What is mindfulness and how can it help people in recovery from addiction?

Drug and alcohol addictions rob you of your physical health and also destroy the mind. Consumed by your thoughts to deal with pain in a destructive and life-threatening way, it’s easy to forget who you are when overwhelmed with addiction. It’s important in recovery to form healthy habits that will help renew both your mind and body.

Being mindful can mean many different things depending on who you ask. Some people use meditation to quiet and calm their worried mind. Others find a certain kind of peace in exercise and conditioning their bodies. Or it may do you good to try something artistic in the form of painting, photography, music, cooking, journaling, filmmaking, or other creative endeavors. No matter your path to mindfulness, the ultimate goal is to find clarity and make healthy choices to replace destructive patterns.

We reached out to some of our friends and professionals, including a therapist, people in recovery and singer/songwriter, to ask them about their experience with mindfulness.

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“Around The Turn” is a new informational documentary digital series from Addiction Campuses. The series was created by Emmy nominated producers Erin Dineen, Cameron McCasland, and Josh Ickes for Addiction Campuses in Nashville, Tennessee.

The multi-episode series focuses on different aspects of drug addiction, recovery and sobriety with facts from experts in the field and gripping personal stories from the people who have lived through it.

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Check out previous episodes of “Around The Turn” on our YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFDMvqGogTHnV0pEWXd8zN3eX19DomB9f

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, help is available 24/7 at 888-512-3326 or online at http://www.addictioncampuses.com

You can also connect with Addiction Campuses on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/addictioncampuses

Addiction Campuses’ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/addictioncampus
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This video investigates the potential for mindfulness in treating substance addictions. It discusses what mindfulness is, how addiction works and presents research showing how mindfulness-based treatments have been effective in treating substance-based addictions (particularly cigarette addiction). It then provides information on how you can practice mindfulness on your own.

This video was made by McMaster Demystifying Medicine students Rajat Bhargava, Myfannwy Pope, Britney Baiden and Harleen Kaur Padwal.

Copyright McMaster University 2018

References:

Brewer, J. A., Mallik, S., Babuscio, T. A., Nich, C., Johnson, H. E., Deleone, C. M., … & Carroll, K. M. (2011). Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: results from a randomized controlled trial. Drug and alcohol dependence, 119(1-2), 72-80.

Brewer, J. A., Worhunsky, P. D., Gray, J. R., Tang, Y. Y., Weber, J., & Kober, H. (2011). Meditation experience is associated withdifferences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(50), 20254-20259.

Goldberg, S. B., Tucker, R. P., Greene, P. A., Davidson, R. J., Wampold, B. E., Kearney, D. J., & Simpson, T. L. (2017). Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review.

Leech, R., & Sharp, D. J. (2013). The role of the posterior cingulate cortex in cognition and disease. Brain, 137(1), 12-32.

Witkiewitz, K., Bowen, S., Harrop, E. N., Douglas, H., Enkema, M., & Sedgwick, C. (2014). Mindfulness-based treatment to prevent addictive behavior relapse: theoretical models and hypothesized mechanisms of change. Substance use &misuse, 49(5), 513-524.

Witkiewitz, K., Marlatt, G. A., & Walker, D. (2005). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for alcohol and substance use disorders. Journal of cognitive psychotherapy, 19(3), 211.

Young, S. N. (2011). Biologic effects of mindfulness meditation: growing insights into neurobiologic aspects of the prevention of depression. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience: JPN, 36(2), 75.
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If strong cravings arise, a mindfulness tool can bring us back into the present moment & help us feel grounded.

Here’s how it works:

You Cultivate Self-awareness. You begin to understand the hidden reasons for perpetual cravings and overall substance use.

You Develop Self-efficacy. You naturally enhance the belief in the ability to succeed & feel powerful against addictive cravings.

You learn Self-actualization. Psychologists describe self-actualization as maximizing human potential. You will see that in simply one breath, one choice away.

Through Mindfulness, we reclaim our lives by responding rather than reacting to our thoughts & emotions.

Healing addiction becomes a process of healing our negative thought patterns while we embrace our innate greatness. If you’re ready to start a mindfulness practice to beat addiction, here you can seek. Contact Cadabam’s Anunitha at 9611194949.

#Overcome #Addiction #AnunithaDeaddictionCenter

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