“Your mind is a powerful thing. When you filter it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change.”
-Buddha
Meditation has become a common practice in the United States, but it wasn’t always that way. Eastern cultures have embraced this type of holistic practice for thousands of years. Now we are finally discovering the immense benefits that can derive from meditation.
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is a practice that involves tuning into the present moment and simply being. It is about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings – you’re simply learning how to observe them without fear or judgment. When we meditate, we get to know our pain, improve our focus, form stronger connections, and learn to be kinder to ourselves.
Meditation typically involves a series of deep breathing and relaxation techniques to help you learn how to pay attention to your breath as it goes in and out, and to notice when your mind starts wandering from this task. Ultimately, meditation teaches you how to return to – and remain in – the present moment.
The Many Benefits of Meditation
Far too often, we find ourselves stressed and overwhelmed by our busy calendars, pressures at home and at work, and any negative reactions we receive. Those who struggle with mental illness or addiction may find it even harder to push past the cynicism to pursue recovery – especially with the stigma and shame that often surrounds them.
If you take some time each day to practice meditation and put it to good use, you’ll find that meditation can work in some truly magnificent ways:
- Meditation can lower your blood pressure and reduce your stress levels.
- Studies have shown that meditation can help ease symptoms of mental illness and even change the chemical makeup of the brain altogether.
- By practicing meditation, you become more apt to focus and see things clearly.
- Meditation can aid in recovery as it becomes part of your structure and routine.
- Medication can help you feel less reactive to situations that are upsetting.
Meditation and Recovery
In a way, meditation and addiction are opposites. Meditation is checking in with the here and now, while addiction is checking out.
By giving people more control over their emotions and deeper insight into themselves, meditation can be a powerful tool for addicts in recovery. Meditation helps them see the bigger picture – to step back and then work through their emotions in a way that is more productive and conducive to recovery.
If you are ready to seek help, speak with a professional from Alta Loma today.
At Alta Loma, we believe in the ability of our residents to tap into their inner strength to make a change. Our goal is to provide a supportive, caring environment that empowers them to succeed. We offer transformational services for residents with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders that help them achieve sustainable, long-term recovery. To learn more, call us today at (866) 457-3843.
