Recovery from food addiction is possible at Holina rehab with our food addiction treatment program. Surprisingly it can be achieved using the same program and principles as recovery from alcohol, drugs, gambling, gaming, sex and other process or behavioural addictions that we commonly encounter at Holina food addiction treatment centre. Once we understand which foods are flooding our brain with dopamine, we simply abstain from the foods containing such ingredients – typically, sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods.
Our Food addiction treatment program at Holina effectively treats food addictions using our full suite of treatments available in Primary Care, including the 12 Step Program, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Motivational Interviewing, and a Systemic Counselling approach, mixed with wellness, mindfulness and holistic activities during Holina’s food addiction treatment program.
Food addiction (FA) is loosely defined as homeostatic eating behaviour involving the consumption of highly palatable foods (ie, foods high in salt, fat, and sugar) in quantities beyond homeostatic energy requirements. FA shares some common symptomology with other pathological eating disorders, such as binge eating. Current theories suggest that FA shares both behavioural similarities and overlapping neural correlates to other substance addictions. Although preliminary, neuroimaging studies in response to food cues and the consumption of highly palatable food in individuals with FA compared to healthy controls have shown differing activation patterns and connectivity in brain reward circuits including regions such as the striatum, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, insula, and nucleus accumbens.
Additional effects have been noted in the hypothalamus, a brain area responsible for regulating eating behaviours and peripheral satiety networks. FA is highly impacted by impulsivity and mood. Chronic stress can negatively affect hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning, thus influencing eating behaviour and increasing the desirability of highly palatable foods.
Source – International Review of Neurobiology
This Eating Disorder can be recognizable by numerous signs and symptoms. The following are possible symptoms of an addiction to food:
Our food addiction treatment has recognised that severe eating has become a compulsive challenge for many people, who don’t even realise they have a problem. It is considered a behavioural addiction, like gambling, gaming, shopping, or sex, as it gives such intense pleasures, even if they’re not highlighted by the individual yet.
People with food addictions have very similar patterns of being unable to stop themselves from beginning a [food] binge and failing to understand that once they start eating trigger foods they will struggle to stop – just like with certain narcotics. And similarly, they may develop certain food tolerances meaning that they will consume more and more, only to find that these foods and drinks give them less and less satisfaction.
If you or your loved one had been struggling with a food addiction, you may understand the implications this may have on the various aspects of your life. If food addiction is left ignored or untreated, it can rapidly begin consuming your life, creating damaging and chronic symptoms. Understanding how this may affect the different aspects of your life may encourage you to get the help you need and deserve through our food addiction treatment program.
The following are some of the effects of an addiction to food that we see in our food addiction treatment:
At Holina we have a wide range of treatments and activities that are proven steps in bringing you back to yourself. Each day is different at Holina but we do follow a regular daily schedule as outlined below. This is a rough guide to what your normal day would consist of at the Holina drug addiction treatment center.
On weekends we break from the normal schedule and explore some of the best locations Koh Phangan has to offer.
If you would like to know more about our Holina Rehab Food Addiction Treatment, please feel free to drop us a quick message here. Please fill in as many details as possible to help us understand your current situation and addiction history.
Coming to Holina is more than just recovery. You will find support here for life. Even after completing treatment, we offer support groups for continuing support on your journey through food addiction treatment.
Welcome to the family!
We have a wide selection of accommodation options available when you stay at Holina Rehab, Koh Phangan. We believe your environment and the people around you can make a big difference in your treatment and your overall well-being.
Please enquire about the pricing structure of 24/7 medically managed detox, supervised by Doctors and nurses, licensed as an inpatient hospital on the contact form below.
Holina Village is a safe and contained space designed for young people from the age of 16 to 26, who are choosing to deal with their addictions.
Specialising in healing trauma and expanding our spirit through our beautiful retreat in the ancient city of Caesarea Israel.
