Mindfulness Based Treatment

Mindfulness is a state of being completely focused on the present moment, without dwelling on, or reacting to your thoughts. In other words, simply being present in everything that you do rather than letting your mind wander, getting lost in the past or future. 

It is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.

How Does Mindfulness Work?

When practicing mindfulness, there are distinct shifts that take place in our bodies and mind. Many people experience positive health benefits due to their mindfulness practice. While the mechanisms behind why mindfulness can improve health are not fully understood, researchers have identified four factors of mindfulness that may contribute to the positive changes practitioners experience:

FOUR FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO POSITIVE CHANGES

Attention Regulation: A major goal for living mindfully is to live in the present moment. When the mind does wander, mindfulness practitioners can quickly bring it back to the object of attention. Researchers believe that this sustained attention on an object of focus can positively impact emotions.

Body Awareness: Another mindfulness technique is the "body scan,"- slowly mentally checking in with every part of your body, from your head to your toes, and taking note of where you feel good and where may feel a bit "off." Improving your body awareness can, in turn, improve your emotional awareness and regulation.

Altered Perception of Self: The ability to alter one's self-perception is associated with happiness. Experts believe mindfulness can help practitioners see the self as fluid and changing, which in turn leads to greater happiness.

Emotional Regulation: Mindfulness teaches not to react to your emotions. This does not mean you do not feel emotion, but rather that you accept what you are feeling, both positive and negative. This perspective can help promote overall well-being due to the acceptance that emotions will always pass and accept them how they are.

Often OCD and Anxiety Disorders create a thought pattern that is stuck in either memory or anticipation.  Mindfulness strategies gives us time to suspend judgment and unleash our natural curiosity in the present moment while experiencing warmth and kindness toward ourselves and others.