Benefits of Meditation in Addiction Recovery

When dealing with drug addiction, many people overlook the importance of improving mental health. As much as improving physical health is important, taking steps to better mental health should also be a priority. One of the techniques to improve mental health is meditation.

Meditation is a simple treatment, but its impact is huge. Since addiction is considered a chronic disorder with biological and psychological factors, its connection to mental health cannot be denied. If you want to know how meditation can help, we have prepared a list of benefits as well as the different types of meditation for addiction recovery.

What is Meditation?

Meditation is an activity that involves both the mind and the body. One of the main aims of meditation is to promote physical relaxation and calmness. Moreover, meditation helps people cope with some illnesses, improve psychological balance, and enhance overall well-being.

Meditation has many types. Its four common elements are the following:

• Comfortable Posture – Sitting, walking, or lying down–any other position will do as long as you feel comfortable with it.
• Location – Whether you are in your bedroom, in your living room, or any other quiet place, you will be able to meditate. A good location for meditation is one with no distractions.
• Focus – Being able to focus is also an essential part of meditation that must never be neglected. It is difficult to meditate properly without focus.
• Open Attitude – Distractions will sometimes be inevitable, so having an open attitude that will let those things come and go is also an essential element of meditation.

Different Types of Meditation for Addiction Recovery

You might be asking, “Can meditation help with addiction recovery?” The answer is definitely yes. In fact, numerous types of meditation can be used to help people in addiction recovery.

The recovery center and its staff can help people identify the most suitable types of meditation for their recovery. Here are some of the most commonly used:

• Mindful Meditation – This type involves examining thoughts and situations in life without assessing if they are bad, good, wrong, or right. During mindful meditation, deep and rhythmical breathing is done.
• Transcendental Meditation – This type of meditation usually involves repeating a mantra or a phrase for a while until people achieve mindfulness. The mantra used for transcendental meditation should help the mind to settle down.
• Spiritual Meditation – Spiritual meditation focuses on silence. People use this type of meditation to find connections with divine entities. Numerous religions that use this type of meditation are Hinduism, Christianity, and many more.
• Mantra Meditation – Mantra meditation, like transcendental meditation, involves repeatedly uttering a phrase or a mantra. The aim of this type of meditation is for people to focus on the environment surrounding them.
• Focused Meditation – In focus meditation, people need to select one from the five senses and make it a focal point of their meditation. It is sometimes inevitable to be distracted, but it is essential to bring the focus back on the chosen sense.
• Movement Meditation – One type of meditation that involves movement is this one, and you can choose any movement, such as walking, gardening, and other gentle movements. This type is recommended for people who find serenity in action while letting their minds wander. As long as you are focused, meditation will take place.

Benefits of Meditation

There are many benefits of meditation in addiction recovery. Since it is a mental exercise, it increases awareness and focus. Moreover, it also helps people fight off the triggers that cause relapse. There are many ways in which meditation can help. Here are some of them:

For Mental Health

People who have undergone meditation reported that they have lower stress levels, reduced anxiety, enhanced mood, and improved relaxation. Moreover, meditation has been proven to help treat and manage different mental illnesses.

People who experience anxiety and depression sometimes resort to substance abuse. With meditation therapy for depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, people will be able to cope with triggers.

For Self-Confidence and Self-Control

Controlling breathing takes a lot of self-control. With meditation, people in addiction recovery will be able to learn and eventually control themselves. Self-control can be improved gradually, and knowing that meditation works and helps is already enough to consider it a part of addiction treatments.

With meditation, people can learn to let go of their negative thoughts and tackle trauma. Sooner or later, this can help people focus on the things that really matter. Meditating can help people in addiction recovery focus on their strengths rather than focusing on their mistakes. By meditating, self-confidence can be improved.

For Physical Health

Substance abuse can cause numerous health complications physically. With meditation, people in addiction recovery will be able to start their physical healing process. Some benefits of meditation for physical health are improved heart health and lower blood pressure.

If someone you know, whether a loved one or a friend, needs help with addiction recovery, Haven House Recovery Center is open for them! We focus on Christ-based healing, but we respect other people’s beliefs and values. Our main goal is to help people who suffer from addiction find their own path to recovery. You can contact us or visit our recovery center near Nashville if you have inquiries or questions.