Mindfulness

Mindfulness - being in the moment; being present; meeting each moment of life as it presents, with full awareness, letting judgments fall away.

But why is mindfulness such a key component in mental health treatment? It is so easy to get wrapped up in the "I should haves" of the past and the worries of the future, that the present is muddied, causing the littlest hurdle to be overwhelming or the most pleasant experience to be missed. Mindfulness allows individuals to fully experience the present, good or bad, non-judgmentally, one mindfully, and effectively.

Support for mindfulness interventions has been found in studies exploring stress, anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors. Mindfulness can be helpful in decreasing avoidance, which is a coping mechanism commonly used by individuals who have experienced some kind of trauma, who oftentimes engage in substance abuse, eating disordered behaviors, or other negative behaviors to help suppress intrusive thoughts and painful feelings associated with their trauma. Mindfulness allows them to experience the thoughts and feelings in the moment without being overwhelmed by the past and future.

So find five minutes each day and breath. Notice the coolness of the breath flowing into your nose, your lungs, filling your diaphragm and chest. Notice the warmness of the breath as you empty your chest, your diaphragm and notice the emptiness of your lungs. Take twenty mindful breaths each day like this and be present in the moment without running from the past or rushing to the future.