Meditation
With the decrease of stigma surrounding mental health and addiction treatment, new methods of addressing and managing these health issues are beginning to emerge. For many treatment programs, the use of holistic healing practices such as meditation are becoming commonplace in their approach to the recovery process.
At South Coast Behavioral Health, we believe in treating not just the mind and body but the spirit as well. By implementing holistic treatments like meditation for mental health and substance abuse, we give our clients the opportunity to overcome their health concerns while actively building healthy, long-term life habits.
What Is Meditation?
Meditation is a practice that involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques. It has been practiced for thousands of years in many different cultures and religions. Research has shown that meditation can have a number of health benefits when implementing it into a person’s regular routine.
There are many different types of meditation in practice today, all of which share the common goal of training the mind to be more focused and aware.
- Mindfulness meditation
- Focused attention meditation
- Transcendental meditation
- Guided meditation
Different Forms of Meditation
All of our holistic and wellness offerings are tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. For this reason, we offer several different kinds of meditation practices to help clients find healthy, alternative coping skills to manage feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm during recovery from substance abuse.
Whether you want to learn mindfulness techniques or simply relax and unwind, we have something that will assist in your healing process. Our practitioners will offer the constant support and guidance you need to reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. You might focus on your breathing, your body sensations, or your thoughts and feelings.
Focused attention meditation
Focused attention meditation involves focusing your attention on a single object or thought. For example, you might focus on a candle flame, a mantra, or your breath.
Transcendental meditation
Transcendental meditation involves repeating a mantra silently to yourself to help you move beyond your normal state of consciousness or “transcend.”
Guided meditation
Guided meditation involves listening to a guided meditation recording or following instructions from a teacher to reach a place of peace and relaxation.
No matter what type is being practiced, meditation has been shown to have a number of benefits for both physical and mental health. For instance, meditation can aid in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety, in turn, improving your mood. Likewise, meditation often increases your self-awareness which can help you gain more control over your emotions and behaviors. Not to mention, meditation’s impact on your mind, body, and spirit can lead to overall improvements in cardiovascular health, mental clarity, sense of well-being, and better sleep.
Remember that the specific techniques and goals of meditation can vary widely based on the individual’s focus and the therapist’s approach. It’s important to communicate with your counselor throughout treatment to establish relaxation techniques that serve you during your healing journey.
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What To Expect During Meditation
If you have never participated in a meditation session before, it can help to know what to expect ahead of time. When participating in our meditation sessions, what you experience during this time can vary greatly from person to person and from session to session. However, there are some common experiences that many people report while meditating, including:
- Calmness and relaxation: Meditation can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and tension. As you focus on your breath or another object of meditation, your body and mind begin to relax.
- Increased awareness: Meditation can help you to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This increased awareness can lead to a better understanding of yourself and your experiences.
- Sense of peace and well-being: Many people report feeling a sense of peace and well-being after meditating. This feeling can be accompanied by a sense of joy, gratitude, or love.
No matter which of these activities you are participating in, there is no need to worry if you are a beginner. Our instructors are here to guide you every step of the way and make sure you are adjusting to your meditation time with the proper support and care you deserve throughout your recovery.
How Can Meditation Help With Recovery?
When used to aid in recovery from physical, mental, or behavioral health issues, meditation can have many benefits. Some of the ways these practices can help aid you in recovery include:
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Mental health and substance use disorders are often accompanied by high levels of stress and anxiety. Meditation can help to reduce these negative emotions by teaching you how to focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and worries.
Increased Resilience
Meditation can help you build resilience, which is the ability to cope with stress and adversity. This can be helpful while you are in recovery and for your day-to-day life as you face life's challenges.
Regain Physical Strength
Meditation can help your physical health as it helps to reduce stress-related symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and fatigue.
Improved Mood and Self-esteem
Meditation can also help to improve mood and self-esteem. These techniques can strengthen the connection between your mind, body, and spirit. As a result, you can feel more in tune with yourself and develop a sense of inner peace and self-acceptance.
Increased Self-awareness
Meditation can help you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. This can be helpful in recovery, as it can help you to identify and manage triggers or cravings.
Reduced Cravings
Some studies have shown that meditation can help to reduce cravings for alcohol and drugs, as they can help people develop a stronger sense of self-control and become more mindful of their thoughts and feelings.
With regular practice of meditation, you may begin to notice changes in your overall well-being. You may become more mindful and aware of yourself and the world around you. You may find that it’s easier to relax, even when life is hectic. You may develop greater mindfulness, focus, and concentration which can improve your overall quality of life.
Meditation at South Coast Behavioral Health
At South Coast Behavioral Health, mindfulness treatments such as meditation therapy are an integral part of our recovery approach. Our holistic services emphasize treating each of our clients as a whole and taking into account not only their physical and mental health but their spiritual health as well.
These services allow our clients to gain valuable insights into their thoughts, feelings, and actions, helping them to identify the underlying causes of their behavioral health issues. These practices also help them build trust, a sense of community, and healing through artistic expression.
Overall, we believe that holistic healing is just as essential during recovery from mental health and substance abuse as evidence-based treatments are in empowering our clients on their recovery journeys and achieving happier, healthier lives.
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Meditation in Orange County, CA
If you are ready to start your recovery in an environment that is capable of nurturing your mind, body, and soul, you need not look any further than South Coast Behavioral Health. Our facilities are equipped to make sure you are receiving the whole-health approach to treatment you deserve.
We offer a wide variety of treatment options in addition to meditation, from residential treatment and partial hospitalization programs to outpatient and sober living care. No matter what your care needs may be, we are happy to work with you to build an individualized and effective treatment plan.
You can call us or fill out our secure online contact form now to learn more about our program and how we can help you get started on the road to long-term recovery today!
We provide meditation for men within our medical detox and residential treatment centers in Irvine, CA.
We offer meditation for women at our medical detox and residential treatment centers in Huntington Beach, CA.
We provide meditation for men within our residential inpatient facility in Costa Mesa, CA.
We provide meditation during our PHP and IOP programs in Newport Beach, CA.
