Job losses, pay cuts, social isolation, the trauma of losing loved ones, boredom, stress, anxiety and uncertainty, we are aware of the adverse impacts of COVID-19. However, we know little about how these elements have increased the risk of substance abuse in every age group. Apart from traditional de-addiction programs, how can holistic methods help reduce the numbers and frequencies of relapses and help users ward off addictions?
Many people are getting rid of addiction after practicing yoga and meditation regularly for a certain period. For example, the Art of Living’s Sudarshan Kriya is complementing de-addiction programs to a great extent.
What is Sudarshan Kriya?
Stress and anxiety are the two biggest causes of substance abuse. Sudarshan Kriya is a super stress buster technique based on simple and rhythmic yet powerful breathing cycles. We must have noticed the pace of our breathing when we are angry! How is it? We take short breaths when we are angry, stressed, or anxious! Contrary to this, when we are calm and composed, we take long and deep breaths.
Even the temperature of our breaths varies with our emotions. Our breaths are short, fast and hot, when we face emotional turmoil. When we are in a happy mood, our breaths are long, deep and cooler than when we are agitated.
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If our emotions influence our breaths to such a great extent, our breaths also influence our emotions! This is the driving principle of Sudarshan Kriya.
Sudarshan Kriya for De-addiction
The path to complete de-addiction is bumpy. Many respond well and perform satisfactorily in the initial stages of the de-addiction and rehabilitation program. However, they need tremendous mental strength, resilience and patience to overcome withdrawal symptoms and relapses. Asanas, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya complement the de-addiction process in the following ways:
- Survey reports have shown that meditation supports the de-addiction process by allowing people to go into a deep state of rest, face triggers and prevent relapses. “Sudarshan Kriya increases the feeling of well-being and reduces anxiety in psychoactive dependent male user prisoners.” (1)
- A study was conducted on cancer patients with tobacco addiction. 21% of people who practiced Sudarshan Kriya for six months successfully controlled their tobacco addiction. (2)
- Even two weeks of practicing Sudarshan Kriya helps reduce stress hormones by 56.6%. Sudarshan Kriya, meditation and asanas increase the overall sense of well-being by reducing stress, anxiety and depression, some of the main causes of substance abuse. “Low-risk, low-cost adjunct treatment of anxiety, PTSD, depression, stress-related medical illnesses.” (3)
- The intensity of depression among alcohol-dependent users reduced from moderate-severe to mild-moderate within 7 days of Sudarshan Kriya program. The reduction of depression has reduced the level of alcohol dependence among addicts. (4) Regular practice of Sudarshan Kriya has significantly dropped the levels of stress hormones like ACTH and cortisol.
- We have research-backed evidence that Sudarshan Kriya has reduced stress, anxiety, and hypertension among alcoholics. It has also helped them detoxify their mind and body. (4)
Stories of Change!
1. Dr. Purshottam Wayal’s transformative journey is an inspiration for even the staunchest addicts. A professor in a reputed college, Dr. Wayal was living a dual life. He was addicted to alcohol and a victim of different kinds of substance abuse. Several de-addiction sessions were of no help.
However, the Art of Living programs brought a sea change in his perspective. Dr. Wayal found a new strength to overcome his weaknesses. He was no more a slave to intoxicants, nor would he want anyone to suffer likewise!
Dr. Wayal found a new purpose in life, to de-addict and rehabilitate youth to the mainstream. Since then, he has been organizing the Art of Living de-addiction programs across the Marathwada region.
The success rate of these programs stands at a whopping 75%! The programs take up multiple challenges across different levels- mental, physical and social. The programs also create employment opportunities intending to serve society. The contribution of rehabilitated youth raises their social acceptability rate and self-worth.
2. Suicidal and resistant to positive changes, the participants of yoga and meditation sessions at the Art of Living de-addiction center in Kolkata are probably the most vulnerable yet the hardest nuts to crack. That doesn’t make people like Sridam Roy, a faculty member at the center, go weak at their knees.
Empathy, love and determination ultimately get the better of defiance. Many of the addicts attend regular sessions of pranayama, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya. Gradually, they find enough mental strength to get rid of their addiction. They even participate in day-to-day activities at the center. Some write their own success stories after leaving the center.
3. Ujval Shankar is the perfect example of a bright student taking wrong calls to fit into a gang of “cool guys”! A decade into smoking, drinking and drugs, Ujval’s rehabilitation journey was not easy. Initially, he failed to keep his resolve, but the blissful moments of Sudarshan Kriya and meditation were too tempting to ignore! He quit smoking, drinking and taking drugs, and successfully withstood triggers and withdrawal symptoms.
Ujval credits the Quit Tobacco Program and the Wellness Program for Substance Users for his recovery. Apart from the holistic healing process through yoga and meditation, the three-month-long, post-program support service, plays a crucial role in nipping addiction in the bud!
Now Ujval is a de-addiction warrior who helps hundreds get out of substance abuse and contribute to society.
A stress-free and violence-free society will deter many people from addiction. Holistic practices like yoga and meditation are the answers to these crippling issues. Regular practitioners also build resilience to face unprecedented events of the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people joining such holistic healing programs, hopefully, the world will be better prepared to face such overwhelming challenges in the future.
References:
- Sureka P, Govil S, Dash D, Dash C, Kumar M, Singhal V. Sudarshan kriya for male patients with psychoactive substance dependence: A randomized control trial. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry. 2014;16(1):28-37.
- Kochupillai V, Kumar P, Singh D, Aggarwal D, Bhardwaj N, Bhutani M, Das SN. Effect of rhythmic breathing (Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam) on immune functions and tobacco addiction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2005 Nov;1056(1):242-52.
- Vedamurthachar A, Janakiramaiah N, Hegde JM, Shetty TK, Subbakrishna DK, Sureshbabu SV, Gangadhar BN. Antidepressant efficacy and hormonal effects of Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) in alcohol-dependent individuals. Journal of affective disorders. 2006 Aug 1;94(1-3):249-53.
- Rani A. Effect of Yoga on Depression Among Alcoholics in Nainital. International Journal of Research in Engineering, Science and Management. 2019 Oct; 10(2): 2581-5792
Jon Bon Jovi an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor, said, "Success is falling nine times and getting up ten". He is best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, formed in 1983.
Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutiérrez says, “Life is not about how many times you fall down. It's about how many times you get back up”. He was a Bolivian-American educator known for teaching students calculus.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, “Remember that life goes beyond failure and success: do not simply focus on these two categories of prospects. Life goes beyond the moments we find rewarding and the moments we find upsetting.”
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says, "When you look back at your failures, you will see that you have learned something from them, and they have been stepping stones for you to move ahead." Jon Bon Jovi said a similar thing differently.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has revealed the four things that can help us get over addictions.
1. Fear of disease/something: If a doctor says, one more peg of alcohol and you will be dead.
2. Greed for something bigger: If you stop addiction for a month, you will get a lakh of rupees.
3. Love for something higher: Love can elevate your body-mind complex and stop craving.
4. Having a bigger addiction (satvik): A higher ecstasy through meditation, pranayama, satsang and seva can replace your toxic addiction.
