Yoga and Meditation: An Alternative to Prescription Pill Treatment

Even though the fact that yoga and meditation help in the healing of mental illnesses is not new information to industry insiders, it is often overlooked by people seeking treatment. While psychotherapists may not refer to it directly as “yoga,” they do often make use of yogic techniques to create better focus in their clients, as well as having them be able to better convey what they are feeling creating a sense of self-awareness. Discovering ways to utilize this body awareness are being recreated by psychology experts such as Alexander Lowen, developer of a form of psychotherapy called Bioenergetics. Another example is that of Somatic Experiencing, created by Peter Levine, which builds on an Indian “awareness breakthrough” process established over five thousand years ago.

Yoga and meditation can work in correlation with the practices associated with the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Many psychologists and addiction counselors rely on pills to cure the side effects of withdrawal associated with drug rehab. While medication may be necessary in certain situations yoga and meditation can often be a safe alternative for drug abuse treatment.

Practicing yoga can also be an effective way to dealing with traumatic experiences that are often associated drug and alcohol abuse. Yoga and meditation focus on removing stressful and distracting thoughts from a person’s mind and help them regain their composure and focus so that they can successfully continue with their recovery. Some physicians like Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk of the Trauma Center at Boston University, strongly support the use of yoga and meditation in treating trauma patients. Dr. Van Der Kolk states that “I will not treat a trauma survivor unless he or she is also practicing yoga. People need to learn to regulate their physical states in order to get their minds to work.” His emphasis on the necessity of involving the body in treatment and in particular, his on-going advocacy of and research into the effects of yoga, has caught the ear of psychotherapists around the world, especially those who deal with clients recovering from trauma.

Learning to connect with pain and suffering (through yoga or meditation) creates the bridge to work towards self-love and healing, which can be a great motivator on the path to sobriety.

Click Here to Tag this page: