Addiction and mental health issues can be difficult to work through. Learning to manage emotions while working to get better and stay in recovery can bring up many challenges. It is important to find a balance between being engaged in healing and finding respite from these struggles. This is why mindfulness in recovery can be an important part of the healing journey. At Clearview, we pride ourselves on offering a variety of current therapies, including mindfulness practices, to help each student who comes to work with us. Learning to be present with one’s mind and body will allow for longer and better periods of success and recovery.
Mindfulness is a process that is included in many different therapeutic processes. Working to be present in the moment can allow your daughter to work through triggers and cravings as they may arise. Moreover, knowing how to manage overwhelming thoughts and feelings can help your daughter learn to better manage her life. Mindfulness is a skill that can be useful in many different areas, extending beyond just recovery. This approach allows a girl to know herself better and triumph over her challenges.
What Is Mindfulness?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states that mindful awareness is “about noticing what is happening when it happens. It is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” In other words, mindfulness is the practice of acknowledging momentary experiences without resisting them. This can include noticing personal thoughts, cravings, and emotions. A mindful approach allows these experiences to pass through. Additionally, this practice encourages individuals to allow their thoughts to exist without directly engaging with them.
Mindfulness also includes being aware of the external world. Often when a girl is struggling, she may find herself caught up in her misery and setbacks. It may be hard to engage with the world and her loved ones because of her preoccupation with her mental health. Thus, including mindfulness practices in therapy and mental health care can help her engage with the world differently. Mindfulness encourages a girl to notice what is happening instead of staying stuck in her thoughts.
Mindfulness in Recovery and Addiction
Mindful awareness can play a large part in addiction recovery because of how addiction affects the mind. Addiction can cause stress and is also a stress response. An editorial published in the Journal of Substance Abuse explains how mindful-based therapies are effective for substance use disorder (SUD) due to their impact on stress. The authors state that mindfulness works to alleviate stress by encouraging someone to engage in the present. This helps people in addiction recovery avoid relapse and respond better to triggers.
Triggers occur when someone is exposed to a feeling or an environment that in the past tempted them to engage with substances or other addictive behaviors. When in recovery, triggers can be especially hard to deal with. As a parent, you may feel you need to reduce exposure to these triggers for your daughter. However, it isn’t always possible to avoid them. This is why it is important to have mindfulness skills and the ability to withstand those thoughts and urges. Having mindfulness in your daughter’s toolbox will set her up for success.
Mindfulness in Recovery and Therapy
At Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we pride ourselves on offering various forms of therapy to best help your daughter. Employing mindfulness in recovery and therapy is especially important. The skill of mindfulness can be taught through many therapeutic methods such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Art therapy and animal-assisted therapy (including equine therapy) are a few other modalities we offer that can incorporate mindfulness. With a mindful approach, a therapist discusses students’ mindful observances with them. This increased mindfulness will allow your daughter to endure any future struggles more gracefully.
The therapy your daughter engages with is integrated into her daily life. This encourages her to take control of her own healing. Both our skilled team and our serene location help girls engage their minds in the present moment. This allows girls to maintain a focus on controlling themselves. Working to be mindful of their thoughts and connected to their environment can allow for the best chances of long-term success.
Mindfulness and Long-Term Success
Mindfulness in recovery is so successful because it encourages internal self-reflection. This self-awareness can be employed in every area of healing. Having the ability to be mindful will equip your daughter with the tools to endure what life throws at her. The purpose of employing mindful awareness in her healing and recovery is to make sure the changes stick.
At our location in Heron, Montana, we find that the beauty of nature also helps in fostering mindfulness. As your daughter dwells in nature and feels connected to what is around her, it will allow her to focus on the present moment more easily. Through outdoor activities and quiet time, she will incorporate what she has learned. After a while, she will notice a growing peace inside of herself as well as a greater ability to mindfully observe the occurrences in her life.
Knowing that she can manage her thoughts and emotions will allow your daughter to feel more in control of her healing. Avoiding triggers and working to stay present will help ensure long-term success. Meanwhile, the time when your daughter returns from treatment may be difficult, but with mindfulness as a daily practice, she will be set up for success.
When your daughter is going through recovery, it can feel overwhelming. It is important to get her the care that will best address her issues and lead her down a better path. Using therapy with a focus on mindful practices will give your daughter the skills that she needs to make better choices. Mindfulness will allow her to face her triggers and struggles head on. This approach can help her manage her thoughts and engage successfully in the world around her. Being present and engaged with the world around her will allow her to focus on her recovery. If you are interested in knowing more about how mindfulness can help your daughter, contact Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.
