After removing 595 duplicates (RK), 500 abstracts were reviewed (AZ, initial screening). The full-texts of 224 articles were then reviewed (AZ, secondary screening), https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and 34 articles were submitted for a tertiary screening. Twelve of the 34 articles (24–35) did not meet the eligibility criteria and were excluded.
Acknowledging Thoughts and Emotions
Similar to yoga, meditation can help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and emotional triggers, while changing brainwaves. Although long-term MM practice patterns have not been assessed in the context of SUDs, its use in other clinical samples suggests that MM can have long-lasting effects. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,(1) approximately 200 million people worldwide are current drug users. Learning to relax is an important skill if you plan on maintaining long-term sobriety.
How Can Meditation Therapy Help Treat Substance Abuse?
Many people struggling with substance abuse deal with psychological agony that disrupts their sense of inner peace. Instead of finding natural ways to relieve their suffering, they turn to alcohol or drugs. Mindfulness can help calm such distress by teaching you to find and maintain internal peace. Body scans, mindful walking, and outdoor exercise, along with yoga, mindful breathing, and the 5 senses exercise, are mindfulness techniques that can help boost your inner calm.
- More than a decade of research has demonstrated the promise of MBIs for intervening in SUDs and preventing relapse.
- Learning to be more mindful can also help you develop better impulse control.
- Having a quiet and calming space to meditate will help you achieve the best meditation experience.
- Researchers and clinicians have begun to explore mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for intervening in SUDs and relapse prevention.
- Although it’s a helpful tool for managing stress through recovery, it’s not a replacement for treatment.
Physical & Other Health Benefits
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, meditation is a mind-body activity intended to promote calm and relaxation and help people cope with illnesses and improve well-being. It involves sitting comfortably in a quiet setting, focusing your attention and allowing thoughts and distractions to pass without assessing them. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
By using mindfulness to focus on the positive emotions and the sense of meaningfulness that emerge from spending time with his grandchildren, this individual may feel more satisfied and contented than he ever did when using substances. Consistent with the reward restructuring hypothesis, by addiction meditation kundalini practicing mindful savoring over time, the experience of natural reward may outweigh the drive to use drugs to obtain a sense of well-being – fortifying the individual against relapse. Coming full circle, MBIs are some of the newest additions to the armamentarium of addictions treatment.
Our goal is to help you recover holistically and undo the damage the addiction has caused for your mind, body, and mental health. Practicing meditation regularly allows individuals to tap into a state of serenity, fostering a calm mind and a relaxed body. This is especially beneficial for those in addiction recovery, as it provides a natural and soothing way to reduce stress and cope with the emotional challenges faced when maintaining sobriety. In a 2017 study, researchers found that practicing mindfulness in MBRP may reduce the link between craving and substance use and increase resilience for relapse. In 2014, a randomized control trial (RCT), the gold standard trial for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, was conducted by Bowen and colleagues. The study investigated how effective the Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention program would be compared to a standard relapse-prevention program and a conventional 12-step program.
Thought for the Day
Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Recovery
- Furthermore, molecular neuroimaging (e.g., positron emission tomography; PET) is needed to understand effects of MBIs on neurotransmitters and neuropeptides implicated in addictive behavior like dopamine, endogenous opioids, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and endocannabinoids.
- In addition to relapse prevention, individuals with SUDs must also prepare for coping with a relapse.
- This type of meditation helps you to achieve clarity and stillness as it calms the mind, reduces stress, and provides a deeper relaxation.
- Let’s unpack the numerous benefits meditation offers in the journey toward sobriety and well-being.