Mindfulness Exercises
to Strengthen Your Recovery

Are you recovering from alcohol and/or substance abuse? Self-improvement is a life-long journey, and recovery comes with both ups and downs. If you’ve noticed that your initial enthusiasm is starting to fade, mindfulness exercises might provide that boost you’re looking for. 

Unsure where (or how) to start on your mindfulness journey? Don’t worry – that’s where we come in. Our qualified substance abuse counselors have some tried-and-true mindfulness meditation exercises that you can use to strengthen your recovery. Stick with us to find one (or more!) that works for you. As an added bonus, keep in mind that these mindfulness exercises can also work for anxiety as well.

How Mindfulness Exercises Impact Recovery

The brain is the only organ that is shaped by experience and practice. (Think of it as a muscle that strengthens with exercise). Therefore, when we repeatedly engage in specific thought patterns and behaviors (like those propelling addiction), we unknowingly shape our brains negatively. Meditation and other mindfulness activities counteract those patterns by reshaping our brains in ways that amplify control, awareness, and happiness.

Best Mindfulness Exercises for Recovering Addicts

Intrigued by the idea of incorporating mindfulness into your recovery journey? We don’t blame you. Mindfulness is a phenomenal recovery tool because you can practice it anytime and anywhere. Additionally, you don’t have to adopt a certain belief system or invest a lot of time and energy to get started. All mindfulness requires is a willingness to experience the world in new ways.

Ready to give it a try? Below are some mindfulness meditation exercises that will strengthen your addiction recovery:

Be Present in Each Moment

While we might strive to live our lives in the present, it’s easier said than done. Sometimes, we find ourselves spending time with family and friends, yet our minds are stuck on a project at work. Other times, we’re sitting at our desks in the office, and we can’t help but brainstorm the grocery list.

Sound familiar? (Because we’re certainly guilty)! The world we live in is incredibly distracting, and when our attention is constantly elsewhere, it’s easy to miss what’s happening in the present moment.

Many folks in addiction recovery have used alcohol, sex, screentime, or substances to avoid the stress and anxiety of daily life. However, mindfulness activities (like being present) help us accept and cope with reality instead of avoiding it. If you’re unsure how to get started, we recommend focusing on the little things (like the taste of food in your mouth or the sensation of wind on your skin). This helps you ground yourself in the present moment and embrace what’s there.

Focus on Your Breath

Focusing on your breath is another one of our favorite mindfulness meditation exercises. The world we live in is incredibly stressful, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If we don’t give ourselves an outlet, we’ll end up stressing, sulking, or turning to substances to cope.

Whenever you start to get upset over something you have no control over, try focusing your attention on something you can control – your breath. Not only will this restore a sense of calm and control, but the consistency of your breath helps keep recovery on track.

Recognize Thoughts are Just Thoughts

Whether we realize it or not, our thoughts are the driving force behind our feelings and actions. Therefore, how we think about ourselves and others determines how we carry ourselves within the world. Negative self-talk is a destructive (yet incredibly common) activity that drains both our hope and energy. However, we can flip the switch by simply recognizing our thoughts as being mere thoughts. And when we challenge their validity, we’re able to view ourselves in a more hopeful, accurate light.

Want help putting this mindfulness exercise into practice? We suggest checking in with your thoughts throughout the day. This is especially important whenever you find yourself becoming anxious and/or depressed. It’s important to remind yourself that thoughts are just thoughts and you don’t have to pay attention to them. Then, you can practice letting them go.

Practice Being Still

Our society tends to equate busyness with success. We think that multitasking is virtuous, and we praise those who appear to do it all. However, is that really what’s best for us?

Believe it or not, studies show that the opposite is true. It’s actually in moments of stillness that we’ll discover our personal truths and assign value to our lives. When navigating recovery, the journey is more important than the destination. And being still exposes us to our own vast potential throughout recovery and addiction treatment Fort Worth.

If you’re not sure how to achieve inner stillness, don’t worry. Meditation practices, yoga flows, and/or religious services are a great place to start. Additionally, speaking with a Licensed Counselor can help you find the right mindfulness exercises for you.

Mindfulness Exercises & Addiction Counseling in Fort Worth, Texas

If you or a loved one is navigating recovery, Fort Wellness Counseling offers the best addiction counseling in Fort Worth, Texas. Our evidence-based treatment has helped hundreds of individuals with problematic behaviors improve life and sustain sobriety. Through cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), we’re confident we can do the same for you.

Our substance abuse counselors help you explore the cause of addiction and process feelings, as well as identify triggers, negative thoughts, and behavioral patterns. Then, we curate individualized treatment plans spanning from recovery to relapse prevention to aftercare.

Ready to get ahold of addiction? Contact our team to start addiction counseling in Fort Worth, Texas today.