Mindfulness

Recovery
#1

I don’t feel like sharing on here at all, which probably means I should.

Almost 4 months ago, I started a brain “rebooting” program for addictions. It uses mindful meditation, lessons and techniques to help rewire your brains dopamine response, and increase grey matter in the frontal lobe (the rational part of your brain). It helps with decision making, and decreases anxiety and stress. It has allowed me to separate myself from my thoughts/emotions and try to make better decisions, even when I feel tempted to drink.

The program is actually designed specifically around pornography addiction. I didn’t really consider myself addicted to porn, but at times it became another coping mechanism similar to alcohol, and I didn’t like that, so I decided to cut it out.

I quit both of these, plus most social media all on the same day and I just started focusing on re-wiring my brain by meditating EVERY morning for at least a few minutes, and sometimes at night as well.

I just want to say, it has absolutely changed my life. I still get stressed, and anxious, and have ups and downs, but I am SO much better equipped to handle them in a healthy way now.

I’ve began to really be able to forgive myself and start to heal from my past, and day by day I am getting better at being vulnerable and open to positive change. I was never like that before, I was always so shut in, and I didn’t want anyone to ever know what I was going through.

Anyways. I hope this helps someone find the motivation to keep going, and just know that there’s a way to recover that works right for you. If anyone has any experience with meditation or similar techniques to help calm your mind, let me know! I would love to hear about it.

Thank you for letting me be vulnerable and share my story today. I’m grateful to have this community, even though I’m not very active in it most of the time. :heart:

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#2

Hey brother! I like your post! I’m definitely a believer in “brain rebooting”. I’ve incorporated some of this into my recovery program as well. Id like to know more about the program you’re doing. If I friend request, would you be kind enough to share? I have a few podcasts and things I can suggest to you as well.

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#3

Thank you so much for sharing this!! I’ve been feeling strongly that I need to start meditation again and reading this just further solidified that thought.
So glad you’ve found it helpful.
Do you mind sharing what the program is?

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#4

Hey thank you for the kind words my friend! I just sent a friend request your way. I’d love to hear what podcasts and things you have in mind! The program I use is called Brain Buddy.

#5

Kate it makes my whole day that this could help some people! Of course. The program I use is called Brain Buddy. I also use a meditation app called “Balance.” If you search online you can usually find a 1-year free membership for the balance (since it’s like $60/yr) or something like that!

#6

So I learned about mindfulness in a 30 day inpatient and I have found myself using breathing techniques when I'm having cravings or stress is high and yea it's awesome how well it works.

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#7

Thank you for sharing and I'm happy to hear this works for you! My therapist has taught me something similar through techniques using EMDR/DBT to help me through situations where I find myself anxious and/or have urges to drink. I relate with the idea of how the emotional and rational work closely together, guiding you to a wise mind-in which creates/practices mindfulness.

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#8

Thanks for the reminder to start meditating again. I was kinda into it a few years ago but quit.

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