Dance therapy has long been established as an excellent way to improve overall mental health. In recent years, it’s been proven to be a valuable treatment method for addiction recovery. Many people first turn to substance use because of an inability to express and process their feelings. Developing good communication skills can take a long time during addiction recovery. In the meantime, dancing can be an excellent way for people to nonverbally express their feelings, especially if they struggle to put their thoughts into words.
The Benefits of Dancing
Since the dawn of time, dancing has been a universal human experience. For millennia, people have used it to express emotion or to perform cultural practices. Nowadays, dancing can be a great hobby for anyone. It improves one’s mood, decreases symptoms of depression and anxiety, helps memory, and increases endorphin production. That’s before we even mention its numerous physical benefits, such as improved muscle tone and strength, better heart health, stronger bones, better stability, and agility. On top of the benefits dancing offers as a form of exercise, it incorporates music into exercise, which has been shown to have a positive effect on the brain by stimulating its reward centers. Finally, learning new dance moves can increase problem-solving abilities, memory, and sense of balance.
Dancing During Recovery
Regarding addiction recovery, dance is an excellent form of self-expression. Learning to be vulnerable with one’s feelings and open with the world is the cornerstone of recovery. However, this process can be immensely difficult. Many people find that some of their feelings simply cannot be put into words, so they tend to bottle them in. Maybe some of their thoughts feel taboo so they aren’t comfortable saying them out loud or even admitting them to themselves. Some repressed traumas from the past may be affecting their day-to-day lives without them being consciously aware of that. Of course, traditional therapy and improving verbal communication are essential components of recovery. However, dance therapy can be an excellent way to bridge the gap between what is felt and what can be expressed.
Begin the Journey to Recovery Now
Here at Hickory Treatment Center, we know just how important the right treatment plan is for recovery. We go beyond treating the symptoms and seek to address the underlying issues that cause our patients to use substances to cope. Our residential and outpatient treatments feature a range of therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and yoga. We offer individualized treatments plans that we develop to suit the unique needs of each patient. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and our team members will discuss your requirements and suggest the best plan of action for you.
