The ancient practice of meditation is thought to have originated in India several thousand years ago. According to historians, the term “meditate” was introduced around the 12th century AD, coming from the Latin word meditatum, which means “to ponder.”
Meditation has shown to be effective in helping people manage a wide variety of both psychological and physical conditions including stress relief, sleeping disorders, pain relief, depression and anxiety. Additionally, there is evidence that long-term meditation practices can actually restructure the brain. Studies have shown results including decreased grey matter in the amygdala, which plays a role in anxiety and stress; slowed or reversed age-related changes in the brain; and increased gyrification, or the forming of folds on the cerebral cortex, which speeds up information processing, decision-making, and memory formation.
However, meditation has proved to be an invaluable tool in another field – addiction recovery. Among the many benefits of meditation, there is evidence that it can aid the relief of withdrawal, combat triggers and help manage cravings. Meditation can be a particularly useful aid in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by reinforcing the focus on one’s behaviour similar to a mindful practice. While it does not replace an addiction treatment program with professional therapy and support, meditation can be an extremely valuable holistic tool.
Meditation for withdrawal
Meditation assists us in grounding and calming the nervous system, which can prove extremely effective in cases of withdrawal-related symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and depression. Because meditation increases awareness of thought, it can help those experiencing withdrawal to deal with both emotional and physical discomfort.
Meditation for triggers
When triggers occur, meditation gives us the ability to view emotions and urges as passive observers. The patience and perspective this provides, allows us to ride out the situation without acting on immediate desires or impulses, which is one of the main factors in avoiding relapse.
Meditation for cravings
The practise of meditation teaches us to control our thoughts, thereby providing a tool to battle cravings when they strike. Because meditation helps us to become comfortable with the uncomfortable, we can learn to control cravings instead of cravings controlling us – letting them run their course instead of overwhelming us.
Recovery852 provides personal tailor-made treatment programmes to those affected by substance misuse. These include relapse prevention, aftercare programmes, recovery coaching, and recovery wellness retreats. With an emphasis on mindfulness, Recovery852 goes beyond the confines of the session to bring long-lasting recovery to the many suffering from addiction and other mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Contact us today.