Five Ways Meditation Impacts Mental Health

MIND

Jul 19

Meditation is a skill that trains the mind to become aware of its own thoughts for mental health purposes.

By focusing mindful attention to a thought, experience, memory, or emotion you can find relief from psychological distress and improve your overall wellness. If you are an active individual who does not like the sound of sitting cross-legged on the floor in silent reflection, then you are in luck! There are many different types of meditation, so if sitting still is not your vibe you can still practice and benefit from meditation. Mindfulness in any activity can be a form of meditation.

Meditation is not new and chances are you have already heard about Meditation.
If you are not already actively benefiting from this powerful practice, then you might be wondering if there is any science to back up the hype.

**The quick and easy answer is – YES!**
Countless studies and extensive research has been done to prove the direct correlation between meditation and mental health.
Meditation is so widely celebrated because it is an effective option for treating stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD, and many other health conditions.
**Let’s explore 5 powerful ways that meditation can directly support your mental health!**

Five benefits of Meditation:

Meditation is a stress reliever.
When your body or mind experiences stress, a stress hormone called cortisol spikes. The increase in cortisol is responsible for the inflammatory chemicals such as cytokines which can cause insomnia, depression, anxiety, and increased blood pressure. Many studies such as this one have been done to conclude that consistent meditative practices can reduce the inflammatory chemical response caused by stress.
Meditation helps manage anxiety.
If you struggle with severe anxiety or experience chronic pain connected with your anxiety, then meditation may be the answer for you. Meditation is known to be especially beneficial for reducing anxiety symptoms in people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and also helps with managing job-related anxiety.
Meditation promotes the healthy processing of complex emotions.
Meditation can cultivate a more positive and constructive personal outlook simply because of how beneficial it is with processing complex emotions such as anger, fear, or grief. By intentionally drawing attention to your own self-awareness, meditation can allow even the most distressing experiences and feelings to be deciphered in a healthy way. Reconciling with complex experiences and emotions encourages a deeper sense of personal trust and wellbeing. Again, meditation does not have to mean sitting. It can be any activity that cultivates inner stillness.
Meditation helps you concentrate.
Living in the digital age can make it challenging to unplug, but meditation is known to extend your natural attention span and amplify your concentration. Whether you are trying to concentrate on a project or concentrate on unwinding, meditation helps your mind focus. Additionally, meditation helps your brain reverse unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to distractive thoughts, daydreaming, or worrying.
Meditation helps you sleep better.
Not getting enough sleep can lead to multiple health problems. Digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are all connected to your sleep patterns. If you struggle to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly then you definitely should consider incorporating meditation into your daily routine.

Whether you prefer movement meditation, guided meditation, mindfulness meditation, mantra meditation, visualization meditation, or progressive relaxation, all meditation can be practiced just about anywhere and is a powerful tool for promoting your mental and emotional wellbeing.

The best part? It’s free. Engaging in a meditative practice for even just five minutes a day can be enough to give your mind the support it needs to function optimally.

While many people choose to incorporate meditation as part of their overall wellness plan, it is important to remember that meditation is only part of the mind-body-soul wellness routine. The impact of meditation is most effective when it is supported with comparative practices such as healthy diet, exercise, and healthy relationships.