Let’s face it, these days, most of us have a hard time focusing on the here and now. Whenever there’s a moment of stillness, we almost instinctually reach for our phones to fill the gap. This might seem like a small thing, but it’s not. Especially in stressful and anxious times, being present is critical for our mental and physical well-being. That’s where meditation comes in, it enables us to stay in the moment.
Let’s talk about some real changes meditation does for you.
1. Stress Reduction
We often forget how much impact stress has on our health. It can wreck your body — playing havoc with your sleep, ramping up cravings, even making your hair fall out! And if you don’t address it, your heart and stomach might bear the brunt, with many other complications. So easing this stress can totally reshape your life.
That’s precisely what meditation does — it fights back the havoc wreaked by stress. See, stress releases a hormone called cortisol which sparks a lot of these health troubles. But guess what? Studies show that meditation can help reduce stress-caused inflammation in the body. So, if you’ve recently stressed, consider meditation to fix some of that damage.
2. Pain Management
If you’re among 50 million Americans fighting chronic pain, doing simple day-to-day tasks is probably quite hard. Plus, doctors are getting more cautious about giving out opiate painkillers, given their addictive nature. Hence, they are looking for alternatives like cognitive therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, and now, meditation too.
Research shows that meditation can boost pain tolerance and even offer temporary relief for things like lower back pain. But remember to chat with your doctor before you include meditation in your pain management strategy.
3. Reducing Depression
Depression can be a life-drainer. If everything that used to give you joy suddenly seems pointless, remember, you’re not alone. Meditation can help you combat stress and anxiety, common triggers for depression. These conditions spring from negative self-thoughts and a lack of hope for the future. By teaching your brain to focus on the present, mindfulness meditation can break those negative thought chains.
4. Lowering Blood Pressure
Heart disease is a leading cause of early death around the world. So, it’s vital for us all to pay attention to heart health. Lowering blood pressure is a big part of this — it stops the heart from having to work too hard and helps prevent the arteries from narrowing, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Once again, the twin powers of meditation and a healthy diet can come to the rescue! Research indicates disciplines such as mindfulness and transcendental meditation can help you calm your brain. In this relaxed stage, your blood pressure drops, inflammation decreases, and arteries widen.
Keen to give it a go? Don’t worry, getting started on meditation has never been easier. Just find a few instruction videos online and you’ll be on your way.
Tags: Benefits, Meditation, Mental Health, Physical Health
