The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is an essential skill set to maintain a positive and healthy sober lifestyle. Developing the ability to be in the moment and a mindful state of mind will always serve you well. Stress and difficulties will not disappear because you are sober. Mindfulness and awareness benefit both the mind and body. In treatment, individual and group therapy help learn how to process emotions and feelings. In other words, mindfulness skills allow the addict to utilize these skills to cope with newfound confidence and pride.

What is Mindfulness in Addiction Recovery?

Mindfulness is a new holistic therapy method that has proven successful in addiction recovery. The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is developing a technique emphasizing the present moment. Taking note of feelings, thoughts, and emotions, the participant leaves all judgment behind to take a neutral stance.

Mindfulness only happens after some time. Moreover, practice and patience must be present to develop mindfulness. When a mindfulness state of mind exists, emotion regulation is possible. Mindfulness eliminates the habit of jumping to negative conclusions at the onset of stress or emotional situations. The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery allows for regulation of mind control.

The Role of Mindfulness

Let’s face it, addiction is stressful. Harmful coping mechanisms cause addiction because of a lack of a healthy way to cope with stress. The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is to use this tool whenever an attitude adjustment is needed. For example, making painful past discoveries, learning to process difficult emotions, and smoothly processing conflicts with mindfulness practice.

Addiction recovery is about facing the pain and hurts felt throughout life. Instead of burying the hurt, mindfulness practice can help examine feelings without judgments. Being in a peaceful, nonjudgmental state of mind, you can remind yourself that the pain is in the past. The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is the ability to move past the old pain and hurt.

Understanding the presence of emotions and thoughts and being able to work through them is the foundation for a sober living lifestyle. Mindfulness practice relaxes the mind and body. Breathwork, in combination with mindfulness, can produce solace in times of difficulty. There is resistance by some concerning mindfulness and its effectiveness. The role of mindfulness in recovery changes those views.

The Three Components of Mindfulness in Addiction Recovery

In addiction recovery, negative thoughts are pervasive. An addict does not understand how to control their thinking. Jumping to negative conclusions is a habit for an addict. Some believe that to break a habit, you must replace it with a new one. The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is to stop negative thoughts and replace them with a new state of mind.

There are three components of successfully achieving mindfulness. Moreover, one must understand the three aspects of mindfulness that will allow one to benefit the most from the practice.

Intentional

A person must be present in the moment to achieve mindfulness. After al, mindfulness does not occur on its own. Mindfulness is a deliberate thought process. The purpose is to acknowledge thoughts, emotions, and feelings in the present moment without judgment. Intentional awareness allows for recategorizing thoughts by taking control. You can then reframe your thoughts and feelings to process them positively. Acquiring new tools is the role of mindfulness in addiction recovery.

Intention includes the realization that life is not lived in the past or in the future. Rather, life is lived in the present moment. Mindfulness is your new truth. Therefore, the role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is the discovery that they should recognize all thoughts in the present moment. A patient can achieve the intentionality of mindfulness by learning techniques they can implement themselves or receive guidance from a therapist.

Acceptance

A person must accept their feelings and not try to bury them or deny them. Upon hearing these concepts for the first time, many in recovery will think of them asĀ  New Age mumbo-jumbo. However, after learning the concepts and beginning to practice, the role of mindfulness in addiction recovery becomes clearer. Most people are unaware of where their thoughts originate. The acceptance component tells us our thoughts are born in the unconscious, and only later we become aware of them.

At that moment, they become a part of our present moment of existence, and once that takes place, the simple fact is that we cannot change them, no matter how much they hurt us. Through mindfulness, recovering patients can learn to accept these emotions and feelings. Acknowledging they exist, they can be in the present moment to be accepted and not buried. In short, the role of mindfulness in addiction recovery can bring a sense of peace to those willing to practice.

Nonjudgmental

Mindfulness will not work if the patient judges and criticizes themselves during the practice. The mind must be in a state of neutrality and nonjudgment. Intentionality and acceptance occur, but you cannot receive the full benefit of mindfulness if judgment exists. Still, the role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is to resolve negative and positive thoughts in the present moment. This practice brings a sense of honesty to the self.

The Benefits of Mindfulness in Recovery

The role of mindfulness in addiction recovery is to prepare and teach yourself to maintain a solid mental and emotional state for the long term. A sincere approach to mindfulness training can be the tool to achieve control of yourself. After all, mindfulness allows a person to be completely aware of their feelings. As a result, they can note their feelings and gain control before acting out negatively.

In conclusion, the benefits of mindfulness can help a person to:

  • Think carefully before acting out
  • Be aware of emotions, feelings, and sensations
  • Control dangerous emotions like anger and panic

Begin Your Recovery Using Mindfulness in Tennessee

Experience the holistic methods found to be successful in addiction recovery with Detox West. Our staff encourages the use of mindfulness as a tool in treatment. We offer traditional therapies as well, but have found that new therapies help encourage long-term sobriety. Begin your sober journey with us at Detox West. Contact us today to schedule an assessment with our professionals.