Open Monitoring is a technique utilized in mindfulness meditation. It involves observing reactionary emotions and thoughts that occur, while maintaining a non- judgmental state. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

There are many different techniques one can use during formal meditation, including:

- Body scan
- Yoga
- Breath awareness
- Open Monitoring

Formal Meditation Skills

Mindfulness-Based Interventions utilized for addiction are similar to general mindfulness-based interventions in that they are multiple weeks long and are usually in a group therapy format. However, they tend to tailor mindfulness practices to behaviors prominent in addiction, such as craving, and foster discussions about how mindfulness can be applied to cope with addiction.  Open monitoring and focused attention are examples of techniques that are employed in such interventions. 

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Addiction

Travis, F., & Shear, J. (2010). Focused attention, open monitoring and automatic self-transcending: Categories to organize meditations from Vedic, Buddhist and Chinese traditions. Consciousness and Cognition, 19(4), 1110–1118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2010.01.007

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Focused attention, open monitoring and automatic self-transcending: Categories to organize meditations from Vedic, Buddhist and Chinese traditions

Open Monitoring

Body Scan Meditation involves focusing one's attention on each part of the body from feet to head. This allows the participant to notice any sensations in the body creating more self-awareness.

Body Scan Meditation

Therapeutic Interventions that Teach Formal Meditation Skills

Focused attention is a type of technique utilized in concentration meditation. This technique involves sustaining focus on a chosen object, which is what the mind is to be brought back to if focus strays. 

Focused Attention

Mindfulness-based interventions for addiction are  thought to work upon the dysregulation of cognitive processes caused by substance abuse. The usage of mindfulness techniques such as body scan, mindful breathing, and informal mindfulness can work upon certain biological and behavioral mechanisms involved in addiction.  

Therapeutic Mechanisms of Mindfulness as a Treatment for Addiction

A combination of relapse prevention which is a cognitive behavioral therapy with mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. It is a mindfulness based aftercare approach to prevent those who have suffered from addiction to relapse.

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

Improved self control abilities due to using mindfulness meditation in both smokers and nonsmokers. Increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and adjacent prefrontal cortex (mPFC), showing an improvement in self control and emotion regulation as a result of practicing mindfulness.

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