Practicing Mindfulness in Recovery
Published: November 5, 2020
Every person recovering from addiction will often face mental conflicts or nervous breakdowns. On most occasions, a patient may feel a strong urge to snap back to the old habit of addiction, whereas some may experience a continuous conflict of interest.
While it’s uncommon to experience such events during recovery, it’s equally important to realize how negatively they can impact your journey to recovery. Such temptation can hinder your mission to recover from addiction or set you back right into the old state of dependence.
However, any person can stay in control by practicing an ancient Japanese art known as “mindfulness.”
What is Mindfulness?
Psychologists acknowledge mindfulness as the act of bringing your awareness to the present moment. Paying attention to your body senses and maintaining a nonjudgmental awareness. In a more straightforward example, mindfulness is the practice of narrowing your non-judgemental perception to your body senses and the surrounding environment.
Mindfulness in Recovery
For a person recovering from addiction, practicing mindfulness can be a great strategy for limiting negative thought patterns.
Mindfulness is a practice that has been used by reputable leaders and great athletes as a means of connecting with their goals and overall purposes. Mindfulness art has achieved a positive reputation among counselors, therapists, and doctors of the current age.
In the recent research carried out by Brit K., practicing mindfulness was shown to change the structure of the human brain. These changes were more evident in the areas associated with self-consciousness and emotions.
The great thing about mindfulness is that it can be practiced in almost any place. For example, on a cold weekend evening, take a break from your schedule and go to a nearby park. It’s advisable to be alone to avoid unnecessary distractions from crowded and noisy places.
Bring the attention to the chirping of the birds and the wrestling of trees. Try to stay nonjudgmental of your observations and simply enjoy listening to the sound coming from nature—narrow your attention to the systematic movement of your lungs. Much better, you can limit your awareness to your muscles’ tension as you slowly try to keep them relaxed.
Recovering from addiction will call for a healthy and positive mind frame. As a result, it’s essential to supplement the practice by repeating a handful of positive affirmations. Some helpful affirmations include:
I am doing this for the sake of my life.
I will not be controlled by addiction.
I will not be the laughing stock of society.
Such affirmations backed with mindful breathing can manifest positive results sooner than expected. Most psychologists and therapists often recommend mindfulness because of their specific benefits.
If you’re recovering from addiction, you may be facing a complicated relationship with your partner or family members. The practice of mindfulness can strengthen relationships enabling a person to feel calm and lighter.
Afterward, a patient may start getting the urge to communicate with friends but in a much rational and unforced manner. A great way to test your progress is to invite a handful of friends over at your place during the weekend. Try to notice how gentle your conversation rolls and how calm your mind feels. Primarily, humans are conditioned to interact with new environments and people. However, it’s challenging to achieve open communication when having a depressed mental state.
If you’re recovering from addiction and struggling with sleep habits, then you may want to consider mindfulness practice. According to research conducted by Gilia O, mindfulness has a remarkable influence on sleep quality and overall health.
Mindfulness is a “must try” for anyone who wishes to experience a smooth recovery from addiction, chronic anxiety, and depression. The results may not be as immediate as expected but will undoubtedly take shape as time passes.
