Holistic therapy, meditation for addiction, is becoming a more integral part of addiction recovery. Using guided meditation for addiction recovery builds a mind-body connection that promotes calmness and improves well-being.
At Harmony Place, we incorporate meditation immediately after a person enters addiction treatment. Whether a person is detoxing or well into recovery, meditation for addiction has endless benefits.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes meditation as a mind-body activity intended to:
Meditation for addiction recovery is simple yet powerful. It has many benefits, including relieving anxiety and stress. A meditation session can last a few minutes to an hour or longer. The goal is to balance the mind and body to improve overall health and quality of life by focusing on breathing or mantra chanting.
A variety of meditations include different features to help a person meditate. The most common elements of recovery meditation include:
Characteristics of meditation for addiction include sitting in the lotus pose (sitting cross-legged) and slow, deep breathing. Meditation, like yoga, reduces anxiety, depression, and emotional triggers.
Addiction treatment centers offer various forms of meditation. This is because, like other therapies, meditation isn’t one size fits all. Additionally, each type of meditation provides unique benefits.
Types of recovery meditations include:
Recovery meditation offers benefits such as combating withdrawal, cravings, and triggers. In addition, the benefits of recovery meditation include:
Another benefit of meditation for addiction recovery is altering brainwaves to improve mental health. Also, practicing mindfulness that improves the performance of the frontal cortex, which is responsible for thinking and planning.
Another benefit of meditation in addiction treatment is the dopamine release it provides. Dopamine is often called the “feel good” chemical in the brain. Because drugs and alcohol cause a rush of dopamine to be released, it causes the brain to gradually stop creating dopamine naturally.
However, a John F. Kennedy study shows meditation for addiction produces a 65 percent increase in dopamine. Furthermore, meditations such as guided meditations for addiction promote recovery by filling a void, decreasing unhealthy thoughts, and improving anxiety. Thus, meditation for addiction treatment is great both physically and mentally for a person.
Mindfulness is the art of being present in the moment. This means being aware of how you feel and think without passing judgment. While mindfulness is beneficial in daily life, it is a great tool for addiction recovery.
Addiction to drugs or alcohol can lead to unhealthy and negative thoughts. While in recovery, these thoughts can be dangerous and lead to relapse. Mindfulness in recovery allows these thoughts to be acknowledged without judgment and released without causing harm.
The brain is the only organ that can be trained through learning. During addiction, the brain is trained to work against us. However, mindfulness can reverse the damage to the brain.
Over time, mindfulness can rebuild neural pathways. Furthermore, combining mindfulness and meditation can increase the thickness of the brain’s cortex. This improves cognitive function, attention, and sensory processing.
Practicing mindfulness in recovery can also increase brain connections, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. At the same time, mindfulness and meditation for addiction recovery can positively affect thoughts, feelings, and responses to the world around you.
Recovery meditation allows a person to find a moment of peace. Addiction creates a mind of chaos as the brain’s only focus is drugs or alcohol.
In early recovery, cravings can make meditation challenging. But, breathing exercises and guided meditations for addiction can help bring awareness to the moment.
Combining meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reinforce focusing on one’s behavior. It also teaches people to accept what is, find perspective with the past, and set healthy, beneficial intentions for lasting recovery.
Breathing meditation is just as it sounds. It is the art of bringing your attention to your breath and how your body is feeling. Inhaling deeply and exhaling fully encourages a full exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide.
Most humans go through their day without fully utilizing their diaphragm. This can trigger stress responses. However, you can slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure by deep breathing. Breathing meditation also elicits a relaxation response that balances the mind and body.
Guided meditation for addiction involves an instructor who guides the journey. The instructor’s goal is to help a person build an image in his or her mind, such as the beach.
However, once the image is in the mind, the instructor steps back and lets the patient continue from there. Such a practice stops the instructor from planting ideas in the patient’s mind, allowing the patient to create positive experiences.
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, mantra meditation is prominent. Mantra meditation for recovery clears the mind by using repetitive sounds. Although it can be any sound, “Om” is a popular mantra.
By repeating a mantra over and over, it allows the mind to relax. When a person relaxes, he or she can tune into the environment and focus on deepening awareness. This type of meditation is beneficial for those beginning treatment as it helps with concentration which can ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Moving meditation is a shift of consciousness or meditative state while doing simple movements. This type of meditation can calm the mind and create awareness. While meditation is often associated with lying or sitting while focusing on your breath, moving can also help with contemplation.
Some people struggle to sit still, especially in early recovery. For this reason, moving meditation can be helpful. Besides yoga, types of moving meditations include:
Walking in nature is an excellent way to clear the mind, especially for those who find peace in action.
Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol brings on a variety of symptoms, such as insomnia and depression. Recovery meditation can help a person feel grounded and calm. Calm people improve their sleep quality and enable better moods.
Some people struggling with addiction suffer from thought imbalances such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Meditation helps a person observe obsessive thoughts without becoming attached. This allows a person to regain control over his or her impulses.
Meditation is a priceless tool when it comes to relapse prevention. It promotes self-awareness which can help you recognize your triggers. Meditation also helps monitor emotions and the sensations in your body, helping you listen to your needs.
Building self-awareness helps people stay on track with their recovery. When facing triggers, meditation skills can help people pause, identify their thoughts and feelings, change their thoughts, and cope with emotions in a healthy manner.
At Harmony Place, our addiction treatment programs focus on healing the mind, body, and soul. Our holistic approach to recovery incorporates various therapies to promote lasting recovery.
If you or someone you love is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, we are waiting to help. Contact us today and start your journey to a happier and healthier life.
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