Meditation has been practiced for centuries as a way to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. As part of a holistic approach, a meditation therapy program can support clients in recovery. Meditation is included in addiction treatment plans due to its established benefits that help clients reach and maintain sobriety.
Almost any client can practice meditation for addiction recovery. Due to its simplicity and powerful benefits, meditation has grown in popularity in substance use circles as an effective form of therapy. If you or someone you know could benefit from addiction treatment with meditation, call BlueCrest Recovery at 888.292.9652.
Types of Meditation for Addiction Recovery
Meditation involves sitting comfortably in a quiet space and breathing deeply and slowly. As the meditator breathes, they may chant a mantra or focus word to increase their connection and self-awareness.
This practice has been shown to reduce feelings associated with anxiety and depression. It also soothes emotional triggers and can benefit those in therapy in additional ways.
While dozens of types of meditation for addiction recovery exist, these four offer significant benefits:
- Guided meditation – Encourages clients to visualize soothing mental images as an instructor facilitates the session
- Mindfulness meditation – Increases concentration and awareness and is the most popular practice
- Transcendental meditation – Teaches effortlessness to reduce stress
- Zen meditation – Encourages non-reactiveness while reinforcing being present in the moment and clearing the past
The benefits of meditation for addiction vary between individuals, but all types can have a general overall positive effect on clients who practice it.
3 Benefits of Meditation for Addiction
While the various types of meditation offer slightly different benefits, people who meditate can gain numerous additional advantages, no matter which type they practice. Three of these benefits are especially helpful for clients in addiction recovery.
1. Improved Mood
Meditation can boost a client’s overall mood due to its many smaller benefits:
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Reduced stress levels
- Better emotional stability
- Increased ability to concentrate
- Less reactivity to emotional triggers and stressors
Much of the improvement in mood can be attributed to an increase in dopamine, which is called a “feel-good hormone.” The brain releases dopamine during meditation, and this effect can also improve a person’s sleep quality and reduce insomnia.
2. Better Chance of Maintaining Sobriety
Thanks to the benefits of meditation, clients in addiction treatment programs can have higher recovery success rates. Meditation also can reduce withdrawal symptoms, including withdrawal-related depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Other benefits that help clients on their journeys to recovery are:
- Reduced PTSD and ADHD symptoms
- Reduced post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) symptoms
- Increased focus
- Improved motor control
- Reduced cortisol
As these changes evolve with meditation practice, clients experience an increase in self-efficacy. Self-efficacy, a person’s belief in their own ability to succeed, is critical in addiction treatment.
3. Improved Brain Functions
Meditation can help clients regain control over their impulses. The part of the brain that regulates thinking and planning is stimulated as clients benefit from a reduced risk of relapse. In addition, the part of the brain that governs motivation is activated through meditation, and the amygdala, which reduces fear, is stimulated.
These improved brain functions, along with the other benefits of meditation, help clients in addiction rehab combat previously undiscovered motivations for substance use, such as anxiety, the need to fill a void, and compulsive thoughts about worst-case scenarios.
Meditation for Addiction Recovery at BlueCrest Recovery
Don’t wait any longer to start on your path to addiction recovery. BlueCrest Recovery offers personalized treatment plans, superior support, and the tools you need to rediscover a better, healthier life. To learn more, reach out to BlueCrest Recovery today at 888.292.9652.
