Once relegated to eastern traditions, meditation is mainstream today and can be a powerful tool in your recovery toolbox. You might have practiced some form of meditation or mindfulness, but you might not have considered the host of benefits. Here’s a look at a few of them:
Stress reduction
Meditation can be a means to find calm, peace, and balance. By focusing your attention and quieting your mind, you can breathe easier and regulate your breathing and heart rate. Similarly, meditation lowers levels of your body’s stress hormones.
More restorative sleep
Some people find it hard to sleep when they’re stressed. Though the relationship between sleep and meditation is still being studied, scientists know that meditation elicits changes in the brain that positively impact sleep.
Emotional regulation
Meditation can help you approach stressful situations through a different lens. People who meditate tend to be more patient and less judgmental — not only with others but with themselves. In other words, they don’t sweat the small stuff.
Boosted immunity
When practiced regularly, meditation reduces stress-related inflammation and helps to keep blood sugar in check. Meditation also helps the body produce more cells that are important in fighting infections.
Enhanced self-awareness
Self-awareness is an important tool in the recovery toolbox. If you’re highly self-aware, you can take a step back and evaluate yourself objectively. This exercise will help you better manage your feelings, marry your behaviors and values, and understand how others perceive you. Meditation can help you increase self-awareness and self-control when you need it the most.
Lengthen attention span
With so many things vying for our attention, it’s no wonder we have short attention spans. Meditation can help boost your attention span — even without a long-term commitment to the practice. Even short sessions can help in this way, so don’t discount the power of quality over quantity.
Curb addiction
By getting a better handle on your thoughts and feelings, meditation provides an outlet for healing. It helps you better understand your impulses and changes how you approach your disease. It can also boost self-confidence, which can be a real asset in treatment. Meditation has been shown to improve relapse rates and rein in cravings. You end up feeling more in control of your life.
We at Deer Hollow are committed to supporting you throughout your treatment. We provide a safe space where healing and recovery are paramount. Contact us to learn more about our programs and how they can help you in your journey. You don’t have to go this alone. https://deerhollowrecovery.com/