Did you know that you can meditate to help quit alcohol?
Alcohol has been a continual problem for some throughout the years.
Since the pandemic, I’m hearing from more families who are concerned about their son or daughter’s drinking.
Stress causes people to turn to substances to ease their pain, anxiety, or depression. During this uncertain time, as more people are feeling the stress of isolation, they are turning to alcohol to alleviate the problem.
Substance use is a short term solution. There is always a health risk when a person is not able to manage their drinking.
Effects of alcohol
According to NIAAA, Alcohol’s effects vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors, including:
- How much you drink
- How often you drink
- Your age
- Health status
- Family history
While drinking alcohol is itself not necessarily a problem – drinking too much can cause a range of consequences, and increase your risk for a variety of problems.
Consequences of drinking too much
Alcohol enters your bloodstream as soon as you take your first sip. Alcohol’s immediate effects can appear within about 10 minutes. As you drink, you increase your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, which is the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream. The higher your BAC, the more impaired you become by alcohol’s effects. These effects can include:
- Reduced inhibitions
- Slurred speech
- Motor impairment
- Confusion
- Memory problems
- Concentration problems
- Coma
- Breathing problems
- Death
Other risks of drinking can include:
- Car crashes and other accidents
- Risky behavior
- Violent behavior
- Suicide and homicide
People who drink too much over a long period of time may experience long-term effects such as alcohol use disorder, health problems, and an increased risk for certain kinds of cancers.
Rory’s story
Rory Kinsella felt like alcohol was interfering in his life. At one time he was a hard-drinking musician and journalist. In 2017, he decided to stop and found that meditation was a tool that helped him maintain his recovery.
Listen to my interview with Rory. He shares his personal experience and how he has found meditation to be what brings his long-lasting sobriety.
Rory Kinsella is a writer and Vedic Meditation teacher based in Sydney, Australia. A former hard-drinking musician and journalist, he quit alcohol in 2017 and has written widely about his experiences. He is the creator of the We Meditate To Quit Alcohol online program which has helped hundreds of people around the world change their relationship with alcohol. He is a podcast host (The Vedic Conversation), has contributed meditations to apps such as Insight Timer and Meditation Studio, and has taught meditation at some of Australia’s biggest corporations, including Commbank and Westpac. You can find Rory on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rorykinsellameditation/
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It never ceases to amaze me how spiritual practices can have an impact on seemingly every area of life. Thank you both for sharing this…it’s a very relatable concept to help with the struggles many face, especially in these times of additional life challenges.
Yes, I agree Elle, that a spiritual practice helps me stay grounded and feel more in balance with life.
There is a specific type of meditation, called “urge surfing”, which particularly deals with the cravings of addiction. Meditation helps you think and act with awareness. So, it can help almost any mental or behavioral condition. It is powerful.
Thanks for sharing the information about “urge surfing”. I wasn’t aware of that kind of meditation. I can see how it would be helpful to anyone struggling with addiction.
It’s interesting to hear how for Rory meditation has naturally removed some of the causes of his alcohol use by bringing him back into equilibrium. I’m a big believer in meditation, and I find it exciting to see it being used as a way to reduce or eliminate alcohol dependency.
Hi Sandra, I agree. It makes sense that meditation would be helpful. There is now a support group with a Buddist focus and has meditation as part of their meeting. The group is called Recovery Dharma. The more tools a person has, the better.