Recovery from addiction is often about much more than putting down the drink or the drug. It is also about attaining a new way of life via healthy and meaningful changes. This includes adding meditation and reflection to a daily routine of recovery.
A Focus on Meditation and Reflection
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Initially, it was solely a religious and/or spiritual practice, but it has since moved into the realm of addiction recovery.
Meditation offers a myriad of benefits. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.” Of course, meditation and reflection are particularly beneficial for people struggling with addiction.
According to the peer-reviewed journal, Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, “Standardized mindfulness training programs were originally focused on reducing emotional distress, and indeed, for psychiatric disorders and symptoms mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown through meta-analysis to be efficacious and comparable to other active, head-to-head treatments. More recently, MBIs like Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) have been tailored to directly to address the mechanisms that undergird addiction. A growing body of controlled research studies demonstrates that MBIs may produce significant clinical benefits for users of a panoply of addictive substances, including alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, and opioids.” Also, more professionals are turning to meditation.
The Benefits of Meditation and Reflection for Recovery
Meditation and reflection are no longer abstract thoughts when it comes to addiction recovery. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, “Researchers and clinicians have begun to explore mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for intervening in SUDs and relapse prevention. Mounting evidence supports the use of MBIs to address psychiatric disorders.” Also, “Evidence supporting the efficacy of MBIs as an intervention for SUDs and for relapse prevention is growing.”
Meditation and reflection are also critical components of 12-Step recovery. According to the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the Big Book), “When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid?” Also, “ [W]e must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse or morbid reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to others.” This is also a great practice to help individuals maintain long-term recovery, which is critical because relapse is more common than many people think.
The Benefits of Meditation and Reflection for Long-Term Recovery
Relapse rates in the U.S. remain high. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, “It has long been known that addictive disorders are chronic and relapsing in nature. Recent estimates from clinical treatment studies suggest that more than two-thirds of individuals relapse within weeks to months of initiating treatment.” Also, “For 1-year outcomes across alcohol, nicotine, weight, and illicit drug abuse, studies show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug use within 1 year of treatment.”
It is often not just enough to put down the drink or the drug. As is often said in many recovery circles, “It’s not about the drinking, it’s about the thinking.” That is why it is important to find new healthy lifestyle choices in recovery. One of these healthy choices is yoga and many yoga practices also involve meditation.
The benefits of yoga are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
The Importance of Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why we only offer individualized and comprehensive recovery plans that offer means methods and modalities that range from psychotherapy to meditation and reflection.
The keys to recovery are willingness, openness, and honesty. When these elements exist, the potential for long-term recovery goes up exponentially. These are elements that we help clients establish at Lantana Recovery.
According to the iconic poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” Recovery is possible. Hope is here. We can help.
Meditation and reflection can become important parts of one’s recovery routine. This includes meditating and reflecting in the morning and at night (to practice gratitude) and adding practices that utilize meditation (like yoga) to a recovery plan. Meditation and reflection can also offer many benefits that are physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the road to long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about the benefits of meditation and reflection, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