Holina Rehabilitation Services are also available in Europe at our new Holina Youth Village in Cyprus where we welcome the younger generation who have addictions and more commonly online and behavioural addictions. We also cater for the corporate and business world with our Spiritual Retreats at our forthcoming location on Koh Phangan Island.
Holina’s holistic approach brings to life a broad and healthy view that meets the 6 primary human needs – certainty, significance, variety, love/connection, growth and contribution.
At Holina, we use this framework to provide a solution to the full range of addictive symptoms, while investing in the most beautiful location for recovery you’re likely to find in Asia and beyond. with the highest quality and prestigious facilities available.
Holina’s holistic approach brings to life a broad and healthy view that really meets the 6 primary human needs – certainty, significance, variety, love/connection, growth and contribution.
At Holina, we use this framework to provide a solution to the full range of addictive symptoms, while investing in the most beautiful location for recovery you’re likely to find in Asia and beyond. with the highest quality and prestigious facilities available.
This, combined with some of the world’s leading addiction specialists are some of the key components that lead to our client’s long term success.
The Holina therapeutic program is a combination of physical, cognitive, mental, behavioural, emotional and spiritual functionally alongside practical socially supportive activities and learnings.
If the substances you consume, or your behaviour or attitude is getting you into trouble or having a negative impact on your life, Holina Rehab may be an important option for you to consider. Not only will we provide you with the tools that you need, but we will also give you access to customized levels of treatment that will enable you to literally reinvent your life.
We treat the disease of addiction, which incorporates all substance dependencies, including alcohol, cocaine, crack, crystal meth, ketamine, heroin, methadone, Subutex, morphine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, psychedelics, ecstasy, solvents, and legal (prescribed) medication addictions, as well as other process and behavior addictions such as sex, love, gaming, gambling, internet or technologies, shopping, food, exercise and co-dependency. We believe that addiction is a disease of the mind, from which we can recover, one day at a time.
We are a residential rehab experience, with a minimum of one month commitment. People are not permitted to come by and visit or look around unless an appointment has been made. This is to protect the privacy and the space for our residents and to keep them safe. We are not a day care facility or outpatient service. We only serve those people looking for a fully immersive experience.
Our minimum commitment is 4 weeks. Even considering that it’s possible to overcome an addiction with any long-lasting effect for any shorter period is simply unrealistic, and likely unethical. Whilst our minimum commitment is 4 weeks, many, probably most of our residents stay 6 to 8 weeks and some up to 12 weeks (the full program length).
We will discourage this until after week 9. Whilst it may be nice to think that your family are supportive and want to encourage you, it’s a huge distraction from treatment for the individual, and our collective observations (in other facilities) are that in over 66% of these visits it leads to disruption, early self-discharge, and often relapse. That said, please know we’re a treatment centre driven by your success and we do know that your success is significantly improved when family members are engaged in their loved one’s recovery. So if you would like to organise either a zoom call with your family and your primary therapist, or an actual family visit on site, we would encourage this towards the end of your treatment experience.
We appreciate that you will be away from your loved ones for fairly long periods of time and that connection to them is important. Sometimes work or business calls are important to you. We will always find ways to help you facilitate these relationships. We have super-fast internet, and all the bedrooms have Smart TVs running YouTube and Netflix etc.
It is our policy that in today’s modern world, our residents need to find recovery with their smart devices to hand. We are against hiding technology from our residents as it’s a useful tool to support our recovery as well as our lifestyles.
Therefore, unless you specifically require a digital detox, you can use your phone, pad and laptop in your room outside of the scheduled structure and groups, meaning that you can use your devices before morning activities, after the daily groups, and even in between the scheduled program (for instance, lunchtime) should you choose to.
Yes you may. Whilst we’d love to encourage you to quit whilst youre with us, we acknowledge that many people still smoke So you may smoke on the balcony of your room, or in the dedicated smoking sala in the lounge area.
