Breaking Free: How Addiction Treatment Online Can Change Your Life

Published on
September 6, 2023

Are you wondering if addiction treatment online is effective?

Addiction is a serious condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and it can lead to devastating consequences. Whether it's drug addiction, alcoholism, or any other type of addiction, it can take over your life and leave you feeling hopeless and helpless. The good news is that addiction is treatable, and with the right support and tools, you can overcome it.

At One Breath Institute, we know that Introspective Breathwork™ is a powerful tool for addiction recovery. We consistently see positive results in clients we work with who are seeking to overcome addiction, students who go through our program and overcome addiction, and in the work our graduates do who utilize Introspective Breathwork™ to support their clients to overcome addiction. Introspective Breathwork™ is a safe, natural, and effective way to address the root causes of addiction and promote healing and recovery—and it can be practiced effectively online.

Addiction treatment online can change your life, and Introspective Breathwork™ can help you break free from addiction.

First, let’s take a good look at where addiction stems from.

Gabor Mate is a renowned physician and author who has extensively studied and written about addiction. He has a unique perspective on addiction, which he views as a response to trauma and stress. According to Mate, addiction is not just a physical or psychological problem but a spiritual and existential one. It is a coping mechanism that people use to deal with the pain, emptiness, and disconnection that they feel inside. In his view, addiction is a way of seeking relief and connection in the absence of meaningful relationships and community.

Mate argues that the root cause of addiction is not the substance or behavior itself but the underlying emotional and psychological pain that drives it. He believes that people who suffer from addiction have experienced some form of trauma or adverse childhood experiences that have left them feeling disconnected and disempowered. This disconnection from self and others is what leads them to seek relief through addictive behaviors. Mate also believes that addiction is not a choice but a response to life circumstances. He argues that people who suffer from addiction do not choose to become addicted but are driven to it by the overwhelming pain and stress in their lives. He believes that treating addiction requires addressing the underlying trauma and stress that drive it, rather than simply treating the symptoms.

Mate's approach to addiction treatment is holistic and compassionate. He believes that addiction is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted solution. He advocates for a comprehensive approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of addiction. This includes addressing the underlying trauma and stress that drive addiction, as well as providing support and resources for recovery. Mate's teachings have been influential in the addiction treatment field, and his approach has helped many people overcome addiction and find meaning and purpose in their lives. His perspective on addiction as a response to trauma and disconnection highlights the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in addiction treatment.

Gabor Mate's teachings on addiction provide a valuable perspective on the root causes of addiction and the importance of addressing the underlying trauma and stress that drive it. His approach emphasizes the need for a holistic and compassionate approach to addiction treatment that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of addiction. By understanding addiction as a response to trauma and disconnection, we can provide more effective and meaningful support for those struggling with addiction.

Bessel van der Kolk is another influential figure in the field of trauma and addiction, and his teachings provide valuable insights into the relationship between trauma and addiction.

Van der Kolk is a psychiatrist and researcher who has studied the effects of trauma on the brain and body. He has found that traumatic experiences can have a profound impact on the way that the brain and body function, leading to a range of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. According to van der Kolk, addiction is often a response to trauma, and people who have experienced trauma are more likely to develop addiction. He argues that addiction is a way of coping with the overwhelming emotions and sensations that trauma can cause, and that addictive behaviors can provide a sense of temporary relief and control. Van der Kolk's approach to addiction treatment is based on the understanding that addiction is rooted in trauma, and that addressing the trauma is essential for long-term recovery. He believes that traditional addiction treatment approaches, which often focus on abstinence and behavioral change, are not enough to address the underlying trauma that drives addiction. Instead, van der Kolk advocates for a more holistic approach that addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of addiction. This includes using therapies such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), somatic experiencing, and breathwork to help clients process and heal from traumatic experiences.

Van der Kolk also emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for addiction treatment. He believes that people who have experienced trauma need to feel safe and supported in order to be able to engage in the healing process. This includes providing a trauma-informed approach to addiction treatment that takes into account the unique needs and experiences of each individual.

Bessel van der Kolk's teachings on trauma and addiction provide important insights into the complex relationship between these two issues. By incorporating the principles of a safe and supportive environment, along with a trauma-informed approach that takes the individual’s needs into account, we can help individuals overcome addiction and achieve lasting recovery.

