Yoga or Pills?

Mindfulness based practices have been around for thousands of years and the origins can be traced back to the Eastern world in Hinduism and Buddhism, but do not have to be attached to any particular religion. In modern society, these practices have evolved into Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), basic meditation practices, yoga practices, etc. Some benefits of a mindfulness based practice include:

• stress relief
• lower blood pressure
• pain reduction
• improved sleep
• reduced depression
• reduced anxiety
• OCD
• and even substance abuse.
Many of these more current forms of mindfulness practices have been implemented into addiction treatment, and this is where I first began exploring the topic.

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
– Lao TzuThis quotation really strikes home for me. I used to be depressed, anxious, sad, lonely, angry, and self-destructive. I would reach for outside stimuli to achieve some sort of false contentment or fulfillment, neglecting the fact that I had every bit of peace and joy within me, it was simply kept under lock and key. By incorporating a daily meditation regiment, practicing yoga regularly, fine-tuning my mindfulness abilities, among other things, I was able to find the key to my own happiness.

This journey has led me to the forefront of addiction treatment, where mindfulness, yoga, and meditation are a requirement for sustaining one’s ability to thrive in today’s world. I have been blessed with the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge with others who are struggling. I approach them with open arms, love and kindness, and assure them that they have all of the tools necessary to live a joyful life, but they need some guidance, just like I did. And sure enough, through adding basic mindfulness practices to one’s routine, I have been able to watch upwards of 50 young men turn their lives around and become upstanding, incredible people.

My story is simple. There are no cure-all pills or “easy” fixes for treating substance abuse. It’s not something that can be achieved overnight. And it’s not always going to be easy or pleasant. But there are solutions to solving this puzzle. We just have to be willing to admit that we are fallible, take a look at our flaws, and make some serious changes.