You’ve had it happen. You’re daydreaming or just not paying attention and then you jolt back into the present moment. Your mind was wandering—and you might not even be able to remember what you were thinking about. Or maybe you remember all too well if your mind has a tendency to return again and again to mistakes, disappointments, or past traumas. Or perhaps your mind likes to spin out ideas about the future and all the things that might go wrong.
Whether our mind wanders off to nowhere in particular or takes us back to places we’d rather not go, these internal trips keep us from focusing on the present—the experiences and relationships that are occurring right now.
For those battling a substance use disorder, the mind’s wanderings can be problematic because feelings of regret or excessive worrying or even blankness of mind can lead to a search for relief. That search for relief could lead to drugs or alcohol.
With that in mind (see what we did there?), let’s look at one way to make sure our mind is working for us rather than against us: the practice of mindfulness.
The Meaning of Mindfulness
Mindfulness is pretty easy to get your head around. Being mindful means you are paying attention to what is happening in the current moment—including thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and sensations. But as easy as it is to understand in concept, our daily experiences of distraction prove how tricky it can be to practice mindfulness consistently. Still, with practice and dedication, you can become more present and protect your sobriety at the same time.
East Meets West Meets Mindfulness
With roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, mindfulness got a foothold in the western world in the late 1970s. Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Center for Mindfulness and the Oasis Institute for Mindfulness-Based Professional Education and Training. He launched an eight-week program he dubbed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Since then, mindfulness has become more and more mainstream, in part due to online apps (some free, some subscription-based) that teach the techniques and encourage regular, ongoing practice.
Mindfulness can be a Pillar of Recovery Support
How does the practice of mindfulness prop up a person’s sobriety?
- Mindfulness can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, stress and more—thereby breaking the cycle of negativity that can lead to substance use.
- Mindfulness can help minimize intense cravings.
- Mindfulness supports clarity of thought and improved decision-making.
- Mindfulness can serve as an early warning system if someone is in danger of relapsing because it increases self-awareness.
- Mindfulness can also improve sleep, sharpen a person’s memory, and promote feelings of well-being in the body and the mind.
Mindfulness Is Good For Your Relationships, Too
Strong relationships are so very important for a person in recovery. Evidence suggests that mindfulness can help us forge stronger relationships with the people in our lives.
Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk and popular mindfulness trainer, puts it this way in The Headspace Guide to Meditation & Mindfulness:
“In becoming more aware of everything and everyone, you inevitably become more aware of others. You start to notice how sometimes you might unintentionally (or even intentionally) push their buttons, or notice what causes them to push yours. You start to listen to what they’re actually saying, rather than thinking about what you’d like them to say or what you’re going to say next. And when these things begin to happen you’ll notice that your relationships with others really start to change.”
We Have Mindfulness (and Much More) in Mind for Your Recovery
Mindfulness can be a powerful part of a personalized recovery plan. At The Ranch at Dove Tree, we understand this. We have the resources—and the expertise and compassion—to ensure your time in rehab is productive and provides a foundation you can build on. We will work with you to find wellness strategies—like mindfulness practice—that can lead to long-term sobriety.
