Mindfulness Meditation in Recovery

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Mindfulness meditation involves consciously paying attention to the present moment, while being aware of any thoughts and feelings that may come up. With practice, meditation guides us to allow the intrusions of unwanted thoughts to come and go without distracting us from mental clarity.

The Benefits of Meditation

Practicing mindfulness meditation has been shown to offer multiple benefits to women and men recovering from addiction. For example, in early recovery, we often encounter uncontrollable surges of emotions. Meditating is a tool which can allow us to better deal with these sensitive highs and lows. It can also teach those of us in early recovery that drug and alcohol cravings may arise, but through conscious awareness, we can acknowledge the thoughts without succumbing to them.

Scientific research has provided evidence that meditation is an effective tool in recovery. Addicts recovering from substance abuse disorders benefited from practicing mind-body mindfulness, according to a study about the use of alternative therapies for drug addictions. The study, published in The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, found that meditation was one of the top three most effective alternative therapies available.

When practiced as part of an aftercare program, clinical researchers also found evidence that mindfulness meditation helps prevent drug relapses in people recovering from substance abuse disorders, as published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Meditation at Westminster House

We know the benefits of meditation in recovery, and we advocate a holistic approach to the treatment of addictions. Therefore, Westminster House has implemented a meditation program to teach our clients meditation practices, and the value of mindfulness. Our meditation guru and Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Moe, explains that: “Practicing meditation allows us, in recovery, to maintain that beautiful serenity with our Higher Power, and attain balance of our body, minds, and soul.”

If you need any more reasons to try meditation, Live and Dare lists 76 reasons to meditate; as they say, “Master your mind and master your life!”