The Benefits of Comfort During Addiction Treatment
- Austin Pederson
- May 4, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
It’s easy to overlook the physical and emotional environment of a treatment center, but these factors can have a significant impact on the recovery journey. Creating a space that prioritizes comfort and well-being is essential for healing the whole person and building a strong foundation for long-term sobriety.
What are the benefits of comfort and amenities in addiction treatment?
Comfort and amenities in addiction treatment create a less stressful and more humanizing environment. They allow clients to focus on their emotional and physical healing by providing a safe space to be vulnerable and address the underlying issues of their addiction.
Curious about how these comforts help with the emotional and physical aspects of recovery? Keep reading to learn more about the different types of comfort and how they contribute to a holistic approach to healing.
When shopping for a treatment center, it is important to also consider the amenities. The benefits of comfort during addiction treatment can make a meaningful difference in the recovery process. Comfort can help an individual manage long-term withdrawal symptoms, allowing them to dig deeper and heal in a more stable and supportive environment.
The Body and Mind Are Both Healing
After detox, the substances may have left the system, but the individual's body and brain are still recovering. The time after detox is crucial. Those who had a very serious addiction take time to heal from the toll that drugs and alcohol took on their body. If an individual took a copious amount of substances or struggled with an addiction for a long time, it will take time to physically recover and adjust to life without it.
A condition called Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or PAWS, can cause those who are in recovery to experience symptoms of withdrawal months to even a year after detox. These symptoms include mood swings, irritability, fatigue, soreness, and insomnia. Having that extra physical and emotional comfort that is not often available in larger clinics can make this time that much easier.
Creating a Space to Focus On Healing
Smaller clinics like Chateau put an emphasis on comfort because our clients need a space to heal. We focus on amenities like nutritional cooking, physical activity, nature exposure, and mindfulness practices to assist in healing the entire person. Wellness is vital during healing. When an individual is addicted to substances, their body is unwell. The substances cause damage from the inside and out. In order to recover, the client needs a space that focuses on personal wellness and healing.
Benefits of Comfort During Addiction Treatment: Different Types of Comfort
Emotional Comfort
This type of comfort at a treatment center allows the mental healthcare professionals to keep in mind how a person emotionally feels during their time there. The most basic form of emotional comfort is trauma-informed support. This tends to be a baseline consideration in many treatment centers.
Other considerations include having empathy for the client, taking the time to understand the source of their pain, giving the client space to open up, as well as accepting the entire range of human emotions.
Those recovering from addiction are emotionally raw. They cannot hide behind their substances. They are out in the open. This can cause a lot of anxiety and fear for individuals. Allowing a space where a client feels safe enough to be vulnerable can offer them that much-needed emotional comfort.
Physical Comfort
These amenities focus on taking care of the state of the body. Addiction tears the human body apart. Those who experienced addiction might be physically out of shape and eating poorly. They might have poor self-care practices and lack a decent sleep schedule.
Physical comfort in treatment could include things as simple as comfortable furniture and recreation spaces, exposure to nature, access to nutritional food, and physical activity. A treatment center might also teach a client how they can contribute to their own comfort by teaching easy self-care practices.
How Comfort and Amenities Help Addiction Treatment
Physical comfort and emotional safety offer our clients less to worry about. Those who are recovering from addiction are plagued with instability in their lives. We offer refuge and a chance to get back on their feet and start living life. They can instead focus on taking back the reins in their life and managing the important parts of them.
Stress is a major source of addiction. Those who started using substances often started in response to dealing with stress in their lives. It is counterintuitive to have an environment that is stressful when individuals want to better themselves.
Focusing On What’s Important
As mentioned earlier, physical comfort allows a person to focus more on getting better. Some take time to open up, but because they feel safe at Chateau, it becomes that much easier. There is less to be afraid of when it comes to letting down walls and digging deeper into their internal issues.
A Humanizing Experience for Your Loved One
One reason why people might hesitate to seek treatment is because of the horror stories of going through the treatment system. Many might have had poor experiences at treatment centers that lacked amenities.
The place they went to get better was just a room with an uncomfortable bed and a blank white wall. There was not a community. There was not a focus on the person as a well-rounded individual. They did not feel like a person there. This can be especially triggering to a person with low self-esteem and self-worth, which is common for those with addiction.
Going to a clinic that prioritizes comfort brings back the human aspect that cannot be found many times in the treatment system. Comfort in a clinic is proof that we care about how our clients feel when they are here. They are not just a number. They are not just hidden away in a room until they “feel better.” They get to be a whole person.
The Holistic Approach to Getting Better
Comfort and amenities allow us to treat the whole person. We recognize that those in treatment thrive when their emotional and physical needs are being met. The process of recovery is not just stopping drug or alcohol usage and then everything is fine.
Recovery involves repairing new and old wounds and building something better. Comfort in treatment allows the space to do just that. Additional amenities become necessary because every person has a different way of getting better.
Frequently Ask Questions:
• How can comfort help someone with Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)?
Physical and emotional comfort can make it easier to manage the symptoms of PAWS, such as mood swings, fatigue, and insomnia, which can last for months or even a year after detox.
What is the difference between emotional and physical comfort in treatment?
Emotional comfort focuses on a client's mental and emotional state through trauma-informed care and empathy, while physical comfort addresses the body through things like comfortable furniture, nutritional food, and physical activity.
Why is a stress-free environment important for addiction recovery?
Many people start using substances to cope with stress, so a stress-free environment is essential for helping them get back on their feet and focus on managing the important parts of their lives without relying on substances.
Why is it important to have a humanizing experience in treatment?
A humanizing experience, where clients are treated as individuals and not just a number, helps restore their self-worth and allows them to feel safe enough to heal, especially for those with low self-esteem.
What is a holistic approach to addiction treatment?
A holistic approach recognizes that recovery involves healing the whole person—both emotionally and physically—and not just stopping substance use. Comfort and amenities support this by meeting a client’s emotional and physical needs.
We know that taking the first step toward recovery is a significant one, and we're here to support you. At Chateau Health and Wellness Treatment Center, we've designed our space with your comfort and well-being in mind, understanding that a holistic and humanizing environment is crucial for true healing. If you or a loved one is ready to explore a path to recovery that focuses on physical comfort, emotional safety, and a personalized approach, we are here to help. Our team is committed to providing the guidance and support you need to begin this journey. Contact us today at (435) 222-5225 to learn more about how our approach can make a difference in your or your loved one's life.
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About The Author
Austin Pederson, Executive Director of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings over eight years of experience revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse treatment through compassionate care and innovative business strategies. Inspired by his own recovery journey, Austin has developed impactful programs tailored to individuals facing trauma and stress while fostering comprehensive support systems that prioritize holistic wellness. His empathetic leadership extends to educating and assisting families, ensuring lasting recovery for clients and their loved ones.
Danny Warner, CEO of Chateau Health and Wellness
Brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategic alliances, and turnaround management, with prior leadership roles at Mediconnect Global, Klever Marketing, and WO Investing, Inc. A graduate of Brigham Young University in Economics and History, Danny has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries. His most transformative role, however, was as a trail walker and counselor for troubled teens at the Anasazi Foundation, where he directly impacted young lives, a personal commitment to transformation that now drives his leadership at Chateau.
Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director
With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.
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