Practicing Mindfulness When In Treatment Or Recovery

When someone in recovery feels there is no way to deal with powerful emotions, they may get anxious or sad. These feelings typically begin in detox and can continue throughout one's recovery. There may also be feelings of guilt or shame about their past behaviors and actions. Thankfully, there are several effective coping strategies available to deal with these emotions. One of them is mindfulness. 

What Is Mindfulness? 

Mindfulness is being mindful of one's current thoughts. Admitting that sad or anxious feelings exist and that they will pass might help during your recovery journey. When you are observant of your thoughts, you can remind yourself that they are fleeting and expected. No thought is permanent, no matter how intense or overwhelming.  

The Three Components of Mindfulness in Recovery 

There are three components to mindfulness that you can employ during the recovery process. They include being intentional, accepting, and nonjudgmental. To learn more about these elements of mindfulness and how they can aid in your recovery process, keep reading.   

Being Intentional  

Intentional mindfulness is a deliberate mental process to acknowledge current thoughts. There is no way to change our thoughts, but we can be aware of them and reframe them positively. Mindfulness involves dealing with all thoughts at the moment, not postponing or repressing them. You can practice intentional mindfulness by studying techniques or by being coached by a therapist. 

Practicing Acceptance 

Our thoughts often originate in the unconscious, and we become aware of them later. These thoughts will always be there, no matter how your brain frames them. Mindfulness allows you to recognize and accept these thoughts. Accepting means admitting they exist and that suppressing them would only increase worry, guilt, and pain. By practicing acceptance, you can deal with your recovery better and be more open to various treatments and therapies available.  

Being Nonjudgmental  

Mindfulness is acknowledging that your thoughts will happen and not brutally evaluating them. During recovery, you may have numerous negative thoughts. You may miss the drug-induced highs, and you may feel like a failure or regret hurting those you love. While facing these ideas is part of the recovery process, you must be kind to yourself. 

Mindfulness involves embracing these kinds of thoughts and emotions without judging them or labeling them as weak. Constant self-criticism is the reverse of mindfulness, leading only to unnecessary emotional anguish. While you would provide sympathy and care to a friend or family member going through a difficult period, you should do the same for yourself.  

Physical Benefits of Mindfulness 

In addition to emotional suffering, patients in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction may experience physical pain due to cravings for the substance or behaviors they have left behind. Practicing mindfulness can alter both your physical and mental states; therefore, it can help alleviate some of these bodily symptoms. 

Meditation and Mindfulness 

An essential component of Buddhism, meditation has been a mindful practice utilized by people worldwide for centuries. During meditation, one spends time alone with their thoughts. They can focus on the physical and mental aspects of themselves while paying close attention to the thoughts that arise. 

In this state of mind, you can focus on your thoughts, accepting them as you let go of the negative ones rather than internalizing them. Through meditation, you can remind yourself that even the darkest feelings are temporary.  

Mindfulness can be as simple as noticing one's breath. Throughout history, concentrating on breathing has been utilized to settle anxiousness and racing thoughts. 

Mindfulness With Others 

The practice of mindfulness may be shared with others. A qualified addiction specialist or therapist can guide a patient through mindfulness-based recovery, targeting hazardous thoughts and patterns that could induce relapse if not appropriately addressed. There are also ways to participate in mindfulness practices in a group or virtual setting. Some examples include yoga classes, meditation workshops, and guided mindfulness videos online.   

Mindfulness and Relationships 

Recovering from alcohol or drug dependency does not just affect the individual, it affects their loved ones as well. If a patient is in a relationship, the road to recovery is a process that should involve their partner and family members. 

Mindfulness can help heal broken relationships, and a patient and their partner can participate in mindfulness activities together. A therapist can lead mindfulness activities during couples counseling sessions. Since mindfulness teaches you not to judge yourself and others, a partner practicing mindfulness can also approach your situation with nonjudgment and an open mind.   

The Benefits Of Coping Skills In Recovery 

During your recovery from addiction, there are a variety of crucial coping skills that can assist you in dealing with unwanted thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is one of these essential processes. Mindfulness has both mental and physical effects on a person that can be beneficial no matter what part of the journey a recovering addict is on — from detox to the rest of their life. 

Practicing mindfulness can bring peace of mind and is a solid tool to use against relapse. Mindful thinking allows you to accept difficult thoughts without acting on them or judging them. If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, you can contact DetoxNearMe.com right away for addiction treatment options near you that utilize mindfulness. Keep in mind that contacting us could save your life or the life of someone you love. To better understand the available options to help you get better, reach out to us today.