How Meditation Works in Holistic Rehab

Although addiction is a physical illness, it also has a significant effect on a person’s emotional and psychological health. Meditation has been practiced in Eastern cultures for thousands of years and in recent decades it has increasingly been introduced as a component of holistic addiction treatment and also holistic detox centers. Substance abuse has a powerful, and highly negative, the effect on the brain’s chemistry which can be challenging to treat with conventional medicine. Meditation has extensive healing effects making it a powerful tool in holistic rehab centers, providing recovering addicts with vital tools to prevent relapse after treatment.

The Mindfulness of Meditation

People who have been abusing substances often suffer the consequences of consistently numbing their emotions. Negative thought processes and feelings often emerge when someone is either using or when their bodies crave drugs or alcohol. Silencing this negative dialogue is essential in order to heal the mind, body and spirit and meditation allows people to access a state of complete natural balance to help them achieve and maintain sobriety.

In holistic drug rehab centers, meditation is used as a gentle way of encouraging patients to clear their minds. Initially, meditation sessions are likely to be guided so that patients are able to learn the processes involved in achieving a fully relaxed state of mind. Focusing on body sensations, thoughts and deep breathing allow individuals to experience emotions from a different perspective and in a non-threatening way.

Due to the fact that addiction is a relapsing illness, individuals are very likely to continue to face triggers for substance use even after completing a program at a holistic drug rehab center. Meditation is a tool that can be used to help people gain more self-awareness so that they can accept negative thoughts and urges without feeling guilty or ashamed. Ultimately, meditation is a coping mechanism that encourages individuals to respond in healthier ways to negative situations and circumstances.

Meditation Provides a Spiritual Connection

Many people consider meditation to be a deeply spiritual practice although it is also a very person and self-directed activity. Even the most established addiction recovery programs such as 12-Step encourage spiritual growth as an essential element of its programs and for those without any religious affiliation, meditation is very similar in nature to prayer.

Most importantly, meditation improves self-awareness which means patients are able to understand and become more accountable for their behavior. The process of sitting in silence while focusing on deep breathing, isolating each body part in turn for complete relaxation promotes a better spiritual connection that often lifts the veil on the issues underlying addiction. Self-exploration is an important component of a holistic rehab center program that is considered vital if long-term recovery is to be achieved.

Meditation is ultimately an effective catalyst for change in individuals who need to address addictive behavior in rehab. Not only does the practice put people in touch with a deeper side of themselves but it also enables them to take on a much more positive approach to life that is very beneficial in recovery.

Holistic Drug Rehab Centers offer the Benefits of Relaxation

Aside from the emotional and spiritual benefits of meditation, there are also physical advantages including the following:

• Reduced feelings of anxiety and depression
• Improved concentration
• Enhanced mental acuity
• Increased blood flow and energy levels
• An overall sense of well-being
• Improved responses to tension and stress

Many people initially use drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with stressful situations and meditation can help to reduce the negative thoughts and feelings that lead to substance abuse. The practice is also beneficial in preventing relapse by providing recovering addicts with a healthier way of reacting to negativity. Research shows that meditation also slows the release of stress-inducing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline while boosting production of serotonin and endorphins to give a natural “high” sensation.

Learning how to meditate at a holistic recovery center can bring enormous relief to people recovering from addiction and promotes more relaxed breathing that induces a sense of calmness they may not otherwise be able to access. The fact that meditation is a completely natural practice is also something a person who is in the process of overcoming addiction to drugs or alcohol often finds very beneficial. Learning how to achieve the pleasurable sensations of well-being without inducing them with substances can be a key factor in maintaining long-term recovery.

How Meditation Works in Holistic Rehab Centers

One of the main reasons meditation is considered to be a successful tool in holistic drug rehab centers is because it costs absolutely nothing. Once patients have been guided to achieve a meditative state by a licensed practitioner, they will soon be able to meditate alone and use the technique whenever they feel they need to reduce cravings and protect their sobriety. It is possible to meditate at any time of day and anywhere that suits, making the practice an effective and proactive tool for protection against the daily stressors and triggers for substance use recovering addicts inevitably face.

About Shannon Clark

Shannon holds a degree in Exercise Science and is a certified personal trainer and fitness writer with over 10 years of industry experience.