Koh Phangan is a warm climate all year round. It is typically in the low to mid 30s*c / low 90s*f during the day, and at night it rarely goes under 23*c / mid 70s*f Sometimes it rains, usually for up to 30 minutes, which serves at cooling down the air. Occasionally it may rain for longer periods (typically in October or November), though this doesn’t interfere with treatment particularly.
Pack as if you were coming on holiday to a tropical paradise island in Thailand – which, of course you are. Summer style clothing is recommended (light shirts, T-shirts, shorts, comfortable shoes, sneakers, flip flops / sandals, etc, light, breathable clothing and swimwear for the pool and the beaches. Most of us wear underwear, shorts, T-shirts / Tank Tops / Vests, sneakers, sandals & tongs / flip flops. Active wear for workouts and other fitness activities including swimming, sports shoes, and light wear for yoga. We do physical activities almost every day, so bring a few pairs to allow for laundry times.
There is no need to dress formal or smart. Everything is relaxed, comfort focused and easy going. We have a safe to keep your valuables in, but expensive jewellery and other luxury items are unnecessary. Toiletries: Please bring your own toiletries and hygiene products, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, shaving materials, basic makeup, hairbrush, etc. Anything you forget we can purchase from local shops.
Medications: You are allowed to continue using your doctor-prescribed medications while in rehab, but please do bring proof of your prescription. Please keep all your pills in the original packaging so that they are not to be unauthorized narcotics.
Kindly do not bring the following: Alcohol or drugs: It might seem self-explanatory, but some clients may try to sneak in a last-minute hit, fix, pill, can, bottle, etc. Your bags and belongings will be searched when you arrive at Holina. Alcohol or drug paraphernalia: This includes anything that advertises or glorifies the use of alcohol or drugs. This should also include items that display support for criminal acts including terrorism, sex, gambling, or other negatively perceived notions that could upset other residents.
Weapons: There is absolutely no need to bring any knives or weapons with you to Thailand or to treatment. They will be confiscated and destroyed. Toiletries that contain alcohol: Leave any alcohol-based products at home, such as certain mouthwashes, nail polish remover, perfumes, and aerosols.
We have 2 main Chef’s (supported by 2 other Thai chefs) – a Meat focused one and a Vegan Chef. You can advise us of any of your specific dietary needs and we can manage them. We’re used to having people with all types of needs. Nothing unusual there.
Our prices are all inclusive and dependent upon the style of room you choose – shared, single occupancy or private plunge pool villa. You can view our prices here
We don’t have any hidden costs, though there are some costs that should be aware of. We pay for any psychiatric assessments and other mental health professional visits. We ask you to pay for anything non detox or mental health related, including your medications.
We also ask that you have travel or medical insurance in place before you come to us. This is really for any non-detox or psychiatric related problems, like if you fall over and break your arm, or some other uncalculated trip to accident and emergency.
We don’t pay for your flights to and from Koh Samui Airport (USM), but we do cover the cost of getting you from the airport to Holina and we will pay for your return to the airport unless you check out against clinical advice. Typically, our clients spend between US$50 and $75 per month on personal items, such as snacks, sodas, cigarettes, some toiletries, etc, but it’s not necessary to spend any more. Even gift buying on this island is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the world.
At this time, residents of most countries around the world are able to come into Thailand and achieve a visa upon entry. We will advise you on this process. It’s very straight forwards.
If you extend your treatment and need a longer visa then we will take care of this for you, and in most instances we will pay for all your visa extensions too.
Currently, there are no requirements for any vaccines to come into Thailand. This includes COVID vaccines or any other historical vaccines previously required. So please don’t worry about this, unless you specifically want to be extra vaccinated.
Holina Addiction Treatment Center
Koh Phangan – Thailand
At Holina, we understand that that when it comes to a long-term successful recovery, addiction treatment in residential rehab is only the beginning. But it’s such an important beginning!.
It’s time to get back to yourself.
© Holina Rehab Koh Phangan 2024
