Relaxation techniques and addictions

Addiction is a disease that makes it impossible to control behaviors, although some people believe (wrongly) that it is a choice. Fortunately, there are many different techniques for dealing with an addiction.

Some professionals use group therapy, a form of interaction that is effective, since it serves to make the person have a support group in which to take refuge. Likewise, that circle serves as a safe place free from prejudice where the person can feel good enough to speak freely and be motivated to change.

Therapeutic writing works well too. Moreover, more and more people are using it because it helps the patient to become aware of her situation, at the same time that he manages to express what he is not able to say orally.

Psychotherapy is another of the processes that serve the purpose at hand, to overcome addictions. It is essential that a bond of trust is created between the psychologist and the patient, otherwise it will not be effective.

However, the set of therapeutic resources we want to talk about are relaxation techniques applied to addictions.

• Related article: "6 easy relaxation techniques to combat stress"

Relaxation techniques applied to addiction cases

One of the factors that most quickly trigger an addiction to drugs or any other substance is anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed and that you do not know where to go leads you to an unpleasant state in which you take advantage of anything to not have that feeling.

That is why it is essential to be able to control anxiety, so that you do not reach that state in which what you need is to consume. The same happens in the case of addictions that do not carry implicit substances.

Now, there are many methods and procedures that can be used as relaxation techniques, all of them intended to learn to be relaxed and that anxiety and distress is greatly reduced. Here we are going to talk about a couple of methods, which are the most used today.

• You may be interested in: "Types of stress and their triggers"

1. Breathing techniques

Definitely, breathing techniques are very effective in reaching the desired level of relaxation. The person who uses them will lie down comfortably and face up on a surface that is not uncomfortable. Next, the assistant should make him realize how he is breathing naturally and then give him information about it.

In this way, the assisted will begin to breathe more calmly and more relaxation, moving this to his personal situation, feeling in a state of calmer than when he started.

The best thing is that once this technique is learned, it is applicable in any situation. It can be used in case of being with the withdrawal syndrome or simply, in the case of being agitated for any reason.

• Related article: "Controlled Breathing: what it is and how to use it"

2. Meditation techniques

Meditation is another of the proven techniques. Although it encompasses many things that we will not point out here, we can say that what it does is calm our mind, something we do by ceasing to resist what we think.

We learn to accept what is inside of us, and we don't struggle with it. It is something like enhancing our consciousness and observing our inner world without intervening in it.

To do this, the patient must pay special attention to what he feels and what he thinks, without resisting.

• You may be interested in: "12 meditation exercises (practical guide and benefits)"

Do relaxation techniques really help addiction?

Well yes, and that is the experience that we have in Fromm Wellness. Moreover, there are studies that support its positive effects, among which is, for example, the improvement of digestion, a lower anger level, a lower blood sugar rate or better concentration and state of cheer up.

Learning these techniques helps you prevent craving, as well as to act better in those situations that can trigger consumption.