Mindfulness is a state of nonjudgmental awareness of what’s happening in the present moment. This is a skill we teach in many of our groups at SRWC, and the reasons for that are further down in this post.
Key attributes of mindfulness are:
- Awareness. During a state of mindfulness, you will notice your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations as they happen.
- The goal is not to clear your mind or to stop thinking—it has to become aware of your thoughts and feelings, rather than getting lost in them.
- Acceptance. The thoughts, feelings, and sensations that you notice should be observed in a non-judgmental manner.
- For example, if you notice a feeling of nervousness, simply state to yourself: “I notice that I am feeling nervous”. There is no need further judge or change the feeling.
Benefits of Mindfulness include:
- Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety
- Improved memory, focus, and mental processing speed
- Improved ability to adapt to stressful situations
- Greater satisfaction within relationships
- Less worrying or repetitively thinking about the past or the future
- Improved ability to manage emotions
- Reduced risk of using alcohol or other drugs to avoid difficult emotions
- Increased ability to experience cravings without giving into them
Mind-Full vs Mindful
If you would like to know more about how and why mindfulness relates to recovery from Substance Use Disorder, come check us out.
