1. People with Chemical Dependency-
Coping-Skills Training for People with
Chemical Dependency
 When an addict decides to quit doing the addictive
behavior the body will inevitably go through
withdrawals from the substance.

2. The Effects of Withdrawal on the
Body
 Fatigue  Dyspepsia
 Anxiety  Sweating
 Depressed Mood  Fever
 Irritability  Intense Cravings
 Paranoia  Extreme Restlessness
 Aggression  Generalized Pain
 Dehydration throughout the body
 Electrolyte Disturbance  Extreme Pain occurring
 Poor Concentration in muscles, and bones
 Vomiting

3. The Effects of Withdrawal on the
Body
 Cold Sweats  Agitation
 Delirium Tremens  Alcoholic Hallucinosis
 Diarrhea  Anorexia
 Seizures  Panic Attacks
 Excito-Neurotoxicity  Anxiety Attacks
 Hallucinations  Catatonia
 Malnutrition  Confusion
 Loss of Appetite  Depersonalization
 Headaches  De-realization

4. The Effects of Withdrawal on the
Body
 Diaphoresis  Rebound Rem Sleep
 Euphoria  Tachycardia
 Nausea  Tremors
 Hypertension  Death
 Hyperthermia  Thoughts of Suicide
 Insomnia  Suicide Attempts
 Migraines
 Palpitations
 Psychosis

5.  So to help negate the effects of withdrawal we must
find alternate ways to keep the body in shape, and help
restore normal functioning to the body after addiction.

6. Treatment Plans for the Body
 An important aspect of the therapeutic treatment plan is to
focus on the body. When someone is addicted they do not
function properly without the need for whatever that they
may be addicted too. The effects of withdrawal on the body
are numerous. Developing coping mechanisms will help
people adjust to the withdrawal effects. An exercise routine
triggers the release of endorphins. Endorphins are shown
to have a good feeling effect on the bran, and body. They
also help to control pain, and reduce depression. They can
reduce anxiety symptoms, relieve stress, relieve tension,
and cause cravings to become lesser. Exercise also helps to
aid in increasing the confidence and self-esteem in clients.

8. Yoga to Combat the Effects of
Withdrawal
 Yoga is an ideal way to deal with withdrawal. Yoga
teaches discipline, mind and body control. Some yoga
poses detoxify the body, and it helps correct posture.
Yoga is effective on the biology and the psychology of
an addict. An addict’s body and mind are out of
control, yoga creates an inner peace that helps calm
the internal disorder. A recent study was done that
showed yoga was just as effective as traditional psycho-
dynamic theory. When a person learns how to calm
themselves through proper breathing this will allow
them to be able to control their urges, and feel more at
peace during the hard times of withdrawal.

10. Yoga Therapy
 Yoga has a calming effect on the body, and allows us to
break down barriers that have held us back. When you do
yoga you can focus on the moment at hand, and not things
that are bothering you. When recovering from addiction
impulse control is key to recovery. Yoga helps with impulse
control by working to negate the unhealthy impulses. Yoga
has been shown in experiments to alter brain chemistry.
Yoga has been shown to reduce cravings, anxiety, fear, etc.
Yoga affects the basal ganglia in the brain to lower
dopamine activity. In yoga a very important aspect is proper
breathing. When you learn to breathe properly, and focus
on your breathing you will be able to calm the body better,
and help reduce the withdrawal symptoms.

12. Yoga Therapy
 Khundalini yoga has been found to emphasize intense breathing patterns. This
in turn triggers endorphins and stimulate the brains into being happier. Yoga is
being used in more and more treatment facilities to combat the effects of
withdrawal. There are effective poses that will work for detoxing the body
these poses are: downward dog, the warriors pose, twisting chair pose, revolved
lunge, seated twist, forward fold, and the supine twist. The supine twist creates
pressure on a person’s internal organs. This helps to encourage the elimination,
and digestive processes. The forward fold is a pose that works on the liver and
also the kidneys. It works to improve digestion. It also has another added
benefit it works to relieve stress, and anxiety. The seated twist also works on the
kidneys and liver. This pose helps to detoxifying the body. The revolved lunge
works on the liver. It encourages the organs to release toxins, and waste.
Downward Dog gets the heart higher than the head. It allows for circulation of
blood and lymph. It works to tone the abdomen, which helps with digestion. It
is recommended for everyone to drink lots of water after doing yoga because it
helps to release the toxins out of the body from your bloodstream.

14. Nutrition
 Nutrition is another way to combat withdrawal. Studies have shown
that limiting the intake of sugar and caffeine helps by reducing
cravings. Eating nutrient rich foods will help with maintaining
sobriety. Taking vitamins is also a healthy idea to help your body stay
healthy. Vitamins are depleted during withdrawal, and studies have
shown that vitamins supplements can help during withdrawal. A
doctor should be consulted during this time to see which vitamins (B
Vitamins are usually deficient in people going through withdrawal)
would be beneficial during this time of withdrawal. In Australia, the
government recommends that all persons going through withdrawal
take a thiamine supplement. Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, fruit,
lean meat and fish. Drink lots of water. Give your body time to rest, and
relax. Taking a long bath can help with pain, and muscle aches from
withdrawal. Other medications can be prescribed to patients to help
with the withdrawal effects on the body.

