An evidence-based approach to addiction recovery is a great foundation, but there are also lots of holistic methods that can help people get well. One example is mindfulness meditation. What is mindfulness meditation? Read on to learn more about this therapy, how it helps in recovery and why rehab centers encourage a holistic approach to sobriety.
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
Mindfulness meditation is a form of meditation that helps people become aware of what’s going on in the moment. Far too many people spend their lives worried about the past or worried about what might happen in the future. Mindfulness meditation encourages individuals to stop and focus on what’s happening in the now.
Mindfulness meditation is typically a sitting practice, but people can perform it anywhere at any time. As a sitting practice, though, it means people sit down, with their feet on the floor or cross-legged. Individuals can also use a chair or a cushion to make the practice more comfortable. When meditating, it’s important to remove any distractions from the vicinity.
In mindfulness meditation, individuals focus on their environment and the present moment. It’s normal for the mind to wander, but you’ll want to keep bringing it back to the here and now. Many people focus on their breathing as a way to stay in the moment. For those who are just learning to meditate, guided meditation through an app or in a class can be beneficial.
Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
What is mindfulness meditation good for? The benefits of mindful meditation are extensive. Some of the most common benefits include increased gratitude, better stress relief, reduced blood pressure, better sleep, and even lower rates of depression.
Meditating mindfully can actually slow down your heart rate, and that can lower a high pulse or dangerously high blood pressure. After meditating, most people report that they feel happier, more satisfied with life and less anxious.
Can Mindfulness Meditation Aid in Addiction Recovery?
Mindfulness meditation is clearly great for overall health, but it can also be a tool in addiction treatment and recovery. This may be in part because meditation helps people accept their circumstances and their experiences. Instead of running from them, and trying to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, meditation can lead to a resolution.
Additionally, those who practice mindful meditation have a way to relieve stress in a healthy way. Without a means of stress relief, substance use can become a temptation after a long day, a physical illness or relationship trouble.
Exploring Holistic Healing at Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, addiction treatment is about far more than just addressing the physical symptoms of substance use. The holistic approach to health and sobriety includes therapies and treatments that bring meaning, fulfillment, and joy to the lives of clients. In addition to mindfulness meditation therapy, some of these holistic rehab approaches include the following:
- Acupuncture therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Massage therapy
- Nutritional therapy
- Yoga therapy
Finally, what is mindfulness meditation? It can be one part of a very successful addiction treatment center plan. At Crestview Recovery in Portland, Oregon, mindfulness meditation is part of a whole-person approach to lasting sobriety. Call 866.262.0531 and take the next step on the journey to health, happiness, and freedom from addiction.
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.
