Improve Substance Abuse Disorders with Mindfulness-Based Treatments

Improve Substance Abuse Disorders with Mindfulness-Based Treatments   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “incorporating mindfulness exercises into treatment is especially helpful for those of us who have struggled with addiction to alcohol, drugs, porn, unhealthy relationships, or other destructive behaviors.” – Beverly Conyers   Substance abuse is a major health and social problem. […]

Improve Emotional Response Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Pain and Opioid Use with Mindfulness

Improve Emotional Response Inhibition in Patients with Chronic Pain and Opioid Use with Mindfulness   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “mindfulness meditation could represent a viable alternative to opioid-based therapy for chronic pain, and may be useful in helping patients taper their use of high doses of opioid-acting agents.” – Hymie Anisman   We […]

Mindfulness Reduces Addiction by Improving Pleasure Appreciation in Opioid Users

Mindfulness Reduces Addiction by Improving Pleasure Appreciation in Opioid Users   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “mindfulness-based interventions could help people dependent on opioids increase their self-awareness and self-control over cravings and be less reactive to emotional and physical pain. Individuals with an opioid addiction could also be taught to change their negative […]

Improve Internet Gaming Disorder with Mindfulness

Improve Internet Gaming Disorder with Mindfulness   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “The conclusion to draw here is that though substances like cocaine are very effective at triggering changes in the brain that lead to addictive behavior and urges, they are not the only possible triggers: just about any deeply pleasurable activity — […]

MORE Mindfulness for Stopping Smoking

MORE Mindfulness for Stopping Smoking   By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.   “I liken it to having weeds in your garden. Standard treatments—for example, avoiding triggers such as ashtrays and lighters or using substitutes such as eating carrot sticks and chewing on your pen—just pull the heads off the weeds, so they grow back. […]