A Holistic & Practical Approach for Addressing Opioid Substance Use Disorder-Hall.Langenau

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This presentation explains mindfulness and its role in recovery, especially for substance use disorders. It begins with guided breathing exercises to demonstrate how mindfulness can help people notice thoughts, sensations, cravings, and emotions without judgment. Mindfulness is described as present-moment awareness, rooted in Buddhist traditions and operationalized by Jon Kabat-Zinn as paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.<br /><br />The speakers review evidence supporting mindfulness in recovery and highlight two major programs: Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). MBRP focuses on recognizing internal and external triggers, craving awareness, and staying with discomfort rather than avoiding it. MORE adds cognitive restructuring and positive psychology, emphasizing reappraisal, savoring positive experiences, and seeing cravings as temporary.<br /><br />Research findings show mindfulness can reduce cravings, substance use, dependence, and stress while improving emotional regulation and positive emotion. Practical tools discussed include focusing on breath, noticing thoughts as thoughts, expanding compassion, staying still, and using the SOBER method: Stop, Observe, Breath, Expand, Respond.<br /><br />The session ends with a recovery-focused mindfulness exercise using self-compassion, imagery like waves or clouds, and returning to breath to build self-regulation and relapse prevention skills.

Asset Caption

Drs. Hall & Langenau Mindfulness Recording

Keywords

mindfulness

recovery

substance use disorders

relapse prevention

craving awareness

self-compassion

breathing exercises