Mindfulness
Mindfulness Offers Many Benefits
Do you find yourself dwelling on past regrets and mistakes? Are you experiencing anxiety when imagining what the future might bring? It’s quite common for people to have their thoughts stuck in the past or future, yet this can often fuel anxiety and other negative consequences. At Integrated Behavioral Health, our therapists often recommend practicing mindfulness, which can help you live life to the fullest, with greater self-compassion and self-acceptance.
What is mindfulness?
Anyone may experience the anxiety that can come from having racing thoughts and a mind full of worries. You might find yourself thinking about something you wish you had or hadn’t done decades ago. You might catastrophize—imagining the worst possible situation that might happen in the future. This tendency to focus one’s thoughts on the past or future can affect anyone, but it can be particularly problematic for people with mental health disorders, such as mood disorders.
Mindfulness is a technique and a practice that can help you calm your thoughts. When you practice mindfulness, you allow yourself to live fully in the moment, without regret for the past or fears of the future. You simply become fully present in the here and now. This can lead to a calmer, more peaceful mind and a life with less stress.
Who can benefit from practicing mindfulness?
Anyone can benefit from giving mindfulness a try. At IBH, we may recommend mindfulness to our patients with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders. It can be helpful for those with phobias, eating disorders, and addictions, as well as those who are seeking to recover from trauma, grief and loss, or insomnia.
However, you do not need to be diagnosed with a disorder to give mindfulness a try. It may benefit those who experience any of the following issues:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Chronic or acute stress
- A tendency to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions
- Relationship problems
- Feelings of hopelessness or dread
- A tendency to be overly critical or judgmental of oneself
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Chronic pain
How can I get started practicing mindfulness?
Your provider at IBH can guide you through some mindfulness exercises. Practicing mindfulness may seem challenging at first, as the mind, much like an unruly toddler, often has trouble quieting itself. With continued practice, however, you’ll gradually find that it becomes easier to focus your thoughts and awareness on the present moment.
You may find it helpful to set aside some time each day for mindfulness practice. However, mindfulness need not be solely relegated to meditation. You can incorporate its practices and principles throughout your daily life. Try the following:
- Slow down your pace and take some time to carefully observe the world around you. Pay attention to what’s happening outside of yourself, as well as internally, such as your thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
- Be aware of when your thoughts begin to wander away from the present. Avoid criticizing yourself for it. Instead, gently redirect your thoughts back to the present.
- Conduct a mental audit of your senses. What do you hear, see, feel, and smell?
Where can I go for more help?
The experienced providers at Integrated Behavioral Health are skilled in a range of therapeutic techniques—from cognitive behavioral therapy to mindfulness. We may recommend incorporating mindfulness practice into your treatment plan, which we’ll customize to suit your unique needs and concerns. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at one of our eight locations across Alabama.