16. Acupuncture and Acupressure
 Another way that can help addicts with the withdrawal process is acupuncture
and acupressure. Acupuncture therapy is generally combined with yoga or a tai
chi therapy to fully utilize the benefits of each therapy when using for
addictions. Acupuncture sessions increase blood circulation to organs, balance
the energy levels of the body, relieve tension in the body, promote relaxation,
and release stored toxins from your cells. Passages Malibu states that “it is very
crucial to not only heal the mind and spirit, but the body as well. If you have
been abusing drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time, harmful
chemicals remain in your blood stream, leaving behind damaging toxins in
your muscles and fatty tissue. Our muscles have ‘memory’ that retains trauma
or mistreatment, which can eventually lead to physical pain and even relapse.”
If you have been abusing drugs or alcohol the changes can take a serious toll on
the body. By using acupressure and massage it works the proper parts of the
body it can help reduce anxiety, relieve pain from migraine headaches, increase
flexibility, strengthen the immune system, increase blood flow, exfoliate the
skin, and help rid the body of toxins.

18. Massage Therapy
 Massage therapy sessions not only provide our clients with
a sense of relaxation and rejuvenation, but they also
physiologically help facilitate total overall recovery.
Massage therapy will help the body feel more balanced and
content, with reduced anxiety, and diminished physical
detox symptoms. There are different forms of massage
therapy that will help with the addiction withdrawal. Each
client will respond differently to different types of massage.
Swedish, deep tissue, facial, Thai, and stretching massages
can help. Massage and acupressure is used in conjunction
with acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to increase the
healing aspects of massage and acupressure therapy.

20. Outdoor Therapy/Rope Therapy
 Outdoor therapy is a new therapy for addiction that
emphasizes being in nature, and exercising. A new therapy
that I have recently found out about is rope therapy. The
rope therapy course allows individuals to achieve a vast
amount of different goals by emphasizing affirmative
accomplishments and challenge individual anxieties and
fears. The therapeutic accomplishments that will be
experienced while doing the rope course therapy include:
positive risk taking, increased self-confidence, growing
comfort zones, advanced leadership skills, overcoming
fears, and an overall increase of individual and team
development.

22. Tai Chi Therapy
 Tai Chi therapy is a holistic therapy that helps with chemical dependence. Tai
Chi is depicted by gentle, calm movements of your arms, legs, and body. Tai
Chi aims to reduce pressure and stiffness. It helps the body to feel a sense of
serenity. Tai Chi has been described as meditation in motion. Tai Chi also is
used with meditation to relax the body and clear the mind. Meditation slows
the mind and quiets the inner noise in the body. It works to center the body.
Meditation can be difficult because it is a seated meditation. So some addiction
recovery patients prefer Tai Chi because it is a moving mediation. The mind
can focus on the body’s movements, the techniques that are used, and the
experience while slowly learning to meditate. When the meditation begins to
work the patient will feel individual insights come to perdition, self -discipline
improving, and a reduction in self-destructive behaviors. Tai Chi and
meditation work together to provide mental and physical calmness produced
in a natural way. It also works to keep the emotions in balance, which in turn
reduces the need to cope with unhealthy options like addiction. It allows the
ability to handle stress to increase and the body can deal with stress better. The
sense of being centered and grounded increases and the ability to overcome
challenges increases.

24. Adventure and Art Therapy
 Adventure and Art therapy has been shown to help with addiction. Adventure
Therapy includes a variety of entertaining, safe, and stimulating endeavors that
enhance individual development, and team shaping. Adventure therapy is
designed to help improve confidence and self-esteem. It works to expand
comfort zones, improve leadership skills, increase goal setting, improve trust
and teamwork, overcome fears, and foster personal and team development.
Adventure Therapy will work to engage clients in meaningful activities that
bring drive and motivation into your life. The adventure therapy can include
hiking, walking, biking, tennis, team sports, kayaking, and other motivating
outdoor adventures. Art therapy is also incorporated into some addiction
therapies. It allows patients to express what they are feeling without having to
do it verbally. It sometimes can be used to express feelings and what is going on
inside of the body when patients don’t feel like verbally communicating what is
going on. The art techniques that are incorporated In the therapy is drawing,
painting, watercolors, collages, etc. Sometimes a vision board is used, and it
allows clients to make a collage of images, pictures, and clippings from various
media sources and other items that help clients realize their goals, hopes, and
dreams. By using a vision board it allows the client to summarize in the collage
the things that they want to achieve in their life.

26. Animal Assisted Therapy
 Equine assisted therapy is another alternative treatment that has
proven effective to help clients with addiction. It allows clients to
interact with horses in a variety of tasks to strengthen and
develop verbal and nonverbal communication. It also helps the
client to creatively think to solve problems. It instills trust,
leadership, responsibility, confidence, and develop relationship
skills. This therapy aids in the psychotherapy that is received by
most addiction therapy clients. After equine therapy a patient
generally experiences spiritual growth, psychological, and
emotional growth. Animals can normally mirror what the
human body language is telling them to do. There is actually no
riding in the equine assisted therapy. The presence of animals
has shown to lower stress levels, and the heart rate in humans. So
therapy with any animal helps to combat chemical dependency.

28.  In conclusion, there are many types of therapies to help heal
the body after addiction. All of the therapies presented in
this paper will help to reduce the effects of withdrawal, and
allow the body to heal. Exercise, relaxation, and proper
nutrition will go a long way to combat the effects of
withdrawal on the body. We must utilize the therapies above
to provide a good set of guidelines when dealing with people
who have chemical dependencies. There is hope through
these therapies, and with these therapies people have a
brighter future and can beat chemical dependency.