they relieve anxiety and further the mental change in chemicals that occurs when coming off a dependence.
“Anxiety is fear of the future,” Nadeau said. “When you are in the present moment, you don’t have to worry about the future or regret the past. Mindfulness is about being present in the moment. Instead of saying ‘I’ll deal with this later,’ you can deal with it right now.”
Some people who are religious have expressed that meditation goes against their beliefs, but the practice can be fulfilled in accordance with religious and spiritual activities. “There are many different types of meditation,” Nadeau said. “You can hold something relating to your religion like a rosary. But what’s important is a focus.”
Meditation can also have a psychological impact on people in recovery, according to Nadeau. “It actually does help with making better life decisions as well,” she said. “That’s also great for somebody that’s addicted. They see that they can feel just as good as they can without drugs.”
Author: Ryan Beitler
An editor and contributor to Addiction Now, Ryan Beitler is a journalist, fiction writer, musician, and travel writer. He has written for Paste Magazine, OC Weekly, numerous addiction recovery publications, and his travel blog Our Little Blue Rock. He lives in Southern California. Contact Ryan at ryanrbeitler@gmail.com or ryanb@addictionnow.com.
