Mindfulness is a mental practice that incorporates focusing awareness on the present moment, noticing thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and cultivating the ability to acknowledge them as passing events. Developing a practice of mindfulness is key to addiction recovery because it allows a person to tangibly separate themself from their addiction. A proven way to cultivate mindfulness in addiction recovery is to engage in a dialectical behavior therapy program.
If you or someone you care about might benefit from a dialectical behavior therapy program, mindfulness, and addiction recovery, Fort Behavioral Health can help. Our team provides comprehensive care and support that some people need to find peace of mind. Learn more from our team today by calling 844.332.1807 or filling out our online form.
Practicing Mindfulness for Addiction Recovery
Mindfulness can be a powerful component of addiction recovery. To be successful in recovery, it is vital to practice consistently. However, developing a consistent mental practice can be challenging, especially at first. A professionally administered dialectical behavior therapy program can provide much-needed guidance and support when beginning a journey of mindful addiction recovery.
Until a person can begin to objectively notice thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations, they are controlled by them and unable to recognize the self as separate from these transient experiences. Once a person begins to cultivate the ability to calmly observe the present moment, they can begin to break free from the chains of impulse and pain that pass through the body and mind.
Addiction often results from significant trauma. Mindfulness is a simple practice, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Creating a habit of calm observance within the self is deep and difficult work, but that is also what makes it so powerful and the effects lasting. The healing effects of mindfulness resonate at the root of addiction-perpetuating trauma. Since it’s a deep healing practice, the cultivation of mindfulness takes time and dedication. This is why it is so important to find a supportive community and professional guidance when beginning the journey of mindfulness for addiction recovery.
Mindfulness for Relapse Prevention
One of the most challenging aspects of addiction recovery is avoiding and coping with the potential relapse. Practicing mindfulness for relapse prevention can be especially useful because it strengthens the ability to pause in a moment of decision-making and acknowledge overwhelming feelings as temporary phenomena. This ability allows for more personal control in decision-making.
Dialectical behavior therapy works systematically to support the acquisition of mindfulness for relapse prevention as well as additional core skills.
The four skills of dialectical behavior therapy are:
- Mindfulness-gaining awareness of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and observing the self without judgment
- Emotional regulation-recognizing unproductive emotions and cultivating positive emotions instead
- Distress tolerance-building confidence and resilience by coping with pain and challenging situations in a healthy way
- Interpersonal effectiveness-creating and maintaining healthy relationships through the establishment of boundaries and learning how to manage conflict
Learning and practicing these skills in combination with other aspects of dialectical behavior therapy administered by a trained professional are necessary aspects of mindful addiction recovery. It is also important to remember that becoming involved in a mindful and supportive community can make all the difference when it comes to mindfulness and relapse prevention.
Explore Mindfulness for Addiction Recovery at Fort Behavioral Health Today
The mindful, sober, and supportive community at Fort Behavioral Health is a perfect place to begin the journey of mindful addiction recovery. Fort Behavioral Health is a safe and welcoming center for addiction treatment in Texas. Our team specializes in many addiction treatments, including dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness for addiction recovery. At Fort Behavioral Health, our master-level clinicians provide personalized treatment plans to support a wide array of addiction recovery needs.
Contact us by completing our online form or calling 844.332.1807 and begin your journey to mindfulness today.
