THOUGHTS FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY
Have you ever mentioned the word meditation or mindfulness to a prospective drug or alcohol addiction rehab client, friend or soulmate, only to be greeted by a panicked expression or negative response?
There are a great many people not yet in addiction treatment who would benefit from a mindfulness practice for reducing pain, anxiety, depression, or stress. Sometimes, however, an individual may have a history or personal religious background that acts as a negative filter that blocks them from opening up to such practices. When this occurs, it helps to be prepared with a broader and more expansive mindfulness vocabulary—one that doesn’t depend on words like mindfulness or meditation. In drug addiction treatment we only provide suggestions. We don’t force anyone to do anything reasonable that they don’t want to. But changing drug addictive mindlessness for sober mindfulness, is a good place to start for most.
AA and NA have dozens of slogans that we throw around. By expanding your 12 step mindfulness vocabulary, you actually might find a wonderful and creative way to enter a sober person’s world. And if “you want what we have, then you are willing to take certain steps”! Sometimes it could be a metaphor for mindfulness or meditation, such as getting in the zone; other times you might simply use another, more generic term, such as paying attention or observing with non-judgment. What follows are some ideas for expanding your addiction recovery vocabulary. Use the ideas below, or let them serve as springboards for enhancing your own personal mindful drug and alcohol treatment terminology.
Most AA meetings display a set of small posters with messages like: “First things first,” Easy does it,” etc. In AA’s typically irreverent style, they’re called the cliches. Some of them are here:
“If you keep doing what you’re doing —
You’ll keep getting what you’re getting
If you don’t like what you’re getting
Change what you’re doing!”
“When the Will is in conflict
With the Imagination or the Emotions
the Will ALWAYS loses!”
“If you are in the wrong place —
the right place is empty.”
“The way to become an Old-Timer —
Don’t drink and don’t die!”
“The ignorance that’s no excuse
is usually better than anything else we can think of.”
“When I first came in to A.A.
I couldn’t hear the words —
But I sure could hear the music!”
“Alcoholics Anonymous does not work in theory —
It only works in practice!”
“Have a nice day —
Unless you’ve made other plans!”
“Step One — You messed it up
Step Two — It can be fixed
Step Three — But not by you!”
“God speaks to me through the strangest people —
Some of whom I don’t like!”
“The reason people blame other people —
There is only one alternative!”
“Rationalization is like masterbation —
You are only screwing yourself!”
“If you’re having trouble believing in a Power Greater than yourself —
Just try believing in a Power Other than yourself!”
“Humor isn’t for everyone —
It’s only for people who want to have fun, enjoy life and feel alive!”
“Live each day as if it were your last —
Eventually, you will be right!”
MINDFULNESS IN TRADITIONAL VOCABULARY
Historically, the ancient Sanskrit word sati was used to define the ability to observe things with a sense of what could be termed bare awareness. In other words, just noticing things for what they are without adding or subtracting anything. This means observing thoughts, sensations in the body, and emotions in an impartial and neutral way. Potentially, all of our experiences could be viewed in this way. This can be thought of as a safe way of distancing from negativity or a personal bias. Learning to observe things in this more objective way, of course, takes lots of time, practice, and patience.
MODERN DEFINITIONS FOR MINDFULNESS
So, how can we start to bring this more traditional idea into the modern world and connect with our clients? Below are several ways to describe mindfulness that use concepts that fit with our modern language and sensibility.
- opening to the moment
- noticing the truth of change
- an open-hearted acceptance of this moment
- living in the what-is as opposed to the what-if
- getting freed from habit and reactivity
- acceptance and letting-go
- focusing on the moment
- changing the history channel
- loving awareness
- tuning-in
For more help with mindfulness and a drug, alcohol or depression recovery programme, contact Pathways Plett rehab, info@pathwaysplettrehab.co.za