Meditation has many potential advantages for those in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). It can be difficult to begin your journey of meditation if you are unsure how to start. Utilizing these techniques, you can find the benefits of meditation for beginners through your journey at Destiny Recovery Center.
Benefits of Meditation for Beginners
Meditation is a holistic approach that has various benefits that are important to be aware of. Understanding these benefits can help you to feel prepared and motivated to engage in this practice. The following benefits are commonly experienced with regular meditation.
Reduce Stress Levels
Stress can often be one of the primary triggers for relapse. Meditation for beginners has proven highly successful at alleviating stress and bringing you to a calm state. It can be difficult to escape the high stress of recovery at times. Due to this, stress relief is a prime benefit of meditation.
Improved Emotional Regulation
Meditation for beginners can assist with increasing emotional regulation, making it simpler to handle difficult feelings or cravings. This is a great benefit to have through recovery, as you will likely encounter various high emotions. Having the capabilities to manage these emotions and regulate them as needed can help keep you on track to success.
Build Self-Awareness
Meditation for beginners can also help to increase levels of self-awareness and identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviors. Often, people get trapped in unhealthy patterns that reinforce their addiction. Becoming more self-aware can help you to recognize these patterns before they take over your recovery.
Increased Mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to being fully present in each moment without judgment or distraction. Practicing this mindset through meditation will allow you to become more attuned to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations. This can help you stay focused on your recovery goals and be aware of what is within your control to change.
Spiritual Connection
Meditation for beginners can be an empowering tool to help you find a sense of inner peace by tapping into something greater than yourself. The spiritual connection does not particularly have to pertain to religion. This practice can help you understand your purpose and expand your sense of universal consciousness.
Tips to Start Meditation for Beginners
Starting meditation for beginners, the following strategies and tips may help you to start your practice of meditation. It can be difficult to begin this journey, as you likely are unsure of what you are doing or are unaware of what to expect. Utilize each of these techniques and be patient. You will soon see the benefits of this practice.
- Select an appropriate time: Setting an ideal meditation session time can help to hold yourself accountable to the practice. Many individuals find early mornings or before going to sleep is often their perfect moment for doing this practice. Experiment with different time frames to find what works best for you.
- Start small: To ease into meditation, start slowly by doing just a few minutes daily until your ability allows longer sessions. If you sit down and attempt to meditate for 30 minutes or an hour, you will likely feel that it is a waste of your time if your body and mind are not used to this practice.
- Focus on your breath: As you meditate, keep an awareness of your breath as a key element to meditation. Take slow, deep breaths while paying close attention to how air moves into and out of your body. If you find that your mind is deviating from your breath, be aware of this transition and slowly bring your focus back to your breath.
- Practice mindfulness: While practicing meditation, cultivate the habit of mindfulness by keeping your attention fully on the present moment without judgment or distractions. As discussed before, if you find your mind wandering, simply bring your focus back to your breath. Focus on your surroundings in this present moment rather than allowing your mind to stray into the past or future.
- Use guided meditations: Guided meditations may help quickly get you on the right track. There are countless free resources online that offer guided meditations explicitly designed to support people through this transition period. This can help you understand what a meditation session looks like and adjust to the practice.
- Be patient: Don’t rush meditation into becoming part of your routine. Give yourself time and trust the process before giving up on this practice. It takes time to see the benefits of meditation and adjust to the practice.
In addition to the tips above, here are a few additional strategies you may find beneficial for including meditation in your healing journey at Destiny Recovery Center.
Practice Regularly
Make meditation part of your everyday practice at roughly the same time every day. By making this an integral part of your schedule, meditation can become part of a healthy routine and provide much-needed consistency that supports sobriety. If you only practice meditation on a rare occasion, it will likely take you much longer to achieve the desired results of this practice.
You can start to apply the concept of being mindful into your everyday life to strengthen this practice. Beyond formal meditation practice, incorporate mindfulness into daily activities, such as eating, walking, and even washing dishes. Doing this will foster greater mindfulness awareness that may assist your recovery goals.
Use Meditation as a Coping Skill
When feeling anxious or upset, meditation can serve as an excellent coping strategy. Take time each day to breathe deeply and focus on your breath to ease tension and anxiety and relax more fully. Just as you may have to experiment with different coping skills to find one that resonates with you, you may have to explore different forms of meditation.
If you’re in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), incorporating meditation into your daily routine can be a valuable tool for maintaining sobriety and promoting overall well-being. Start with a few minutes of meditation each day and gradually work your way up. Experiment with different types of meditation and start to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life. With practice and persistence, you may find that meditation becomes a valuable cornerstone of your recovery journey. There are many techniques you can utilize to help yourself adjust to this practice. To learn more about the benefits of meditation and ways to begin practicing meditation, reach out to Destying Recovery Center at (909) 413-4304.