Breaking Free from Opioid Dependence: How Mind-Body Therapies Can Help

If you’re struggling with chronic pain and opioid dependence, you’re not alone. Nearly 75% of people taking opioids long-term still experience pain and difficulty functioning, even with higher doses. The good news? Research shows that mind-body therapies can help reduce both pain and opioid cravings—without the side effects of more medication.

The Problem with Long-term Opioid Use

While opioids can be lifesaving for severe acute pain or cancer treatment, using them long-term often creates new problems:

• Your body needs higher doses for the same pain relief (tolerance)
• Physical dependence develops
• Risk of addiction increases
• Pain may actually get worse over time

What Are Mind-Body Therapies?

Mind-body therapies use the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations to promote healing. Think of them as training your brain to better manage pain and stress.

Four Proven Approaches

1. Mindfulness-Based Programs

• What it is: Learning to observe pain and cravings without automatically reacting
• Format: Usually 8 weekly group sessions (2 hours each) plus daily home practice
• Key benefit: Reduces both opioid cravings and pain intensity

2. Therapeutic Yoga

• What it is: Gentle movements, breathing exercises, and relaxation
• Format: 60-90 minute classes, 1-2 times per week
• Key benefit: Improves physical function while calming the nervous system

3. Biofeedback Training

• What it is: Learning to control your body’s stress responses using real-time feedback
• Format: 30-45 minute individual sessions
• Key benefit: Teaches you to physically relax and reduce pain signals

4. Guided Imagery/Hypnosis

• What it is: Using focused attention to change how your brain interprets pain
• Format: 4-8 weekly sessions
• Key benefit: Rewires pain perception without medication

The Science: What Research Shows

Reduced Opioid Use Multiple studies show that people using mindfulness-based recovery enhancement:

• Cut their opioid cravings in half
• Reduced their daily opioid dose
• Maintained improvements 6-9 months later

Better Pain Management A major 2020 study of 60 research trials found that meditation-based therapies provided:

• Moderate pain reduction
• Significant decrease in opioid doses needed
• Better results than standard care alone

Brain Changes That Last Brain scans show these therapies actually repair the reward system damaged by opioid use, helping people:

• Find pleasure in everyday activities again
• Reduce depression and anxiety
• Break the cycle of craving and use

How Do These Therapies Work?

1. Attention Training You learn to notice pain and cravings early, before they trigger automatic drug-seeking behavior.
2. Emotional Regulation Instead of panicking about pain (“This is terrible and will never end”), you learn to think differently (“This is uncomfortable but temporary”).
3. Reward System Repair Your brain relearns to find satisfaction in healthy activities rather than just opioids.
4. Stress Response Calming Slower breathing and muscle relaxation send “safety” signals to your nervous system, naturally reducing pain.

Getting Started: Practical Steps

For Patients

• Start small: Even 10 minutes of daily mindfulness or gentle stretching can help
• Use technology: Try apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer for guided practice
• Track more than pain: Notice improvements in sleep, mood, and relationships—these often come first
• Be patient: Most people see benefits within 4-6 weeks of regular practice

Important Safety Notes

• Don’t stop medication suddenly: These therapies work best alongside proper medical care
• Get help for severe symptoms: If you’re having withdrawal, suicidal thoughts, or psychiatric crisis, seek immediate medical attention
• Work with your doctor: Coordinate any dose changes with your healthcare provider

What to Expect

Week 1-2: Learning basic techniques, may feel awkward at first Week 3-4: Beginning to notice moments of calm or reduced tension Week 6-8: Improved sleep, better mood, starting to use techniques during difficult moments Month 3+: Significant reductions in cravings, pain levels, and possibly medication needs

Common Questions

Q: Will this replace my medication? A: No. These therapies work best as additions to proper medical treatment, not replacements.

Q: How much does it cost? A: Many insurance plans cover these treatments. Group classes are often more affordable than individual sessions.

Q: What if I can’t sit still or focus? A: That’s normal! Start with movement-based approaches like gentle yoga, then gradually add stillness practices.

Q: How long before I see results? A: Most people notice some improvement within 3-4 weeks, with significant changes by 2-3 months.

Next Steps

If you’re ready to explore mind-body therapies for your pain and recovery:

1. Talk to your doctor about adding these approaches to your treatment plan
2. Look for certified instructors in mindfulness-based recovery or therapeutic yoga
3. Start with one approach rather than trying everything at once
4. Give it time – like physical therapy, these skills take practice to develop

How We Can Help

At Mind Body Seven, we combine evidence-based medical treatment with personalized mind-body approaches. Our team works with you to create a recovery plan that fits your life, culture, and goals.

References

1. Garland, E. L., Brintz, C. E., Hanley, A. W., et al. (2020). Mind-body therapies for opioid-treated pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(1), 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.4917
2. Garland, E. L., Hanley, A. W., Nakamura, Y., et al. (2022). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement vs supportive group therapy for co-occurring opioid misuse and chronic pain in primary care: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 182(4), 407–417. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.0033
3. Cooperman, N. A., Lu, S. E., Hanley, A. W., et al. (2024). Telehealth mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement vs usual care in individuals with opioid use disorder and pain: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 81(4), 338–346. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5138
4. Garland, E. L., Nakamura, Y., Bryan, C. J., et al. (2024). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement for veterans on long-term opioid therapy: A randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 181(2), 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230272
5. Garland, E. L., Hudak, J., Hanley, A. W., et al. (2025). Positive emotion dysregulation in opioid use disorder and normalization by mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement. JAMA Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.0569
6. Schuman-Olivier, Z., Goodman, H., Rosansky, J., et al. (2025). Mindfulness training vs recovery support during buprenorphine treatment: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 8(1), e2454950. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54950
7. Parisi, A., Hanley, A. W., Garland, E. L. (2022). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement reduces opioid craving, pain, and negative affect: An analysis of within- and between-person effects. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 152, 104066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2022.104066
8. Rogerson, O., Wilding, S., Prudenzi, A., & O’Connor, D. B. (2024). Effectiveness of stress-management interventions to change cortisol levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 159, 106415. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106415
9. Garland, E. L., Gullapalli, B. T., Prince, K. C., et al. (2023). Zoom-based MORE plus just-in-time mindfulness triggered by wearables for opioid craving and chronic pain. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02137-0
10. Psarianos, A. E., Philippou, A., Papadopetraki, A., et al. (2025). Cortisol and β-endorphin responses during an exercise program in patients on opioid substitution therapy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(11), 5178. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115178

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