Finding Hope through Meditation
Meditation is a very effective form of therapy for relapse prevention in Alcohol Dependent individuals. The Eleventh Step of Alcoholics Anonymous states:
“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
The brain waves of individuals who meditate can show why they are usually healthier. It has been proven that people who meditate can modify their brain activity throughout different places in the cortex.
It has been found that concentrating brain waves towards the stress-prone frontal cortex can produce a calming effect. Thus, people who meditate are usually happier and calmer individuals than those who don’t.
Practicing meditation techniques can produce deep, inner stillness; a process that becomes easier as it is repeated.
Some benefits of practicing Meditation techniques are:
• Control of emotions
• Self confidence
• Self awareness
• Improved personal relationships
• Calmness
• Inner peace
• Improved concentration
Certainly, there are several benefits to meditation which can help recovering addicts achieve sobriety, as well as gain more self confidence and awareness. Meditation can undoubtedly become a useful tool during the recovery process.
Meditative Traditions:
Many meditative traditions teach that the spine should be kept “straight,” that is, the meditator should not slouch. Often this is explained as a way of encouraging the circulation of what some call “spiritual energy,” the “vital breath”, the “life force” (Sanskrit prana, Chinese qi, Latin spiritus) or the Kundalini.
In some traditions the meditator may sit on a chair, flat-footed (as in New Thought); sit on a stool (as in Orthodox Christianity); or walk in mindfulness (as in Theravada Buddhism). Some traditions suggest being barefoot, for comfort, for convenience, or for spiritual reasons.
Medatative Traditions provided by Wikipedia