Reduce Opioid Dependence in Chronic Pain Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “meditation involves endogenous opioid pathways, mediating its analgesic effect and growing resilient with increasing practice to external suggestion.” – Haggai Sharon Substance abuse is a major health and social problem. There are estimated 22.2 million people in […]
Reduce Opioid Dosage in Chronic Pain Patients with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “It’s clear that when it comes to tackling pain, it takes all of the tools in the toolkit. And when it comes to opioids, the approach needn’t be all or nothing. . . the combination of medicine plus […]
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 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 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 […]
Increase Social Contact and Reduce Loneliness with A Mindfulness Smartphone App By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Loneliness and social isolation are among the most robust known risk factors for poor health and early death. . . Our research shows that a 14-day smartphone-based mindfulness program can target both, and that practice in welcoming and […]
Improve Eating Behavior in Obese Cancer Survivors with Mindfulness By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. “Mindful eating helps you distinguish between emotional and physical hunger. It also increases your awareness of food-related triggers and gives you the freedom to choose your response to them.” – Adda Bjarnadottir Eating is produced by two […]
Employ Mindfulness-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Addictions By John M. de Castro, Ph.D. ‘A fact that many don’t know yet is that mindfulness is currently the most effective treatment in the world for overcoming addictions.“ – Judson Brewer Substance abuse is a major health and social problem. There are estimated 22.2 […]
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 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. […]