Addiction and The Healing Power of Mindfulness

The self-care practice of Mindfulness has experienced a rapid increase in popularity. The principles of Mindfulness teach us to attend purposefully to the present moment, and accept our emotions, thoughts, bodily sensations, and present psychological states, both positive and negative, as part of our reality. Through meditation especially, the practice of mindfulness is known to promote self-acceptance, enhance the mind-body connection, and induce relaxation by calming the nervous system. But how can it help with addiction recovery? There is actually much research to support the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for addiction, especially for their ability to help individuals attend to their bodies and internal states. This post will delve a little deeper into the ways mindfulness practice could nicely complement treatment for addiction. 

Awareness

The greatest influence mindfulness has on combatting addiction, is its ability to enhance self-awareness of physical and psychological states. Through a mindful lens, individuals can become aware of and attend to the triggers and emotional states that have previously resulted in their misuse of substances. That is, the sense of awareness that is imparted by mindfulness practice, pulls the body out of autopilot, and allows the mind to make sound judgments and informed decisions, which will decrease one’s chances of automatically succumbing to harmful, habitual behaviors. 

Acceptance

Another powerful lesson imparted by mindfulness practice, is the ability to accept our realities without constantly taking efforts to change or remedy uncomfortable states. In the context of addiction, mindfulness can thus counter using behavior that is intended to suppress emotional or physical pain. 

Empowerment

Finally, in promoting enhanced attention and present moment awareness, mindfulness empowers addicted individuals by offering alternative responses to managing physical and emotional discomfort. It promotes a sort of mental mastery, allowing individuals to discover that substances are not the only means of managing pain. It has been found that the benefits of mindfulness are lost if the habit is abandoned, thus in using mindfulness to complement recovery from addiction, it is important to maintain investment in the practice.  

At Andy’s house, residents benefit from a holistic approach to rehabilitation, which includes healing mindfulness practices such as yoga and meditation. If you or someone you know is suffering, give us a call. In a warm and welcoming environment, we can provide you with the support and tools you need for a successful, mindful recovery.