All mental health disorders and addictions take root in the mind. More specifically, brain activity leads to conditions such as anxiety and depression, which, in turn, trigger an addiction. Holistic treatment programs are designed to help clients identify and change brain activity by drawing a connection between meditation and mental health.
Ways Meditation Can Improve Mental Health
Meditation is an active form of mindfulness in which you use techniques to focus your mind on a particular activity, thought, or object. The act of meditating gives you mental clarity and brings stability to your emotional state. For this reason, therapists incorporate meditation and mental health techniques into addiction treatment programs. There are many benefits of meditation.
Pain Management
Meditation is not a cure for pain. Meditation will not make your pain go away. However, it is a powerful tool for helping you endure your pain and work through it. Instead of taking drugs to deal with chronic pain or injury pain, fifteen to thirty minutes of meditation every day can reduce your suffering and give you the mental strength you need to function with the pain.
Addiction Recovery
Meditation and mindfulness are staples of a substance abuse treatment program. Treatment such as cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you explore the negative thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that trigger addiction. Once you become more aware of what is going on in your mind, you can manage it. Meditation can be used in both evidence-based and holistic forms of treatment.
Treatment for Mental Disorders
Numerous mental disorders require some level of treatment. Disorders associated with addiction include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Borderline personality disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
It is possible to manage the symptoms of mental disorders through meditation and mental health techniques that are similar to mindfulness. Meditation can calm your mind and reduce symptoms of mental disorders such as low mood, loss of appetite, or trouble sleeping.
Stress Reduction
Meditation can lower the stress hormone cortisol. Lower cortisol levels put you in a more relaxed state. During meditation, you can repeat a mantra, such as a word or a phrase. This has a calming effect on your entire body and keeps you focused on the purpose of your meditation. Once you reach a state of stability and stillness, your stress will instantly come down. You can practice meditation anywhere and anytime you feel stressed.
Higher Self-Esteem
Depression and anxiety can make you feel inadequate and helpless. Meditation promotes self-esteem and confidence that reaches beyond your doubts and fears. It allows for a deeper self-reflection and can help you discover your best qualities. When channeled in the right direction, self-awareness brings out your inner qualities and gives you power over your self-doubt.
Improved Focus
One of the reasons you may lack concentration is because your mind is constantly distracted by anxiety or depression. Meditation and mental health are interlinked. That means that your ability to meditate can improve your ability to focus on what is in front of you instead of being dragged down by negative thoughts of the past or worry about the future.
Behavior Control
Controlling your behavior begins with controlling your thoughts. Meditation can help you manage negative thoughts that lead to negative behaviors. When you are calm, centered, and focused on positive things, you are less likely to engage in destructive behavior. Next time you are angry or stressed and feel like doing something destructive, meditate instead. It can change the course of your life in only a few minutes.
Learn More About Meditation and Mental Health Today at Sunflower Wellness Retreat
Do you have questions about meditation and mental health? If so, feel free to contact Sunflower Wellness Retreat right away. Our addiction therapy programs include holistic treatment and meditation, as well as individual and group therapy. Contact Sunflower Wellness Retreat by calling 855.730.8825 or completing our secure online form to get started with your treatment program today.