Gabor Mate and Bessel van der Kolk's teachings provide important perspectives on addiction as a response to trauma and stress, and the importance of addressing the underlying causes of addiction in order to achieve lasting recovery. At One Breath Institute, our beliefs and teachings are in concurrence with Mate and van der Kolk's findings. We offer a unique approach to addiction treatment that incorporates the principles of trauma-informed, person-centered care and holistic healing. By combining the insights of Mate and van der Kolk with the healing power of Introspective Breathwork™, One Breath Institute offers a comprehensive approach to addiction treatment that addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of addiction. This approach recognizes the root causes of addiction as being rooted in trauma and disconnection, and emphasizes the need for a safe and supportive environment for healing, which we provide through our leaders and community.

Breathwork is a powerful tool for releasing emotional and physical trauma that is stored in the body, allowing individuals to reconnect with themselves. Through the use of Introspective Breathwork™, clients are able to integrate stored trauma and emotions, reconnect with their bodies and inner selves, and become empowered. This allows them to find new ways of coping with stress and pain, and to develop healthier patterns of behavior that support long-term recovery.

Addiction treatment online offers a new and innovative approach to addressing the complex and multifaceted issues of addiction. One Breath Institute offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to addiction treatment that recognizes the importance of addressing the root causes of addiction, and the need for a safe and supportive environment for healing. Through this approach, individuals are able to break free from addiction, and to create a new and meaningful life for themselves.

The Benefits of Addiction Treatment Online

Online addiction treatment has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. With online addiction treatment, you can access support and treatment from the comfort of your own home, without having to travel to a treatment center or attend in-person sessions. This makes it easier to fit treatment into your schedule and can reduce some of the barriers that might prevent you from seeking help.

Here are some of the benefits of addiction treatment online:

  1. Convenience: With addiction treatment online, you can access support and treatment from anywhere, at any time. This makes it easier to fit treatment into your schedule and can reduce some of the barriers that might prevent you from seeking help.
  2. Affordability: Addiction treatment online can be more affordable than traditional in-person treatment, which can be costly due to travel expenses and other fees.
  3. Accessibility: Addiction treatment online is more accessible to people who live in remote or rural areas, where access to traditional treatment centers may be limited.
  4. Privacy: Addiction treatment online can be more private and confidential than traditional in-person treatment. This can be especially important for people who are concerned about stigma or who don't want others to know they're seeking help.
  5. Flexibility: With addiction treatment online, you have more flexibility in terms of the type of treatment you receive. For example, you can access individual counseling, group therapy, online recovery meetings or self-help resources online.

Breaking free from addiction can have a profound and positive impact on a person's life in every way. Some ways that a person’s life improves when they break free from addiction are–

Improved Physical Health: Addiction can take a toll on a person's physical health, leading to a range of health problems such as liver disease, heart disease, and respiratory issues. When someone breaks free from addiction, they are often able to regain their physical health and well-being, leading to a better quality of life.

Improved Relationships: Addiction can strain relationships with friends and family members, often leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. When someone breaks free from addiction, they are often able to repair and strengthen their relationships, and also have the tools to create new and healthier relationships.

Increased Self-Esteem: Addiction generally causes feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. When someone breaks free from addiction, they are often able to regain their sense of self-worth and confidence. They begin to believe in themselves and have a more positive outlook on life.

More Fulfillment in Life: Addiction can consume a person's life, often leading to a sense of emptiness and lack of purpose. When someone breaks free from addiction, they are often able to rediscover their passions and interests, and to pursue a more fulfilling life.

Financial Stability: Addiction can be expensive, often leading to financial struggles and debt. When someone breaks free from addiction, they are often able to regain their financial stability, leading to a greater sense of security and independence.

Improved Mental Health: As we explored earlier, trauma is often at the root of addiction. When addiction recovery and trauma-healing are addressed simultaneously, a range of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD begin to improve, leading to a greater sense of inner peace and calm.

As you can see, the many benefits that can be gained from overcoming addiction highlight the importance of seeking help and support for addiction, and also highlight the fulfillment one can find within a career helping others to overcome addiction.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, we encourage you to reach out to us at One Breath Institute. We are here to help you break free from addiction and start living the life you deserve. If you want to learn more about what breathwork is, check out this article.

You can also learn how to offer addiction treatment online as a trauma-informed Introspective Breathwork™ Practitioner. If you feel inspired to help people transform their lives, our breathwork certification program is for you. You can learn more about why training in a somatic therapy, like breathwork, is important in this article.

This article was all about: Breaking Free: How Addiction Treatment Online Can Change Your Life

by Lisa McNett

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