There is a very thin line when social drinking turns into a serious addiction, as happened with Reynold. When he first started drinking, he was just like his peers; he attended parties during his college years and enjoyed drinking in a good, fun, and light manner. As soon as he graduated from college and landed his first job, his alcohol drinking habit took a turn for the worse. His once casual behavior spiraled into an everyday occurrence, and he used alcohol to cope with the stress from his everyday work and social pressures. As the family identified the signs of addiction, Reynold’s family encouraged him to join a professional addiction treatment program before his dependence could worsen. Half-heartedly, he took part in a residential treatment center that ultimately changed his life for the better.

Like any type of professional addiction treatment program for addictive behaviors, the healing process is ongoing. Most patients require regular visits with their doctors, group or individual therapy sessions, and constructive activities that foster growth, development, and confidence. One of the most productive strategies James learned from his treatment program was meditation. Meditation, a practice of training the mind to achieve some benefit, is a powerful and rewarding exercise for recovering addicts. As James quickly discovered, meditation helps to channel his cravings and focus his energy on other parts of his life.

There are numerous benefits that meditation provides to the average person, but for recovering addicts, the rewards are even greater. Consider some of the most obvious benefits: Meditation lowers stress levels, manages pain, and refocuses the mind on something new. These factors are significant in the fight against dependence and can be the very reasons why one patient succeeds at a treatment program while another patient relapses. Meditation can be practiced as much as a person requires it as there are no long-term side effects as there are with traditional medication.

For Reynold, meditation has proven useful in fighting his negative emotions. During treatment, He discovered that the source of his addictive behavior is his wanting mind. This negative mindset led him to believe that life would be better if he only had more money, a more rewarding job, and a better relationship. Without these things, however, he was depressed and had continuous feelings of anger and resentment. In order to lessen these negative feelings, he drank regularly, and it started showing in his performance, his relationships, and his overall mood.

Though Reynold had a good upbringing, his feelings lay within him, and he had a difficult time finding happiness in the life that was given to him. Without alcohol, he felt that he would be lost in the world. Thanks to meditation, he is able to find peace through some of his harder moments. When he practices meditation, he is able to:

  • Re-train his thought processes
  • Reduce withdrawal symptoms
  • Manage his cravings

In addition, Reynold can alleviate pressure and develop crucial coping skills while taking the time to focus on the positive aspects of his life.