Positive Psychology Mindfulness

Carl Rogers stated, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change (see http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/carl_rogers.html). Many modern approaches to addiction recovery utilize a dialectical model to examine the change process. Third wave behavioral therapies such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with mindfulness meditation (MM), and the 12 Step Recovery model of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) use a dialectic based on acceptance of what is and change to what can be. These modern methods make use of the practices of Buddhism that may be effective treatments for addiction recovery. Moreover, when regarding addiction as a form of attachment as

and mindfulness as promising complementary therapies for treating and preventing addictive behaviors. Moreover, this article discussed three current exemplary clinical research programs which integrate theory-driven models of addiction and science, with real-world practice implications for meditation and yoga as potential complementary therapies. These included: Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MRBP) for alcohol and illicit substance abuse, Mindfulness Training for Smoking Cessation, and Mindfulness Orientated Recovery Enhancement (MORE).

In modern day San Francisco the term of mindfulness is nothing new to the residence here. Meditation, acupuncture, yoga, and herbal remedies are heard about almost as often as news of the California drought. The difficult part of all of these terms is attempting to figure out what, if any of them, are right to incorporate into a daily life practice. The hype about mindfulness meditation in particular starts to become clearer as more research findings show the astounding benefits.

In a study collaborated between Richard Davidson of the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Jon Kabat-Zinn, long-term meditators were shown to have more left hemispherical dominance in their baseline than those who didn’t meditate, and that shift in anterior activation was also correlated with an enhanced immune functioning (Davidson et al., 2003; Davidson & Kabat-Zinn, 2004). Davidson & Kabat-Zinn (2004) show that people who engage in mindfulness practice cope healthier with their emotions with approach rather than withdrawal (Siegel, 2007, pp.

Recent research in the clinical field of psychology has focused on combining mindfulness-based practices with clinical therapy to create more positive affects for clients. Mindfulness is often practiced in the form of meditation, but is determined by the development of one’s mental state to be able to create nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Awareness of the present moment can be induced by thoughts, emotions, physical perceptions, and one’s environment (Grow, Collins, Harrop, & Marlatt, 2015). Research has begun to analyze mindfulness-based practices as an alternative treatment program for individuals with a substance abuse dependence. Substance abuse dependence often is correlated with increased stress, impulsivity, negative

There has been an interest in research on the effects mindfulness has on children and adolescents. Mindfulness based interventions and trainings would be appropriate for adolescents with substance use issues because of its demonstrations and incorporation of factors such as non-judgment, awareness, non-reactivity, and observation. Despite the fact that the available treatments for substance use and misuse is endless, traditional treatments appear to have short term success, with relapse remaining a serious problem. Research shows that interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy and 12-step programs although work for some people, about 50-70% of individuals still find difficulty maintaining their sobriety. Mindfulness based interventions

Mindfulness is a relatively new phenomenon to the Western world although has been practiced in other countries across the world for thousands of years as a form of meditation. Thought to have first been introduced before Buddhism thousands of years ago, mindfulness was taught to Buddha as a way of alleviating suffering. Today, mindfulness focuses on helping people in secular ways to develop skills that can be used in daily life and

Mindfulness is a Buddhist-based concept centered around self-awareness and acceptance that makes heavy use of meditation to achieve these goals (Hofmann 169–171). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapts traditional cognitive–behavioral therapy to include the practices of mindfulness (Hofmann 170). Although a recent phenomenon, considerable research has been conducted in order to ascertain the efficacy of this new psychotherapy in treating anxiety and mood disorders. So far, the majority of research indicates that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy does indeed have positive effects on both anxiety and mood disorders (Bystritsky 38; Hofmann 169–183). Despite these assertions, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has yet to become a regular form of treatment for mental illnesses (due in large part to its religious connotations), although it has slowly begun to be used more often in the treatment of anxiety disorders (Bystritsky 38; Hofmann

Many complicated, stressful interactions take place between our thoughts, our bodies and the outside world on a daily basis. Ignoring the effect these interactions have on our physical and emotional health directly affects our ability to effectively deal with even the smallest of problems. By being mindful of these interactions, we can create a foundation that helps us navigate stress in a healthy, holistic way.

Mindfulness should be a basic human quality. When I observe those people in the group, I once took part of, that are completely unaware of not only themselves but everything around them with their lack of manners and obtuse sense of presence; I feel as if it drops all meaning of humanities feats and leads it down an endless spiral of abhorrent barbarity. Once could not even imagine the abundance of obliviousness mixed with the absence of common humanistic qualities, that at first may not be readily apparent. These people hold a complete lack of basic human qualities in which to think about the emotions and feelings of others, let alone themselves. Only going out of their way to do something if they get a tangible benefit. Such ungratefulness

This book goes step by step outlining a set of simple practices that help break the cycle of anxiety stress, unhappiness, and mental exhaustion and promotes happiness in this frantic world. Written by Professor Mark Williams; who co-developed mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy, and Dr Danny Penman a qualified meditation teacher who is also an award winning writer and journalist. Together they made this book an easy read and understandable, packed full of information on mindfulness, along with meditations and habit releasing practices. While the first three chapters are about how we experience things and how we deal with those daily things and what mindfulness is all about. In the fourth chapter is an introduction into the eight week course

The chemical dependence, in general, causes difficulties in all areas of the individual’s life. The individual’s behavior is affected bringing considerable consequences such as legal and social problems, relationship, and physical harmful such as brain damage (Woody, Luborsky, McLellan & O’Brien (1995). The individuals can be helped through a psychotherapy because the technique is adapted to the specific needs of the individual and it is focused on the interpretation of internal conflicts, where the individual can express his emotions and recognize his behavior and the need for a change (Woody, Luborsky, McLellan & O’Brien (1995).

Additionally, measures are evaluated on a participant’s perception of mindfulness practice, making it difficult to interpret the data or criteria used to interpret the data (Malcoun, 2008). Furthermore, the data may be influenced by emotions of the participants. However, it is a quick and easy way to administer and is a relatively inexpensive method of collecting

Whether mindfulness plays a key role in participants healing and reductions in their addictions, this study says they do and I’m curious if the natural setting alone contributes to the most success. It is very cool to see a study being done on mindfulness and the potential it has to help people move past their suffering but I would like to see more evidence being put out to support the benefits associated with mindfulness and if it truly is effective. I actually talked to Keith about working up at Shunda and I’d really like to be hands on and involved in the work they are doing. I am also seeing some similarities in the readings that refer back to Buddhism and incorporating those teachings into our mindfulness practices which could heal us in the long

It has been estimated that for every research study on Transcendental Meditation there may be as many as 100 such studies on mindfulness meditation. It would be beneficial to investigate why mindfulness meditation appears to have been more widely accepted than Transcendental Meditation within the short 15-year time-frame. Many of the supportive clinical trials on Transcendental Meditation were carried out over 30 years ago and indicates a need for more clinical research. It is, however, interesting to note that the Peter G. Dodge Foundation recently announced that a grant of $225,000 has been awarded to the David Lynch Foundation for a feasibility study on Transcendental Meditation to establish whether the technique is useful in preventing relapse following inpatient treatment for alcohol use