Benefits of Meditation in Addiction Recovery

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is described as a state of thoughtless awareness. It is sometimes thought of as a time when you can sit and think about things quietly, but the fact is that meditation is about clearing your mind and being aware of your body, breathing, and surroundings. With meditation in recovery from addiction, the mind becomes calm and silent, yet alert, and you will find your body at a deep peace that can reduce stress, anxiety, and eliminate other concerns.

A quality state of meditation allows you to focus on the present moment, so you don’t dwell on concerns that you have no control over.

What Benefit Does Meditation in Recovery Provide to the Body?

Meditation is commonly referred to as an effective form of stress relief. It is an Eastern technique, and it has a history dating back several thousands of years.

In a study performed in the United States, it was found that adding meditation to behavior modification strategies resulted in patients attending their physicians less during the following six months.

Scientifically, there may be an explanation for why meditation is effective as a stress-relief method. One theory states that the release of catecholamines and other stress hormones like cortisol are reduced during meditation while also increasing the activity of the parasympathetic system.

What Kinds of Meditation Can Be Used?

There are several kinds of meditation and mindfulness techniques you can use during treatment. These include:

• Traditional meditation, which gives you time to focus on your breathing and helps you clear your mind.
• Mindful eating, which requires you to pay attention to the actual process of eating, tasting and choosing your foods.
• Moving meditation, like yoga or Tai Chi. These practices have flowing movements that allow you to feel the present moment will working through exercises to balance your body.
• Walking meditation, which is when you simply walk and focus on the act of walking. You don’t walk to get anywhere, you simply perform the act as a way to relax as you clear your mind.

Why Is Meditation in Addiction Recovery used?

Using mindful meditation is important for people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction. Meditation in addiction recovery gives them a way to focus on what the body feels and to separate from the stress and tension of outside influences. Mindful meditation:

• Helps you manage stress by focusing your mind on the present moment, not the future. With mindful meditation, you can learn when you’re starting to worry about the future and anticipate it, instead of living in the present. Over time, you’ll learn to focus your energy on the present moment instead of worrying about past or future events.

• Helps reduce anxiety by giving you time to relax and recuperate.

• Is thought to help with depression, because it can help individuals recognize and eliminate negative thought patterns.

• Gives you a chance to be more mindful of your body. Being aware of what your body is feeling can give you more time to recognize symptoms or signs of physical or mental illnesses, cravings, or potential relapses. By recognizing early symptoms through mindful meditation, you can take action to prevent a situation well before it becomes a problem.

• Very interestingly can help reduce and manage pain. If you consider any painful situation, part of the pain is mental while the rest is physical. Physical pain can be severe, but adding in panic or fear will make it worse and make you feel more frantic, afraid, or angry. By releasing these emotions and focusing only on the physical problem, you can eliminate the pain of a mental reaction.

• May help the body fight disease and illnesses. High levels of cortisol and stress hormones in the body can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system, so staying relaxed can help you be less prone to illness and diseases.

• Can help you through early recovery. Early in recovery, your emotions may run rampant. By being mindful of your body and mind, you can feel more in control, helping yourself focus on your goals instead of living through the views of your mood swings, anxieties, or concerns. Cravings may also appear during this part of treatment, so being mindful of your body and what you need to do to get through those cravings is important. While you don’t have to respond to cravings, you also don’t need to feel guilty about having them. It’s a physical response to a physical addiction.

How Can I Get Involved in Holistic Recovery Programs?

Holistic recovery programs can help you balance your body and mind. If you think one of these programs may be right for you, you can contact our helpful specialists by calling our helpline, with a confidential call you can learn more about holistic rehab offerings near you and nationwide.

Give yourself a break from destructive cycles and reach out for help now, we are ready and waiting to assist!

Charles F.( Content Coordinator )

Charles F. has been an active part of the Florida recovery community for over 5 years. He began as a behavioral health technician at an addiction treatment facility in Ocala, Florida and has since begun training as a Licensed Addiction and Chemical Dependency counselor in Boca Raton. Charles’ passion involves the promotion of recovery and helping spread the hope of recovery to as many readers as possible!