Knowledge centre · Illustrated explainer
Distinguishing an urge from a response
What mindfulness practices aim to do, and what remains uncertain.
- Notice the urge
- Make room before acting
- Consider options
How to read the diagram
Mindfulness-based approaches address awareness of present experience and automatic responses. They do not promise that urges will disappear or always be manageable.
In the Cochrane review of substance use disorders, findings vary by comparison and outcome, with uncertainty in the evidence. The wave is not a measured craving curve or a timing rule.
Limits of this account
This page is not a stand-alone crisis or withdrawal-management technique.
Sources and their relevance
- Goldberg ve ark. · Cochrane · 2021 — Mindfulness-based interventions for substance use disorders
Examines mindfulness interventions with attention to comparators and uncertainty.
Sources checked: 16 October 2026. Original conceptual diagrams prepared for this site. General information, not individual diagnosis or a care plan.