Reduce Cravings with Mindfulness
Starting the journey of addiction recovery is like finding your way through a maze full of challenges. Everyone’s experience is different, but many face a shared challenge: dealing with cravings. These strong urges can quickly throw someone off track from staying sober. It’s important for us to grasp them well and have solid strategies in place to handle them! As a mindfulness-based program, Centered Recovery incorporates mindfulness techniques to help our clients overcome their cravings in the moment. Now, what exactly is a craving?
The Danger of Cravings
Think of cravings like strong waves hitting the shores of your resolve. They can wear down the progress you’ve achieved, sometimes surprising you with how strong they can be. From a brain perspective, cravings set off complex reactions, releasing chemicals that heighten the urge for the substance or action you’re avoiding. It’s a powerful feeling that can cloud clear thinking, making the journey to sobriety feel challenging.
The Brain on Cravings
When you experience a craving, specific parts of your brain tied to pleasure and reward, like the amygdala and nucleus accumbens, light up big time. This leads to a release of dopamine, a brain chemical that’s all about pleasure and drive. Essentially, it sets up a cycle where the craving keeps feeding itself because of this dopamine rush. Understanding this neurological aspect highlights how crucial it is to take active steps to handle these cravings.
Knowing Your Triggers
Awareness is the first step towards empowerment. By identifying your triggers—be it specific environments, emotions, or social situations—you can preemptively devise strategies to navigate potential cravings. This self-awareness acts as a compass, guiding you away from situations that might otherwise pull you back into the cycle of addiction.
The Promise of Mindfulness
In recent years, research has increasingly highlighted the potential of mindfulness practices in addiction recovery. Researchers at Rutgers University conducted a study suggesting that a behavioral intervention called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) could be effective in reducing relapse rates among women receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Specifically, MORE focuses on mindfulness, reappraisal of thoughts to disengage from negative emotions and addictive behaviors, and savoring naturally rewarding experiences.
Results indicated that even a single 10-minute guided MORE meditation improved participants’ mood, while the full intervention enhanced emotional awareness and strengthened impulse control, crucial factors in preventing relapse. The study also found increased communication between brain regions, suggesting potential benefits in controlling negative emotions and drug cravings. By cultivating present-moment awareness, mindfulness offers a sanctuary from the tumultuous waves of cravings!
How Mindfulness Counteracts Cravings
Improved Emotional Regulation
Mindfulness equips individuals with the tools to observe their emotions without judgment, creating space for healthier coping mechanisms.
Stress Reduction
By fostering a sense of calm and grounding, mindfulness diminishes the anxiety and stress that often precede cravings.
Enhanced Self-Awareness
Mindfulness practices encourage introspection, enabling individuals to recognize cravings as transient experiences rather than insurmountable obstacles.
While the path to addiction recovery has its challenges, understanding the nature of cravings and working to reduce cravings with mindfulness can pave the way for lasting sobriety! By using the power of awareness and cultivating mindfulness, we empower ourselves to navigate the complexities of recovery with confidence. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey and we are here to help!
Are you ready to take the first step toward recovery? Visit Centered Recovery Programs today and embark on your journey towards sobriety. Call us today at 800-556-2966 to speak with an admissions counselor!
Written by Jennifer Lopes, BS Psy
