Mindfulness can teach you to focus on the present moment without judgment. If you are going through addiction recovery, this practice can be highly beneficial to help you along your journey.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is simply considered any activity that brings your awareness and focus to the present moment. According to a 2010 study in Substance Abuse, mindfulness “encourages awareness and acceptance of thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations as they arise, and recognition of their impermanence.” Mindfulness teaches you how to acknowledge and accept thoughts, feelings, and experiences instead of trying to change or repress them.
The study mentions that this “change in one’s relationship to present-moment experience” will allow you to re-perceive things and help you control your attention. This change may help facilitate better behavioral choices by giving pause to the situation at hand instead of acting on impulse.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness-based practices can have innumerable benefits for people everywhere. Specifically, these practices have been studied to find their efficacy in helping people overcome addiction.
Substance use disorders (SUDs) are considered chronic conditions that benefit from long-term therapies. According to Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, “mindfulness might be conceptualized as an integral component of a wellness-oriented lifestyle,” which can be a catalyst for long-term recovery.
NIH News in Health says that mindfulness-based treatments “have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression.” It also points to evidence that shows mindfulness can lower blood pressure, improve sleep, and even help people cope with pain.
Mindful Activities
A great thing about mindfulness is that it can be practiced in a number of ways. Everyday activities like brushing your teeth, walking, and getting dressed can be done in a mindful way. You can use your five senses to focus on these daily tasks mindfully.
One of the most well-known mindful activities is meditation. Meditation teaches you to focus on the present moment through breathing, sight, or sound. An important principle of meditation, and mindfulness in general, is to release thoughts without judgment when they do arise. Other mindful activities can include yoga, breathwork, exercise, and even listening to music.
Holistic Healing at The Guest House
At The Guest House, we offer traditional mindful-based therapies like meditation, yoga, and breathwork. Our wide variety of programs will help you find the right methods that work best for you. You can find confidence in long-term sobriety through mindfulness and other holistic methods.
Mindfulness is a wonderful tool that teaches you to focus on the present moment while releasing thoughts without judgment. This method can be useful in helping you overcome addiction. At The Guest House, we aim to infuse mindfulness into our wide variety of traditional and holistic healing methods. We offer programs in meditation, breathwork, and sound healing to help you bring awareness to the present moment. We understand that addiction is a highly personal challenge. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable through the process as you find confidence in your sobriety. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.