Mindfulness Addiction Cure?

A mindfulness addiction cure would be something that would be welcome by many people. There is a lot of interest in the possibility of using mediation as a means to combating substance abuse. Alcohol and drug abuse is recognized as contributing to a whole host of personal and societal problems. In this article I will discuss my own experience of using mindfulness as an addict and in recovery.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that requires just observing the body and mind as if you were an outsider looking in. The aim is to not got caught up in the action, but instead just observe what is going on impartially. There is no need to be in a lotus position when trying to be mindful; in fact it is possible to do it while just going about your daily business. There are many benefits associated with mindfulness including stress reduction and you will also hear talk of a mindfulness addiction cure.

My Experience with Mindfulness as an Addict

During my twenty year alcohol addiction I was desperate for any solution to my problem. Meditation was something that I came in contact with during my teens so it seemed natural that later I should use it as a way to treat my drink problem. I did find that using this technique could really help me battle against cravings and on quite a few occasions it helped me stop for at least a while. Just observing the cravings for drink without reacting to them was often enough to help me battle them - but not always. The problem with using mindfulness as a way to treat active addiction is that you need a mind that is not clouded with alcohol and drug abuse to get the most benefit. I would say that mindfulness can be a invaluable tool for those wanting to escape addiction but may not be enough by itself to help people stop.

My Experience with Mindfulness in Recovery

It has been in recovery from addiction that mindfulness really proved to be effective in my life. Getting sober means dealing with new stresses and this technique is great for this. It has made my life a lot more manageable and there has been no situation that I have come across in recovery that would not have benefited with mindfulness - that is not to say that I always use this tool. I firmly believe that mindfulness is a great way to prevent relapse.

Mindfulness Addiction Cure?

I'm not sure if I would agree 100% with the claim of a mindfulness addiction cure, but it certainly seems plausible enough. What I am certain of is that mindfulness has really helped me in the past and has made life in recovery a lot easier.