Addiction treatment and living in recovery are well within reach. At our rehab in Arkansas, we see people recover from their addiction and move into full, lasting recovery every day. However, it is a journey, and it takes work. But with the right tools, the work can be a lot more manageable. A very powerful tool available is mindfulness in addiction treatment.
It’s okay if you haven’t heard of mindfulness in addiction treatment. We will break it down for you and give you a couple of practices you can use today to make a difference in your recovery, no matter where you are on your journey.
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment without judgment. If that doesn’t make too much sense, it just means you are aware of where you are in the moment.
And you just let it be. It can come in many ways, but a common approach is paying close attention to your thoughts, feelings, and body parts. It is good to put your mind on these things and be present with them.
What does it do? It can stop our impulsivity and calm our minds. It gives us more power over the moment and helps us remember that we are not our feelings, thoughts, or cravings. When we simply observe or become present with these parts of us, we can have more of a choice in what to do with them.
At its core, mindfulness is about awareness.
It’s about tuning into the now rather than getting lost in current feelings or regrets about the past or anxieties about the future.
This simple practice can create a space between a craving or stress and your action (like reaching for the bottle). That space can make all the difference.
Mindfulness in Addiction Treatment
In addiction treatment, we use mindfulness to help clients stop their actions from slipping back to the automatic response. This is where habit comes from, and destructive behaviors can also have their roots here.
It is more than simply withstanding a craving. It is about getting to where you observe the cravings when they arise, and you understand them. Their power over you diminishes as you become aware of how they pass when you don’t act on them.
Here’s how mindfulness is woven into addiction treatment:
- Craving Awareness: Mindfulness allows us to recognize cravings as they arise without immediately reacting to them. This can be incredibly powerful in disrupting the cycle of addiction.
- Emotional Regulation: By becoming more aware of our emotions, we can better manage stress, anxiety, and other emotions that might trigger a relapse.
- Enhanced Self-Awareness: Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our thoughts and behaviors, which is crucial for identifying triggers and developing healthier coping mechanisms.
- Stress Reduction: Mindfulness practices, such as meditation and deep breathing, are known to reduce stress, which can often be a precursor to relapse.
- Increased Compassion: Mindfulness encourages a non-judgmental attitude toward ourselves, which can help in overcoming the shame and guilt often associated with addiction.
Carrying Mindfulness Over to Recovery Life
The important part about teaching mindfulness in addiction treatment is that it carries over into recovery. Recovery is where mindfulness becomes most powerful. When woven into a person’s daily life, it creates a space of long-term healing and resilience.
It also helps build the skills we need to continue our lives with confidence in our sobriety and healing.
Here’s how mindfulness can help in recovery life:
- Managing Triggers: By staying mindful, you can catch yourself before reacting to triggers, allowing you to choose a healthier response.
- Building Resilience: Mindfulness fosters emotional resilience, helping you to bounce back from setbacks without turning to substances.
- Maintaining Balance: Daily mindfulness practice can help maintain balance, preventing the extremes of emotions that might lead to relapse.
Mindfulness Practices for Addiction Treatment
Several mindfulness practices are particularly beneficial in addiction treatment. Here are a few examples:
- Mindful Breathing: This simple practice involves focusing on your breath as it moves in and out of your body. It can be beneficial when experiencing cravings, as it anchors you to the present moment and allows the craving to pass without acting on it.
- Body Scan Meditation: This practice involves paying close attention to each part of your body, from your toes to your head, noticing any sensations, tension, or discomfort. This can help in recognizing and addressing physical signs of stress before they lead to relapse.
- Loving-Kindness Meditation: This practice focuses on developing compassion and love for yourself and others. It can help in overcoming the self-judgment and shame that often accompany addiction.
- Mindful Eating: Eating mindfully involves paying full attention to the experience of eating and drinking inside and outside the body. This can help develop a healthier relationship between food and your body.
Mindfulness Example: Dealing with Cravings
When a craving arises, try this simple mindfulness exercise:
- Acknowledge: Notice the craving as it arises. Don’t try to push it away or act on it immediately—just acknowledge that it’s there.
- Breathe: Take deep, slow breaths. Focus on the sensation of the air moving in and out of your lungs. This helps to center your mind and reduce the intensity of the craving.
- Observe: Pay attention to how the craving feels in your body. Is it a tightness in your chest? A restlessness in your limbs? By observing the physical sensations, you can distance yourself from the craving and see it for what it is—a temporary sensation.
- Let it Pass: Cravings are like waves; they rise, crest, and eventually fall away. By staying mindful, you can ride out the wave without giving in.
Where Are You Now?
If you are considering mindfulness in addiction treatment, it might be helpful for you to recognize where you are right now. What are your feelings? What is driving you? What is happening to your body? This is not a judgment moment. It is not a time to be ashamed or regretful. It is a time to know where you are simply.
Do you need help? Are you ready to take the steps necessary for a life free from addiction?
If you answer “yes,” we invite you to call us. Our team at EagleCrest Addiction Treatment Center in Northwest Arkansas is ready to offer you the guidance you need. Call us today 844-439-7627.
