Meditation for Addiction Recovery

What could meditation have to do with your cycle of addiction? Chances are you’ve heard of meditation before, but you may think it’s only for spiritual or religious people or even maybe hippies. Engaging in this form of musing or introspection has proven to be extremely beneficial in preventing relapses. Let’s see how meditation for addiction recovery can add to your rehabilitation and wellness toolbox!

Table of contents

1. Why Use Meditation in Recovery?
2. The Benefits of Meditation
3. Important Considerations for Including Meditation in Addiction Recovery
4. Types of Meditation for Addiction Recovery

Why Use Meditation in Recovery?

As mentioned, meditation isn’t a religious or even a spiritual affair. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it’s simply a way to engage your brain in contemplation or reflection as a mental exercise. Basically, reverting back to brass tacks and taking a moment to pause. Concentrating on your breathing, your body and your feelings will help you focus with intent and purpose. You’ll reflect and ponder over your life in a different manner, while soothing your stress and anxiety and remaining more aware of what’s going on within you than usual.Awareness helps you to foresee triggers, better understand buried feelings and thoughts and, who knows, might even procure a natural high so many reports to have experienced. Getting a better handle on stressors and knowing the cause of your emotions both offer a higher success rate and combat insomnia and depression. 

The Benefits of Meditation

Numerous studies have confirmed the positive impact of meditation on mental and physical health. To give you a little bit of science, meditation activates the prefrontal cortex which liberates endorphins (that natural feel-good chemical) and regulates neurotransmitters, leaving you relaxed and buoyant with a better brace on the present moment.Also, by observing yourself in a different light, you gain confidence and self-understanding, which in turn regulates emotions, favours better moods and mental health, combats depression, helps with anxiety and stress management by decreasing cortisol levels and even assists with pain relief. 

Important Considerations for Including Meditation in Addiction Recovery

These mind and body benefits unfortunately do not happen overnight. For meditation to work, you need to commit to it on a regular basis and as a long-term exercise. You’ll slowly begin to understand how it works for you and will be able to tailor it to your recovery needs.The biggest advantage of meditation is the fact that it can be done at any time you desire and in any place you are comfortable in. It’s also completely free and you don’t need tools or anyone else unless you desire to work with a coach or a group.  

Types of Meditation for Addiction Recovery

Drugs and substance abuse most often cause you to feel disconnected with your body, which meditation counteracts. You can choose from autonomous meditation, guided meditation, and mindfulness meditation, or all the above. Discover the various types of existing introspection. 

Autonomous, Guided or Mindfulness Meditation

The terms autonomous meditation and guided meditation remain self-explanatory. The first means that you reflect on your own, without any help or guidance. The latter is meditation that is led by someone that reminds you to relax certain parts of your body, pay attention to what is happening here or there, think of certain aspects, etc. Some people prefer one or the other or alternate between both depending on how they feel. As beginners, many use apps, websites or videos to familiarize themselves with the process until they become comfortable enough to do so on their own.Alone or with guidance, mindfulness meditation practice constitutes the most common form of meditation. It consists of focusing only on the present moment, being here, in the instant. It’s the root of introspection, breathing, perceiving your body and its reactions and then integrating certain phrases or words, kind of like a mantra. 

CCFA Is Here to Support You

Struggling with addiction and ready to try meditation sessions for yourself? Integrate them into your daily life by finding a place that’s comfy to experience them for a first time. Start with 5 minutes of inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, ideally in the morning. See how you like this and maybe try some guided meditation tools to learn how to encompass all the health benefits from this practice.Throughout this process of meditation for addiction recovery, the CCFA remains available to support you at every stage. You can contact us at 1-855-939-1009 or browse our treatment programs on our website.