Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash
Meditation has been practiced around the world for thousands of years. It is only fairly recently, however, that people in the West have embraced the practice, and even more recently that health practitioners have taken meditation seriously as a treatment protocol.
Meditation has been shown to lower blood pressure, decrease symptoms of IBS and help fight chronic pain. But can meditation also help people overcome their mental health issues?
Numerous studies have been conducted regarding the relationship between meditation and
mental health and the results so far have been very positive.
Photo by Deniz Altindas on Unsplash
What is Meditation Exactly?
Meditation is a practice that teaches an individual to quiet their mind and be present in the
moment. There are different ways a person can meditate. Some of the most popular mediation methods are:
mindfulness meditation
spiritual meditation
movement meditation
mantra meditation
transcendental meditation
While meditation can be a difficult practice to start, individuals can experience profound benefits to their physical and mental health. Here are just some of the ways meditation has been shown to improve our mental health:
Improved Sleep
Sleep disturbances affect a large portion of the population. When we don’t get enough quality sleep, it can affect our mood. Researchers in California found that mindfulness meditation can significantly improve the quality and duration of sleep in those who practice daily.
Brain Function
Studies out of Harvard have shown that mindfulness meditation has the ability to physically
change numerous parts of the brain, some of which are responsible for perspective-taking and emotion regulation.
Depression and Anxiety
Meditation has been found to also benefit those individuals suffering from depression and
anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia. Findings have been so positive
that clinicians are now encouraged to speak to their patients about starting a meditation
practice.
If you are suffering from any mental health issues and would like to give meditation a try, look in your local area for meditation workshops. You can also find guided meditations online.
And if you’d like to speak to someone about what is currently going on in your life to cause you distress, please reach out to me. I’d be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.
