Relapse prevention is an important aspect of recovery. At some point, a person in recovery will face the temptation to relapse, so rather than flying blind, it’s best to approach recovery with a plan. Mindfulness based relapse prevention will help you keep your eye on the prize while preparing for the worst.
Keeping It Holistic: What Is Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention?
A big part of recovery is keeping yourself engaged and present in the current moment. Many individuals are overwhelmed with the weight of the past or the challenges of the future, which can be a trigger for substance use.
No one can handle the entire weight of the future at any given time, so learning how to be present and embrace the now can be a powerful life skill. This is where techniques based on mindfulness come into play.
One aspect of mindfulness based relapse prevention is learning to meditate. Meditation is an ancient practice that involves using deep breathing and focusing techniques to make a meaningful connection with your current self.
A meditation practice can benefit a person in recovery by:
- Helping calm acute feelings of worry and anxiety.
- Allowing the client to relax and prepare for healthy sleep.
- Providing the ability to stay calm as the patient works through memories of past trauma.
- Lowering blood pressure and generally improving physical health over time.
- Creating a higher level of self-awareness.
Self-Awareness and Recovery
The last item on the list is perhaps the most relevant to those in recovery. Self-awareness is a huge part of the rehab journey. In most cases, addiction creates distance between who you really are and the person you’ve become as the result of substance use. Due to both the tendency for denial and the mind-altering effects of the substances, it’s very easy to lose track of how you really feel about things.
When you work on mindfulness based relapse prevention and meditation therapy, you’ll begin to return to the person you were before you got into drugs and alcohol. With these holistic rehab methods, you’ll develop an awareness of your addictive thought patterns. Not only can this help you attain sobriety in the first place, but it can also help you experience those thought patterns as they’re happening. This allows you to reach out to your sponsor or other supportive members of your community for help before you relapse.
Dedicating to Healing: Are You Alone in Your Recovery?
You don’t have to face recovery alone, and you shouldn’t try. According to studies, people who attempt to recover from their addiction alone face a much greater likelihood of relapse. Reaching out for help is your best chance at attaining lasting sobriety.
If you’re ready to face recovery head-on, then call the compassionate staff at Crestview Recovery today at 866.262.0531. Using the best mindfulness based relapse prevention programs available today, we will help you stay on the road to recovery.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
