ADDICTION RECOVERY SUPPORT
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION IN RECOVERY
Benefits:
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Improved emotional regulation
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Reduced stress and anxiety
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Enhanced self-awareness
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Reduced impulsivity
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Increased psychological well-being
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Greater cognitive flexibility
Overcoming addiction is a complex structure and by no means is addressed in its entirety in the work that I do but the work I do will be a resource on your journey.
ACHIEVING BALANCE
There are many types of addictions and many stages. What I offer will support recovery. I work mainly with your subtle energy system though mindfulness, guided meditation and breath work. We can also bring in the expressive arts to vary your perspective, allow you to access non-verbal communication, relieve anxiety, increase self-compassion and mindfulness.
WHY SHOULD WE STRIVE FOR MIND BODY BALANCE?
Mind body balance can help us reduce anxiety, improve focus and concentration while helping us regulate our emotions. We want a healthy functioning relationship with ourselves so that we can create the life that we want, full of value, joy and success. When we know how we feel we are empowered to answer.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SUBTLE ENERGY SYSTEM OF YOUR BODY?
It is your emotions, thoughts, sensation, shifts, mind and the ego. Ego being your sense of self-esteem and it mediates between the conscious and unconscious. We can access our subtle energy through practices such as yoga, breath work and meditation.
WHY DO I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH YOUR SUBTLE ENERGY?
Everything around us is made of matter and energy, including the human body.
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Matter = anything that takes up space
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Energy = the ability to move matter or do work.
We have different types of energy:
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Physical energy (how healthy are we?)
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Emotional energy (how happy are we?)
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Mental energy (how well we can focus on something?)
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Spiritual energy (why are we doing all this?)
A healthy subtle energy system will move our body more effectively which will give us good physical health
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My sensory guided meditations communicate with your subtle energy system and the central nervous system to balance and “service” this vehicle we call our body.
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Mindfulness can help you reconnect to yourself and find beauty in even the smallest task
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Breath training will teach you how to access your central nervous system through structured breath work empowering you to regulate your stress, anxiety and sleep responses.
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Expressive Arts will allow you to find a different perspective on what might be standing in your way.
DIFFERENT ADDICTIONS AND YOUR SUBTLE ENERGY SYSTEM
We cannot assign one particular subtle energy center in addiction because different addictions cause different states of being and are therefore related to different aspect of your being and energy centers. However as an example
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Stimulants or depressants work with your third energy center which relates to self-definition and you right to act. This is the energy center of your personal power and confidence and its counter force is shame
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Alcohol works with your second energy center which is our emotional identity, relating to our self-gratification and the right to feel. Alcohol lowers our inhibition and numbs feelings but also leaves us with little memory of our grandeur. Cruel indeed.
Excessive eating can be one of three things:
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an attempt to ground us which is our first energy center associated with self-preservation and our right to be here
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a desire to feel pleasure which is our second energy center associated with self-gratification and our right to feel
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a way to console our anger which is our third energy center associated with self-definition and our right act
In the end all addictions are an attempt to suppress or create a feeling or state of consciousness. It is about control: suppression is related to denial and creating a particular state relates to compensation.
Alcohol as an example - lowers the inhibition and releases control of the conscious mind which effectively results in a feeling of liberation. This gives us a sort of energy release and a discharging of the system. Drinking to relieve stress or binge drinking are easy examples here. Often the other side of this swing, which is to placing limits and restrictions on ourselves to curb our drinking habits, which creates feelings of suppression and the cycle begins because we want to overthrow this dominating influence. This cycle can become a habit with negative consequences because it is temporary relief and thus needs to be repeated which leads to addiction.
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Let's break the cycle and start nurturing your energy centres today
WHICH ENERGY CENTER?
Treatment for addiction is complex however this cycle of emotions I mentioned falls under the second energy center which is our emotional identity, self-gratification and our right to feel. A good course of action is to reconnect with the sensations of our body, releasing or recharging and then learning to manage our emotions so we can better understand our needs and desires are. We can then follow with a more specific energy center.
Here is a guide to which addiction can relate to which
energy center (EC):
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First EC: Food, gambling, shopping and work
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Second EC: Alcohol, sex and heroin
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Third EC: Stimulants such as cocaine, caffeine, work, amphetamines or anger
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Fourth EC: Smoking tobacco, sugar, love and marijuana
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Five EC: Opiates, marijuana
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Sixth EC: Hallucinogens and marijuana
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Seventh EC: Religion and spiritual practices
What is the core responsibility of each energy center :
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Our physical identify and self-preservations and our right to be here
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Our emotional identity and self-gratification and our right to feel
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Our ego identity and self-definition and our right to act
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Our ego identity and self-acceptance and our right to love
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Our creative identity and self-expression and our right to speak
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Our archetypal identity and self-reflection and our right to see
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Our universal identity and self-knowledge and our right to know
...SOMETHING TO CONSIDER...
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE ARE OVER STIMULATED: DO WE EVER FULLY FEEL IN THIS WORLD?
SOLUTIONS
Embrace change without losing your stability. Your ability to flow with change is also your second energy center associated with connection to other people and emotions.
The most effective way to work with your mind body balance is through meditations and mindfulness. If used in conjunction with other addiction treatments can be a part of an effective plan.
8 loving concept to consider during your journey with or without a guided meditation practice:
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It’s all about movement!
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Pay attention to the sensations and impulses flowing through the body because these are feelings and emotions. Be gentle and learn what they have to say and respond in love and kindness.
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The human body, mind and soul has the ability to self-heal and self-preserve. You have the power.
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A healthy subtle energy system allows our energy to flow and move which will allow us to heal and restore balance to our mind, body and spirit.
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Work through the guilt
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Examine motives and needs that lie beneath your behaviors. Ask what are you trying to satisfy?
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Look at your primary role models
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What were you shown was acceptable? Give this back to your primary role models and take your life back! Who do you want to be?
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How can your underlying needs be met in more appropriate ways?
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Investigate ways.
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Make amends where you have caused harm
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If you are not sure how, ask for help.
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Develop new and healthy behaviors
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Finally, forgive yourself and move on to a life of value, joy and success.
MORE on BENEFITS
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Improved emotional regulation: Emotional regulation helps manage cravings and prevent relapse in recovery
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Reduced stress and anxiety: Stress and anxiety can be triggers. Mindful based interventions will help you maintain sobriety
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Enchanted self-awareness: A greater sense of self leads to understanding your triggers. This will support you in making healthier choices avoiding relapse
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Reduced impulsively: By cultivating greater self-control through mindfulness you are less likely to engage in addictive behaviours
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Increased psychological well-being: Mindful based activities support mental well-being and build resilience during recovery
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Greater cognitive flexibility: Through mindfulness we improve our cognitive flexibility which helps us adapt to new situation and we respond better to challenges which supports long-term recovery
If you would like to talk to a specialist:
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Contact Geneva and London-based psychotherapist Desiree Kogevinas - Addiction specialist, developmental trauma and all aspects of relationship therapy.
