When people in Texas think of mindfulness and meditation, they might think of a Buddhist monk in a robe. Mindfulness for alcoholism treatment probably isn’t what comes to mind. It is an ancient Buddhist practice and extracted from eastern world
A flow state, also known as being “in the zone,” is the mental state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity.
How are mindfulness and addiction treatment related? Can mindfulness in substance abuse treatment really enhance recovery? Continue reading to learn more about Renewal Lodge’s Mindfulness Program. If you look at Renewal Lodge’s exit surveys, the answer is yes. When asked,
Life’s going to throw a lot of different curveballs our way, but one of the hardest can be depression. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability throughout the world, and when we stop relying on healthy coping mechanisms—or
Addiction is difficult to give up, even after it has taken everything. When someone decides to enter recovery, they begin a new journey of healing. The benefits do not outweigh the challenges at the beginning for many people, because it
Stress management is something people may take for granted they can do on a regular basis. Until it is no longer an option to make it work, people often think they can manage their stress levels well. Maybe a doctor’s
Trauma-informed care is only one of many ways to offer support for people in recovery from addiction. This effective pathway looks at addiction from the perspective of past and historical trauma in a person’s history. Their childhood informs how they
We now understand much more about the human body than we once did, but there are still many mysteries to be uncovered that may help us improve health and quality of life. The brain is especially complex, which is one
Flashbacks are a common symptom of post-traumatic stress, and the occurrence of these episodes can be debilitating and affect a person’s quality of life. Many people who experience stressful events are familiar with lingering intrusive thoughts and memories, but flashbacks
Everyone experiences panic at some point or another. Panic is a natural reaction to intense danger or emergency situations, and can even help in some ways by increasing our sensory perception and prompting us to run away from harm. Unfortunately,
Dear Renewal Lodge Visitors,
My name is John Bruna, co-founder of the Mindfulness in Recovery® Institute, and more importantly, a grateful member of the recovery community. I am incredibly fortunate to have found my recovery in 1984. Of course, I did not achieve continuous recovery through willpower or my own efforts, but through the guidance and caring support of countless others that selflessly taught me how to live through the 12 Steps.
My journey of recovery brought this once homeless, shame-based, traumatized, insecure young man to a life far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I discovered self-worth, the joy of helping others, the gifts of parenting and grandparenting, and most importantly the ability to live a meaningful and purposeful life with integrity.
One of the greatest gifts of recovery is that I have the opportunity to give back and help others discover their self-worth, dignity, and the skills to fully live lives that they find truly meaningful. This is the inspiration for developing the skills of Mindfulness in Recovery® (MIR) to meet the needs of new generations struggling with alcohol and other substance use disorders. MIR is a set of evidence-based skills designed to help people fully integrate their tools of recovery in ways that are personalized, practical, and in alignment with their deepest values.
While we train counselors and therapists throughout the United States and abroad, I personally have chosen to work directly with the amazing team and clients at Renewal Lodge to develop the model MIR 12-step program for the nation. I choose Renewal Lodge because of the vision of its mission and the dedication of its team. Renewal Lodge is an extremely rare environment in which the staff embodies the very mindfulness and 12-step practices and skills they offer their clients. The results have been beyond my expectations. It is an honor to be here and I treasure my personal time with every client I meet.
With Gratitude,
