9 Amazing Benefits of Meditation
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INTRODUCTION
Meditation was hands down the most effective practice that helped me to overcome my anxiety and panic attacks.
Meditation can be defined as a set of techniques that consciously attempt to help your mind focus on a certain point in a non-analytical way.
It’s a process of building upon your mental resistance and gaining back some control over your wandering thoughts.
Research supports the growing list of benefits that meditation can offer and I would love to share 9 amazing benefits of meditation with you below.
1. REDUCES BLOOD PRESSURE
Meditation has been scientifically proven to boost your cardiovascular system and reduce your blood pressure.
It has been estimated that one in every three adults in the UK has high blood pressure and the consequences of this can be hugely detrimental.
It’s particularly important to be aware of your mental health and anxiety levels when it comes to your blood pressure too as stress can induce unhealthy habits (such as overeating, drinking and smoking) that can then put a strain on your heart.
It has been suggested that meditation reduces your blood pressure by relaxing the nerve signals which co-ordinate your heart-function, blood vessel tension and fight-flight response.
2. AIDS SLEEP
Another benefit of doing meditation is that it can help you get a good night’s sleep.
A scientific study involving a group of people who struggled with insomnia reflected that 75% of the group were able to get to sleep within 25 minutes by maintaining a regular meditation practice.
During periods of high anxiety, I just couldn’t calm my mind and get to sleep so I started using this fantastic guided meditation by Jason Stephenson and it helped me to fall asleep within 15/20 minutes. Have a listen if you are finding it difficult to switch off at night and see how you get on.
3. INCREASES ENERGY
Studies have proved that regular meditation practices can increase your serotonin levels.
Serotonin is often referred to as the ‘happy chemical’ and is associated with boosted feelings of positivity.
Those that suffer from stress, anxiety and panic attacks often have lower levels of serotonin, so a regular meditation practice can have a great impact on your mood and motivation.
4. HELPS WITH PAIN MANAGEMENT
Meditation helps to alleviate pain.
Research has shown that the initial act which causes you to be in pain (known as the primary pain) triggers a second wave of pain, where your reaction may be to get angry and become restless (the second pain).
What’s really interesting is that studies have shown that people feel the secondary pain to be worse than the primary.
Meditation and mindfulness help to soothe this amplification of pain and allow you to perceive and handle the discomfort in a way that is more gentle.
5. IMPROVES FOCUS
For anyone battling brain fog, this is a great tool to help you focus your mind better.
During meditation, you often have one focal point. This could be the breath, a mantra or even a form of movement. You learn how to concentrate on this one particular element for an extended period of time whilst diverting your mind from any wandering thoughts.
Hence, mediation is a great tool for improving your focus as you will be able to use the task at hand as your focal point, and bring back your attention anytime you feel yourself going off track
6. INCREASES MEMORY
Research has shown that during meditation, the hippocampus and fontal brain lobe which are responsible for the processing of long term/short term memory and emotional responses are activated.
The more you practice meditation, the more information your brain is able to store and we are able to remember things with greater clarity.
7. HELPS FIGHT ADDICTIONS
One area where meditation has been seen to be most effective is in regards to fighting addictions.
Typically, someone with an addiction/dependency has little control over their thoughts and when their mind wanders, it tends to go towards their addiction.
Meditation helps to build up your mental discipline where you can regain control over your thoughts and have the necessary awareness to be aware of your triggers. You can also begin to understand the root cause of your addiction better and learn how to have coping mechanisms in place.
8. REDUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY
Meditation is a great practice for reducing stress and anxiety as it helps us to stay in the present moment and not fixate on thoughts connected to the past or even around events that haven’t happened yet.
At points where our brain is about to go in over-drive and spiral into a place of fear and panic, meditation helps us to understand that in this very moment there is nothing to be afraid of and we are safe.
9. INCREASES SELF-COMPASSION
For me personally, meditation provides a safe space where I can connect to my vulnerabilities and soothe them with self-compassion.
It increases my feelings of reassurance and helps me to accept my emotions for what they are whilst also knowing that I have the ability to stay calm and continue with my day.
CONCLUSION
Meditation is a fantastic tool with such a variety of benefits, both for your physical and mental health.
To help you get started, you can explore this list of short guided meditations and see how you get on.
Don’t forget to check out POP’s mental health printable programme which helps you take back control over your thoughts, emotions and goals. The worksheets are simple to follow and work through and you can take it completely at your own pace.
