MIndfulness for Recovery from Addictive Behaviours

[MrBlueSky]

I came to mindfulness at a very difficult and painful part of my life. My wife left me. I had two children to care for - one 9months and one 2 and half years old. I had also just entered a 12 step recovery program as I had been carrying around a pretty serious alcohol addiction for 20 years. It was at this time that I decided that I really, really needed to make some profound changes in the way I encountered the world and other people and of course, myself.

I came to mindfulness meditation and wasted no time in knuckling down to a daily sitting practice. What I can share is that it has been the most astonishing gift. It also helped dramatically the way I parented and engaged with my children. I think mindfulness for parenting is really something special-but this is another topic for another day ! Mindfulness helped me navigate the very choppy waters of early recovery..dealing with stormy emotions, moods, cravings, deep anxiety and fears etc

The practice is a gift. There are ups and downs, struggles and dead ends occasionally...and moments when we feel like 'it's not working' but push on. Keep learning, keep opening to whatever comes to you. Because it is at those times when you most feel like throwing in the towel that the gifts, insights and breakthroughs come. Don't give up and more than anything savour the moments when you can sit quietly in practice. These are precious moments.

I now teach (and am trained in) Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention to help people recovering from all types of addictive behaviours. I also teach mindfulness in schools here in Canada where I live. If you have any questions on mindfulness for recovery, you can PM me or share on the Board..

[JonW]

Another inspirational post, MrBlueSky. Great to have you on board here.
The practice is indeed a gift.
Like yourself, I was left to cope as a sole parent when my wife walked away. Though I didn't know about mindfulness back then.
All good things,
Jon

[MrBlueSky]

thanks Jon..look forward to seeing more of your 'shares' on this Board !

[FeeHutch]

Thank you for your post MrBlueSky, I'm sure lots of us can relate to your story.

[Gareth]

Inspirational stuff.

If you want to write us a blog for the main site, we will share your story through our social media.

Take care.

[mindful-ninja]

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm also learning the benefits of mindfulness for recovery from addiction as well as PTSD.

I just started a blog about my experiences which you may find interesting - http://mindful.ninja

[MrBlueSky]

Hi Mindful Ninja, thanks for sharing. i will check out your posts.

[watson2182]

hello mindful ninja. the link you posted caught my attention and visit it. i found so many interesting stuff to read. thanks for sharing it.