Mindfulness is a psychological approach to quiet ones mind by focusing attention inward. In silencing the mind, we hope to silence distressing emotions which have taken hold.
The practice of deep breathing is an innate subconscious drive that we as humans gravitate towards. The fundamentals of meditation, even yoga model this exercise.
In my practice, I’ve seen techniques like deep breathing, visualization, and mindfulness based relapse prevention all have varying levels of success with clients.
Deep breathing: If we think of any hypoxic situation, think for example of being underwater too long, our first physiological response is fear and anxiety. Panic sets in and we want more oxygen to offset the carbon dioxide in our system. Transitively, controlled breathing allows us to be more calm or at peace.
When we are anxious deep breathing, mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, allows for us to physiologically off set our carbon dioxide and oxygen ratios. In a stressed state we might breathe more shallow, worsening our anxiety. When practicing diaphragmatic breathing we tend to re-center our emotional state.
Visualization techniques: as a part of deep breathing exercises we often provide a visualization exercise. For example, when this is offered for management of pain, the visualization of a silver bucket with a pain relieving solution being poured over ones body can help.
Mindfulness based relapse prevention is an innovative approach to help individuals identify tendencies in the mind during the cycle of addiction. This provides an opportunity for an important pause which can create a potential “break” in an “automatic” reaction that may otherwise seem to be more pre-programmed. Steps for MBRP include becoming aware of triggers, changing relationships with discomfort, and allowing ourselves to be nonjudgmental inwardly to better form a life that builds on recovery and mindfulness.
Please feel free to engage in these FREE Mindfulness exercises:
The practice of deep breathing is an innate subconscious drive that we as humans gravitate towards. The fundamentals of meditation, even yoga model this exercise.
In my practice, I’ve seen techniques like deep breathing, visualization, and mindfulness based relapse prevention all have varying levels of success with clients.
Deep breathing: If we think of any hypoxic situation, think for example of being underwater too long, our first physiological response is fear and anxiety. Panic sets in and we want more oxygen to offset the carbon dioxide in our system. Transitively, controlled breathing allows us to be more calm or at peace.
When we are anxious deep breathing, mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, allows for us to physiologically off set our carbon dioxide and oxygen ratios. In a stressed state we might breathe more shallow, worsening our anxiety. When practicing diaphragmatic breathing we tend to re-center our emotional state.
Visualization techniques: as a part of deep breathing exercises we often provide a visualization exercise. For example, when this is offered for management of pain, the visualization of a silver bucket with a pain relieving solution being poured over ones body can help.
Mindfulness based relapse prevention is an innovative approach to help individuals identify tendencies in the mind during the cycle of addiction. This provides an opportunity for an important pause which can create a potential “break” in an “automatic” reaction that may otherwise seem to be more pre-programmed. Steps for MBRP include becoming aware of triggers, changing relationships with discomfort, and allowing ourselves to be nonjudgmental inwardly to better form a life that builds on recovery and mindfulness.
Please feel free to engage in these FREE Mindfulness exercises:
For more guided meditations feel free to check out my features with Expert by Experience in the UK below 🇬🇧: