When a person enters recovery from addiction, they are usually going through a lot of changes. Once your body detoxifies from drugs, your mind, spirit, and body must adjust as well. Just as you didn’t become addicted overnight, coming back to day-to-day life can be a challenge. Emotions may feel new, and life may feel overwhelming. Being overwhelmed with these new feelings is one reason many people incorporate mindfulness as a tool for their recovery program.
Who Needs Mindfulness?
If you experience feelings of anger, stress, mood swings or anxiety and you’re looking for new ways to calm your mind down; mindfulness can help. Mindfulness is a way of meditating or otherwise “slowing down” and learning to be in the moment. There are many different methods of mindfulness available to try if you look on Google or search Youtube.
Getting Started
Breathing exercises are a good way to start with using mindfulness. You should sit upright if you can. Otherwise, you can do breathing exercises almost anywhere you happen to be. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you as you slowly breathe in and out. Once you’re comfortable, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Do this, counting each breath, and count backward from ten. Continue to listen to the world around you. Sit and breathe quietly. Keep your eyes closed until you feel like opening them.
You might also enjoy mindful walking. Mindful walking is a type of walks that engages all of the senses, from smell, sight, sound and even touches. Go for a walk outside in your neighborhood. Pay attention to the birds and the sounds of things like airplanes or kids playing. Acknowledge each sound without focusing on anything specific. Look around and see if you can catch any birds or squirrels in action. Acknowledge any smells you come across. During the walk, even awaken the tactile by choosing a rock or stone that you feel attracts you.
Being mindful can help you “get out of your head” and stay present, even when you’re having a bad time. It’s important to be able to do this as a part of self-care. Mindfulness can help with anxiety and stress.
Getting Help
Do you or someone you love have a substance use problem? Get the help you need in a compassionate, safe environment. Learn more about your treatment options by calling us at 1-800-970-8774.