FOCUS Aug-06 Mindfulness and HIV

a long history of multiple substance abuse and sexual addiction discovers that it is the pain of his family’s rejection that drives his impulsive behavior: “There are times when I just want to be anywhere else but here.” A 42year-old HIV-positive gay man living with an abusive partner notices that when he comes home, his body becomes tense, he feels anxious, and he is unable to complete basic selfcare tasks. A 34-year-old woman with HIV suffers from severe stress and anxiety and realizes her obsessive professional drive comes from a desperate need to “look normal.” These are all insights achieved through mindfulness, a self-awareness practice based on mindfulness meditation, which is an ancient consciousness discipline. Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as paying attention purposely, non-judgmentally, moment to moment. Mindfulness is the heart of the Buddhist tradition of vipassana, translated literally as “clear seeing.” Through the practice of observing the mind’s activity— rather than solely reacting to its content— mindfulness allows people to recognize the previously unconscious forces that influence their behavior, mood, and stress response. Proponents of mindfulness believe this practice reduces suffering, increases insight, and leads to a more direct experience of reality.