Mindfulness is a centuries-old contemplative practice that can help you develop awareness, clarity and focus in your daily life. Today, therapies based on mindfulness are used effectively to treat addiction. In the context of addiction recovery, mindfulness can be considered a form of mental training. Here, the training is designed to get parts of the brain that have been impaired by persistent drug or alcohol abuse back in shape. Studies investigating the link between substance use and meditation are ongoing.
Any co-occurring or undiscovered motivations for substance abuse, such as filling a void, thinking the worst-case scenario, or feeling anxious can improve with meditation. As people gain experience in recovery they still face the stresses of everyday life. People in early recovery typically experience mood swings, described by some as an emotional rollercoaster. By training the mind to focus meditation for addiction recovery on one thing—a sound, word, or breath—at a time, meditation helps recovering addicts maintain a degree of emotional balance. Practicing mindfulness in meditation allows you to use breathing exercises, mental imagery, and awareness of your body and your surroundings to focus on the now. Mindfulness offers a number of health benefits for those in recovery from addiction and just in general.
Can meditation be addictive?
The overall goal of meditation is to synchronize the mind and body for improved mental well-being and an enhanced quality of life. By taking deep breaths, chanting a mantra (or another focused word), and focusing on the breath, the result is increased awareness and connection. At this time, we need more and better evidence, and more definitive conclusions, about how helpful, ultimately, mind-body medicine will be in helping to treat addiction in different treatment settings.
- For recovering addicts who are used to partying and having a wild time, sobriety may seem a bit dull.
- However, many people also go through similar paths on the recovery road.
- By promoting relaxation and a sense of calm, it aids individuals in navigating emotional turbulence without resorting to substance use.
- Meditation is a valuable part of these services for interested clients.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), noted, “These emotions increase the risk for relapse, and unfortunately, circumstances since the pandemic has made peer support, for instance in 12-step meetings and similar groups, much more difficult.” We have one shot in this life, so make sure yours is full of mindfulness, positive vibes, and a bright-looking recovery. Whatever your addiction, be it alcohol or food, mindfulness can help you with your recovery. Meditation is there to help you control your thoughts and emotions and practice mindfulness. It might be the news, anxiety over the future, talking to someone difficult, or many other things.
Additional Benefits of Reflection Meditation:
For the last six years, her writing focus has been on addiction and mental health issues. At Adelante Recovery Centers, we proudly stand as leaders in addiction treatment, offering innovative addiction treatment programs and holistic approach to recovery. Our cutting-edge approach combines advanced therapies with traditional methods, ensuring each patient receives the tools necessary for successful, long-term sobriety. Other benefits of meditation therapy include the ability to alter brainwaves, which contributes to improved psychological function and cortisol reduction. Mindfulness practice can enhance the performance of the frontal cortex, the area of the brain that regulates planning and thinking. Meditation also impacts the amygdala, which reduces fear, and increases the activation of the anterior cingulate cortex, governing motivation and motor control.
- Like other forms of addiction, addiction to alcohol causes great harm to those who are dependent and everyone connected to…
- Terry Hurley is a retired educational professional and freelance writer with more than fifty years of experience.
- Through meditation they can acknowledge their addictive thoughts without trying to push them away, yet choose the path of recovery.
- With this, someone with trouble focusing on daily activities and craving substance instead can learn present moment awareness through the breath.
- This helped them regulate their reactions to the emotions and also be kinder to themselves in a healthy way when emotions were triggered.
- Thus, mindfulness may help to prevent relapse by increasing awareness of high-risk situations, supporting positive hedonic tone, and preventing a singular lapse from becoming a full-blown relapse.
Consider the case of a man in partial remission from alcohol use disorder who has recently stopped drinking. After successfully abstaining from alcohol for over 2 months after realizing the negative impact his drinking had on his family and work, he attends a party with old friends, where he is overcome by craving and has a drinking lapse. He could interpret this lapse as the beginning of a downward spiral into his alcohol use habits, with attendant feelings of shame and hopelessness. Alternatively, he could use mindfulness to disengage from this negative emotional state, arrest the automatic impulse and concomitant experience of craving, and then re-commit himself to recovery by contacting his 12-Step fellowship sponsor.
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We can experience mental exhaustion when practising too frequently, so it is best to begin engaging in this practice on a weekly basis. The way to truly reap the benefits of this form of meditation is by stepping into the process in a fully unbiased way, and separating ourselves from self-judgment or negative feelings. During addiction recovery, we are truly on a journey of self-discovery and personal and spiritual growth. Part of that growth comes from taking time to step back from the outside world, and to reflect on ourselves.
In our nurturing inpatient residential rehabilitation environment, individuals can focus wholly on recovery, while our dual diagnosis program addresses the intricate relationship between addiction and mental health, fostering holistic healing. Our dedicated team is committed to transforming lives, not just treating addiction. Furthermore, through consistent practice, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ meditation cultivates enhanced self-awareness. This heightened awareness is invaluable, enabling individuals to recognize triggers and patterns of addictive behavior, thereby fostering better self-control and decision-making. At its core, meditation is about focusing one’s attention in a calm and steady manner, often centering on one’s breath or inner thoughts.