Breaking the Chains: Holistic Experts Offer Insights for Overcoming Addiction
Empowerment, resilience, and self-reliance coupled with healthy nutrition, sleep, and natural remedies are keys to a holistic approach to addiction treatment.
As millions embrace Sober October’s 31-day break from alcohol, experts say that true sobriety extends far beyond temporary abstinence. From Hollywood royalty to health practitioners, addiction specialists are advocating for a more comprehensive approach to recovery that addresses substance use as well as the full spectrum of behavioral dependencies plaguing modern life.
While Sober October participants might focus on avoiding alcohol for a month, addiction specialists suggest that lasting recovery requires addressing deeper issues—whether the dependency involves prescription medications, gambling, compulsive shopping, or excessive screen time. Their insights offer valuable lessons for those battling serious addictions and anyone seeking a more balanced, conscious approach to life’s many temptations.
Getting Real and Getting Help
The Need for Outside Help
Sean Brosnan, a licensed professional counselor, knows exactly what that feels like. Growing up in Hollywood as a son of actor Pierce Brosnan, he faced significant loss when his mother, actress Cassandra Harris, died from ovarian cancer when he was 8 years old. In an interview with The Epoch Times, Brosnan reflects on how his father’s connections opened doors for him but how he often chose to walk through the wrong ones.
As a result, he fell into alcohol and drug use, faced legal troubles, and found himself in and out of jail. It took him a decade to achieve just 90 days of sobriety.
Sean Brosnan, licensed professional counselor and addiction and recovery specialist. Courtesy of Sean Brosnan
As a psychotherapist specializing in addiction and recovery, Brosnan aims to assist others facing similar challenges. He encourages people to find their own path rather than trying to create one from scratch.
“Everyone’s story is unique, and I do believe there are many ways to skin a cat,” Brosnan said. “After exploring the work of Carl Jung, Viktor Frankl, and Ian McGilchrist (among others), I was able to see such maps with a mystical perspective and deep structural meaning,” he added. “Taking drugs and drinking were my rituals, and now I implement healthier ones.”
Individualized Care
The uniqueness of everyone’s story is evident to Lise Battaglia as well. As a certified addictions practitioner and holistic recovery coach who specializes in prescription medication recovery, her key focus is the importance of personalized care.
Lise Battaglia, holistic recovery for addiction practitioner, points out that the need for personalized care is indispensable. Courtesy of Lise Battaglia
