Dealing with substance abuse, alcoholism, or drug addiction is never easy, and it's even more difficult when you're also struggling with mental health problems. Dr. Kurter says one of the main components to really helping those with addiction is addressing those mental health issues.
Psychiatrist Judson Brewer studies the relationship between mindfulness and addiction in his TED Talk. He explains the processes involved in habit formation and proposes a profound approach to removing the connection between thought and behavior through the use of mindfulness. Although Brewer utilizes smoking and eating as examples during his talk, the underlying mindfulness process is readily adaptable to all forms of addiction. Watch below!
Thomas N. Pfister, B.S.
Implementing a mindfulness practice can sound like another item to throw onto your already packed to do list, but The Mindful Pause is really just that though, a pause, in your day.
Here’s how it works according to Dr. Niemiec (2016):
1.) Pause and feel your in-breath and out-breath for 10-15 seconds.
2.) Conclude with a question: Which of my character strengths will I bring forward right now?
This super short, and easy to use practice is perfect for transition moments in your day, or when you just need to refocus and tap into a more helpful emotion.
By: Caitlyn Hummel, SAC-IT
