stream one online.

Hit an Infrared Sauna

One of the easiest ways to get a good sweat going and detox your body is to hit an infrared sauna. Infrared saunas are more comfortable than traditional saunas because the infrared light heats objects in the sauna, rather than the air, which allows your body to get a good sweat going at lower temperatures. If you don’t have an infrared sauna in your area, a traditional one will still do the trick. Sweating is amazing for detoxifying the body and it may also you lose weight.

Get Your Probiotics

A healthy gut is essential for good digestion, detoxification, and weight loss. Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that can rebalance your gut after you’ve overindulged. The best way to get your probiotics is to eat some probiotic foods every day, such as yogurt and fermented foods. You can also take a probiotic supplement to give your body an extra boost of healthy bacteria.

Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up for overindulging during the holidays. We all give in to temptation this time of year. The good news is, the damage isn’t permanent and making some simple changes to your lifestyle will get things back on track pretty quickly.