Mindfulness is all about how to tap into the present moment with loved ones. A state of mindfulness can help people become more in tune with how they feel, the way they think, and behavioral patterns. The state of mindfulness is learned in meditation. With a focus on breath and posture, people can learn to enter a state of calm but also push external stimuli away. Mindful meditation is linked to lower blood pressure and greater peace for people who incorporate it into recovery.
How Mindful Meditation Works
The most widely used therapies for mental health conditions now incorporate elements here and there of mindfulness practices. This may include mindfulness like yoga or meditation or may focus on mindfully developed cognitive therapy. Mindful meditation works with a person in recovery to enhance their experience, to accept the present moment, and to support those who are struggling with substance abuse. These people can make plans for improving their lives instead of living in denial.
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Opposite of Addiction
Mindful meditation is more than mantras and platitudes or ‘nice thoughts.’ There is a deeper, more intrinsic way to experience mindfulness that incorporates recovery principles for living. Instead of treating symptoms, the person is treating themselves with appropriate amounts of positive thoughts to combat negative stressors and triggers. The lessons learned through mindful meditation are used to achieve a state of mindfulness that requires people to recognize their circumstances for today and keep working on developing a personal relationship to themselves. Mindful meditation teaches the person they can achieve peace inside themselves. It is not extrinsic. It is an internal compass that expands when a person is educated on how to use it well. People using drugs seek satisfaction for the moment, but people who use mindfulness techniques seek peace for the moment.
Mindful Meditation Research
Addiction recovery is more than one principle, thought, or behavioral modification. Success in recovery is not defined by how much a person does or how well they do. Their success is defined by themselves, every day, living in recovery and staying sober. Any helpful tool is going to support them to that end, which is why meditation is key. It is free to do and comes with myriad benefits. A lot o f research being done has looked at the mental health and physical side effects of meditation. They are all positive: lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower risk of heart attack or stroke.There is also minimized risk of relapse for people in recovery from addiction. Healing the brain is the best way to combat addiction recovery. Individuals who participated in mindful meditation saw growth in their brains and sensory processing. They were able to regain some functions they lost with addiction.
Treatment Options
Recovery from addiction requires flushing drugs from the person’s system. This person must be able to work on repairing their relationships and body from the abuse. Mindfulness is one way to help people seek freedom from drugs and alcohol. The risk of relapse is always high for people in recovery. The goal is to lower the risk by mitigating risk factors. These can include environment, social pressure, work, life, or other stressors that keep them from feeling successful in their new skin.
There is no cure for addiction. The only way to handle a person’s life in recovery is to mitigate risk and minimize relapse triggers and cravings. The risks are very high for people who relapse. With the right support, they can stop fighting against themselves and begin feeling like they are winning.
Loosening the Grip of Addiction
In order to loosen the grip of addiction, it takes a huge team of people working to support their recovery. They have to have people who surround them with love, a treatment center focused on their mental, physical, and spirtual health, and some sense they are moving forward. Every day is a step away from addiction to freedom. To keep looping back into the same patterns is going to make them feel defeated over time. Mindful Meditation helps a person feel less defeated and more empowered. The more empowered a person feels, the better off they will be down the road.
Although mindful meditation is not going to take away the triggers or cravings, you are going to feel like you can handle what comes their way. The tools and resources from rehab are a starting point to them feeling better for the long term.
