Every day, countless families across the country are impacted by substance abuse and alcoholism. For years, the resources that were available to help people suffering from addiction and substance abuse were limited. Now, thanks to more research and shifting attitudes, there is an abundance of resources available to help those in need. One great option for recovering addicts is mindfulness meditation.
What is Mindful Meditation?
Mindfulness can be an important part of an addiction treatment plan. Mindfulness meditation is a practice that allows someone to focus their attention on experiences that are occurring in the present moment. Specifically, using this practice, people will focus on their addiction, how they got to where they are now, and what they need to do to recover in the future. This style of meditation encourages people to look at the present situation in an objective manner. This allows someone to let all other stresses fall by the wayside, allowing for a clear and objective evaluation of the present situation. Mindful meditation can be done at home, outside in a park, on the beach, or any place that is considered your happy place.
How Does Mindfulness Meditation Help?
Mindfulness meditation can help someone with the addiction recovery process in several ways. The biggest benefit is that it will help alleviate stress. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind, especially with the internet and social media being at our fingertips. We’re constantly inundated with information, which is good and bad. It can be hard to relax but meditation helps with this.
One of the most important hurdles that people face with addiction treatment and recovery is focusing on themselves and their addiction. When people’s minds are focused on other areas, it makes it hard to focus on the recovery plan.
Tips to Get Started
For those who are interested in learning more about mindfulness meditation, there are a few tips that will help you get set up for success. Some of the most important tips include:
Tip 1: First, it is important to have a goal statement in mind. This mindfulness meditation goal doesn’t have to be complicated. It can simply act as a roadmap on which you can concentrate as you meditate. Think about how often you want to meditate, how long these sessions are going to last, and how you are going to work on self- improvement during this meditation practice. The goal should be something that is attainable that will act as a concrete benchmark for how you are doing in the practice.
Tip 2: Next, try to start low and go slow. The best form of mindfulness meditation practice is to simply get started. Some people are going to wait to find the perfect time to start mindfulness meditation; however, this time will never arise. Simply find a quiet place and sit for a few minutes without getting disturbed by anything else. Start with mindfulness meditation that only lasts for a few minutes. Then, increase the session length until the goal is reached.
Tip 3: Think about writing during the practice of mindfulness meditation. Writing is powerful because it has the ability to help you reprogram your consciousness. This may only last for a few minutes each day; however, it is an important part of mindfulness meditation. Simply copying an affirmation by hand will force the brain to change its wiring in order to accommodate the new habits.
Tip 4: You don’t have to meditate alone. There are actually addiction treatment groups that encourage people to engage in mindfulness meditation together. This is a great way for people to find additional support that can play a critical role on the road to recovery. If there isn’t a mindfulness meditation group in the local area, don’t be afraid to start one!
Tip 5: Finally, as you get used to the idea of mindfulness meditation, don’t be afraid to learn more. The more you learn about the practice of mindfulness meditation, the more you’ll get out of it. There are also books published about mindfulness meditation and how many of the tips discussed above can be applied most effectively.
Let Us Help You Today!
At Multi Concept Recovery, we are an addiction treatment provider located in the gorgeous Burbank area of Los Angeles, CA. Our addiction treatment plans are customized to help people who suffer from drug abuse and alcoholism. We will tailor our treatment plans to meet your individual needs with the goal of helping you maintain long-term sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you!
