Learning to become more mindful by directing your focus inward can benefit your mental health in numerous ways. If you’ve never meditated before, addiction recovery is an excellent opportunity to start this time-honored practice. There are many ways to meditate and get in touch with yourself. Here are our favorite meditation tips and the top five benefits of meditation for alcoholism.
Best Meditation Tips for Beginners
- When you’re starting a new habit, consistency is the secret to making it stick. Try to practice at the same time and in the same spot every day.
- Don’t get frustrated or try to force it if meditation doesn’t come naturally to you. When you find your mind wandering, gently bring your attention back to your breath.
- Intentionally create a space for meditating. Ensure it is quiet, private and comfortable. You might want to decorate it with accessories like pillows, candles or an incense burner.
- If you have trouble focusing, try switching to a different meditation style. For example, a guided meditation or soothing music could set the stage and put you in the right mindset.
1. Improved Patience and Emotional Well-Being
Mindfulness meditation teaches you to live in the moment, which goes hand in hand with recovery’s “one-day-at-a-time” approach. Since mastering the art of meditation requires commitment and focus, it will help you stay calm in stressful situations. Meditating will also give you an outlet for recognizing and processing complex emotions like guilt, anger or fear.
2. Enhanced Self-Confidence
Listening to your inner thoughts can give you a new perspective on yourself and your recovery journey. In many cases, substance abuse disorders arise out of feelings of inadequacy or a wish to fulfill an area of your life that seems lacking. Meditation for alcoholism can hone your ability to understand your attachment to alcohol so you can let it go and move forward with your new, healthy life.
3. Better Self-Compassion
In recovery, you may discover your relationship with yourself is fragile. If you’re struggling with shame or worthlessness, these feelings will color your outlook on life. Through meditation, you can learn to adopt a non-judgmental attitude toward yourself, so you can become more accepting of any perceived flaws or shortcomings.
4. Supplements 12-Step Programming
Meditation can build upon what you learn in a 12-step recovery curriculum. For example, many of the 12 steps focus on improving your accountability to yourself and others. The 12 steps also heavily emphasize embracing spirituality and surrendering to a power higher than yourself – which could be the inner strength and wisdom you discover by becoming more mindful.
5. Reduced Depression and Anxiety Symptoms
Meditation is an excellent, drug-free way to manage your mental health. If you have a dual diagnosis of a substance use disorder and a mental illness, routinely practicing meditation can help relieve symptoms of issues such as anxiety and depression. In purposely quieting your mind, you can decrease negativity and stop reliving the past or stressing out about the future.
Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment
At Vista Taos Renewal Center, we offer accredited addiction recovery programming for adult men and women in the spectacular setting of Taos, New Mexico. Our holistic treatment process addresses the physical wellness aspects of rehab alongside the emotional and spiritual elements that are essential to whole-person healing. To learn more about what we offer, please reach out to us today.
