White River Manor is open during lockdown in South Africa

White River Manor is a registered essential service provider and amidst the COVID-19 pandemic continues to offer a world class therapetic Program. We have taken every precaution to maintain the integrity of our environment and screen clients both before and on arrival. Our staff too undergo regular testing and screening to ensure the safety of our clients.

    What we Treat

    The multi-professional, world-class team at White River Manor has decades of experience and vast knowledge in the fields of restoration/wellness, addiction and dual diagnosis.

    We offer a thorough assessment and tailored individual treatment plans designed to meet your specific needs and therapeutic requirements. Our treatment plans support a wide range of emotional, physical and psychological issues, including addictions, burnout, depression and trauma.

    Combining intensive therapy, medical management, psychiatric evaluation, exercise, healthy eating and nutrition, our approach ensures deep transformational healing and full recovery. 

    You will also learn new practices, gaining valuable tools to help you deal with life’s challenges after treatment to sustain long-term recovery.

    Our breathtaking surroundings provide an ideal, restorative environment for your recovery journey – and we guarantee your comfort and well-being throughout your stay with us.

    You can find the full list of the issues we treat below.

    Addiction

    Addiction is a complex brain disorder that is characterized by compulsive behaviour despite the harmful consequences that it can have on physical and mental health, as well as day-to-day life.

    People with addictive disorders are often aware of their problems but are unable to stop, even if they want to.

    Generally speaking, addictions are divided into two types:

    1) Substance addictions

    This covers a broad range of substances on which a person might become physically and mentally dependent. These most commonly include drug addiction (illegal or prescription) and alcoholism.

    Symptoms vary between addiction types, but some common symptoms include an inability to stop, denial, secrecy, changes in mood/appetite/sleep, engaging in risky behaviours and uncomfortable physical withdrawal symptoms.

    In many cases, there are often coexisting disorders (such as anxiety, depression and trauma) where substance use becomes a coping mechanism – a way of self-medicating – which we believe we cannot function without.

    2) Process addictions

    Originally limited to the use of alcohol and drugs, ‘addiction’ has more recently been extended to include other compulsive behaviours, known as process addictions.  These include addiction to activities such as gambling, eating, work, pornography, internet gaming, sex and love, compulsive spending and many more.

    Addictions to processes (or behaviours) and addictions to substances are very similar and are often triggered by chemical changes inside the brain. A spike in pleasure chemicals in the brain will compel some of us to obsessively return to them for a natural high.

    Addiction can also manifest following trauma, abuse, stress or as a result of co-occurring mental health conditions, which can complicate and intensify the process addiction. 

    Treatment usually includes medication to amend the chemical imbalance, alongside multiple therapy sessions to challenge negative thought patterns and correct maladaptive behaviours.

    Read more about how we treat addiction at White River Manor here.

    Stress and burnout

    Stress is an increasingly normal part of modern life that affects everyone. Certain levels of stress can actually be beneficial and result in positive outcomes. However, when stress is constant and magnified over an extended period of time, it can become a major problem, triggering a wide range of physical, mental and emotional health disorders.

    Symptoms can include fatigue, migraines, digestive issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, anger and a feeling of being overwhelmed. In such circumstances, many individuals compound their condition by also turning to quick fixes such as smoking, alcohol, gambling, drug use and self-harm to relieve symptoms. 

    However, prolonged, high levels of stress can cause more serious health issues, such as hypertension, stroke and heart attacks – and can ultimately lead to a breakdown or burnout

    Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion – the body’s response to unresolved stress over a prolonged period of time.

    It can affect anyone but most often strikes individuals in executive positions or those who work in high-stakes industries. For such people, this can become an endless circle from which there is no escape. If they’re working excessive hours, trying to live up to impossible standards and not taking time to sleep, eat or rest sufficiently, the body and mind will eventually shut down.

    A combination of wellness and therapy treatments can significantly help by providing the tools we need to better manage our stress – and achieve the healthy, balanced life we deserve.

    Here you can read more about how we treat stress and burnout at White River Manor. 

    Depression

    Depression is a common health condition that negatively affects how we think, feel and behave. It affects people in different ways and causes a wide variety of symptoms, including a constant feeling of sadness, loss of interest in things we once enjoyed, sleep disorders, loss of appetite and increased fatigue.

    Over time, if left untreated, it can lead to a variety of more severe emotional and physical problems – and significantly interfere with our daily functioning.

    Several factors can trigger symptoms, such as genetics, personality, environmental factors (including major life events), and biochemistry. Depending on the causes, treatment will involve a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and prescribed medication.

    You can read more about how we treat depression here.

    Anxiety disorders

    Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to unfamiliar or stressful situations. A certain level of anxiety helps us stay alert and focused, but for those suffering from an anxiety disorder (excessive emotional response), it can become completely debilitating.

    There are several types of anxiety disorders, including phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder.

    Medication can be used to treat anxiety disorders, but these can come with numerous side effects and health complications. Therapy treatments are considered the most effective approach, as they give us the tools needed to manage anxiety, now and in the future.

    Read more about how we treat anxiety here.

    Trauma

    Trauma, including one-time, multiple or long-lasting repetitive events, will affect everyone differently. It can include shocking, frightening or dangerous experiences, such as acts of violence, abuse, serious accidents, war, natural disasters, rape and serious illness. However, it’s not the events themselves that define trauma but our individual reactions to them.

    Some people can continue life without any major disruption, whereas others will be significantly affected – emotionally, mentally and physically – and may engage in unhealthy behaviours, such as substance abuse, often resulting in co-occurring disorders.

    Trauma treatment at White River Manor aims to re-educate the mind and remove the ‘emotional charge’ that trauma has created, helping to restore a state of emotional well-being.

    Dual Diagnosis

    Many people that are diagnosed with an addiction also have coexisting mental health or behavioural disorders. This is known as a dual diagnosis or co-morbidity.

    There are several mental health disorders that commonly present themselves alongside addiction, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

    One of the most common issues surrounding dual diagnosis is self-medication. Using drugs or alcohol as a coping strategy to numb the symptoms of our mental health disorder can, unfortunately, lead to addiction – and make the underlying mental health condition even worse. The two conditions impact hugely on each other and, unless treated together, will lead to a high incidence of relapse.

    Individuals with a dual diagnosis require a specialized, intensive treatment plan that addresses both disorders. See how we do this at White River Manor here.

    Reach out to us!

    If you are affected by any of these issues and want to turn your life around, please contact us to begin your journey to recovery. We’re here and ready to listen.

    Complete the form below to contact the team at White River Manor

      Suite Patio - White River Manor

      White River Manor, the ultimate recovery destination

      If our Wellness Program sounds exactly what your body and mind need to shake off burnout and get back to your old self, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

      We’re here and ready to help you restore your energy, purpose, and motivation, fully prepared to return to your old life, and equipped with all the tools you need to stay on the right track for the long term.