Mindfulness is a wonder word at Wedge Gardens Treatment Centre.

“First of all, let me explain what mindfulness means,” says Lizette Treurnich, a social worker at the Rand Aid-run substance abuse rehabilitation centre.

“Mindfulness means purposefully paying attention, in the present moment, without making any judgement. There are numerous exercises that one can practice to achieve being mindful, like breathing and focusing on your breathing. When your mind wanders away, you become aware of what you are thinking about without judging your thoughts but you bring your mind back to the breathing.

“Other mindfulness exercises entail becoming aware of sounds around you, body sensations and emotions, etc. without judging or criticising them. You therefore become aware of these sounds, emotions, thoughts or sensations without engaging in them. Instead, you redirect your attention to the matter at hand – your chosen focus – whether it is your breathing, a body sensation, or something else entirely.”

Mindfulness therefore involves a purposeful and nonjudgmental focus on one’s feelings, experiences and internal and external processes in the present moment. Rather than escaping from painful feelings, mindfulness meditation encourages addicts to sit quietly with themselves and pay close attention to their thoughts and feelings without taking action to judge or ‘fix’ them.

Patients in the early months of recovery often experience a kind of mental fuzziness. They may struggle to think clearly as their minds adjust to life without substance abuse. “This is also a time where their emotions are erratic. They struggle with guilt feelings over their past behaviour or constant worry and stress about their future. Those who fail to cope with these challenges in early recovery are more likely to relapse,” she says.

Mindfulness has many advantages when applied to the recovery of addictions. The following are but a few advantages:

• Early recovery is like an emotional rollercoaster. By practicing mindfulness, the individual will feel more in control and better able to deal with highs and lows.
• Cravings usually continue to arise in recovery. Cravings and urges are not seen as some overpowering force, but as a series of passing thoughts and feelings that peak and then disappear much like a wave. Using their breath as a surfboard and visualising the craving as a wave, the recovering addict rides the wave to the shore.
• People who practice mindfulness will be better able to spot warning signs. This way they will be able to avoid a relapse.
• This practice makes life in sobriety far more enjoyable. The individual is able to get pleasure from the simplest things.
• Those who practice the technique find it easier to manage their interpersonal relationships. This is particularly important for people in recovery, who may have many damaged relationships.
• During early recovery of addiction, individuals struggle with sleeping. Their minds wonder and overthink. Mindfulness exercises help to calm the body down and help the mind to focus in the present.
• People who practice mindfulness appear to suffer from less anxiety.
• Mindfulness is believed to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of depression, which is also common in addiction. It works by allowing the individual to become free of their usual negative thought patterns.
• People who practice mindfulness meditation are far more aware of their own thoughts. This leads them to make much better decisions.
• Those individuals who are mindful begin to see that emotions are transitory in nature (they come and go). Strong emotions are easier to manage when the person knows that they will pass.
• Individuals suffering from addiction have typically been out of the employment industry for long periods. They have low confidence in this area and many fears to overcome. Mindfulness exercises can help them prepare for job interviews as well as coping in the workplace.

“In conclusion, it can be said that mindfulness exercises are very valuable tools in recovering from addiction. Adding to that, building mindfulness into your life enables you to become a more grounded, more confident and happier person with more fulfilling relationships.”

Wedge Gardens can be reached at 011 430 0320. You can also ‘like’ Wedge Gardens on Facebook (www.facebook.com/WedgeGardensTreatmentCentre) or follow them on Twitter (@WedgeGardens)