How Transcendental Meditation Can Help You Fight Addiction

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The art of meditation has been a part of human civilization for centuries. Meditation has helped countless individuals find solace and reconnect with their true self. An effective technique of meditation is transcendental meditation that helps you dive deeper into your spiritual self.

The transcendental meditation technique does take a lot of commitment in terms of effort and time. It also offers some impressive benefits. Let us first understand what exactly transcendental meditation is.

What is Transcendental Meditation?

Transcendental meditation is a form of meditation that helps you enter a relaxed state with total awareness. The practice was introduced in the United States during the 1960s by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who was from India. Transcendental meditation helps specific parts of your brain in communicating with each other. In short, you are essentially rewiring your brain to function in a unified manner.

Do you know that this form of meditation is quite effective against addiction? Let us find out.

The Problem of Drug Addiction

Drug abuse has become a major concern in both developing and developed nations. Incidents of an drug overdose are becoming far more common than those of road accidents. Moreover, with so much temptation everywhere, it becomes harder to quit the habit which is the reason why many addicts relapse.

Living a drug-free lifestyle takes a lot of effort and awareness and it is here transcendental meditation comes into the picture. It helps you maintain focus and discover inner peace which helps in the recovery process.

Moreover, the desire to relieve physical or mental stress is what also leads to the problem of drug addiction. Stress leads you down the rabbit-hole of sleep disorder and hopelessness which then take you to this path of destruction. Unfortunately, these substances only provide temporary relief and the habit soon develop into a full-blown addiction.

Keeping in mind the future impact of these substances, you can either learn to manage this stress with regular meditation or pay a heavy price for this addiction. Yoga experts recommend you rather choose the transcendental meditation technique to fight this issue.

What Transcendental Meditation Does

Regular practice of transcendental meditation leads to the production of neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and gabaminobutyric acid (GABA) which are associated with feelings of happiness and fulfillment. An increase in these neurochemicals causes a reduction in autonomic arousal and anxiety, which are two conditions responsible for addiction to substances.

Moreover, transcendental meditation increases your mental awareness and gives you more control over your emotions. In the long run, it trains your mind and helps you control your response to a stressful situation. In other words, you start looking for a healthy alternative instead of drugs and alcohol to find a solution to the underlying issue.

Now, let us find out how exactly this meditation helps you in the recovery process.

1. Reduces Blood Pressure

The regular practice of transcendental meditation lowers your blood pressure. It makes you calmer and less anxious which decreases cravings.

2. Improves Sleep

Fatigue is the most common reason behind a substance addiction. However, if you are completing the daily quota of 7 to 9 hours of sleep along with regular Transcendental meditation practice then relapse soon becomes a thing of the past.

3. Minimizes Chronic Pain

A majority of people develop drug and alcohol addiction due to a painful condition. But if you can treat this condition with regular meditation, then addiction becomes your past.

Conclusion

Meditation helps you discover the much-needed calm and peace in a chaotic world. However, when it comes to coming out from substance addiction, then doing transcendental meditation helps you work on the issue behind the addiction to cut the problem from its roots.