In top rehabilitation centers across the globe, mindfulness-based activities (such as yoga, meditation and Tai-Chi) are all the rage. Far from being a mere fad, however, the benefits of mindfulness have been established in various scientific studies, which show that ‘being in the here and now’ can significantly lower levels of stress hormone, cortisol, which is such an important part of keeping to the right track during addiction recovery.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness consists of simply being aware of the present, accepting it fully. It involves being more aware of daily activities (such as eating, showering or cleaning our home), and also forms an important part of activities such as meditation and yoga, during which we purposely aim to remain in the present moment, focusing on our breathing and welcoming any thoughts which visit our mind, without trying to suppress them, and without letting worries sink us into a spiral of negativity. When we are not mindful, the consequences are plentiful and include overeating (because we are not aware of how much and what type of food we are actually consuming), listening to someone without paying attention to what they are saying, having accidents because of carelessness or distracting ourselves by working too many hours or indulging in fast foods, drugs, alcohol, etc.
Research on Mindfulness
A 2014 review of scientific literature on the efficiency of mindfulness-based interventions for substance abuse disorders notes that mindfulness leads to a change in brain structure and activation, enabling recovering addicts to enjoy a lower relapse rate. The report, published in Substance Use & Misuse, states that mindfulness can reduce the consumption of various drugs and alcohol. Research undertaken by scientists at the University of Washington has also shown that mindfulness-based relapse prevention treatment is a feasible and effective approach for people to stay off drugs after they have completed intensive treatment for substance use disorders.
Mindfulness: Changing Lives
Mindfulness-based interventions for recovery from drug addiction can work particularly well for persons who do not respond well to standard treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); at any rate, even when patients are making good progress, mindfulness is a tool that can benefit them for the rest of their lives, encouraging them to live the moment and make positive changes, instead of letting guilt and regret hijack their state of mind.