" alt="Featured 468x60 Ad" />
Meditation Benefits - Psychological
October 23, 2008 by Ray Baskerville
As we saw in the article on the physiological and health benefits of meditation, a great deal of research has been done to study meditation in the last 50 years or more. This expansive body of research has also revealed numerous psychological benefits of meditation to which most committed meditators can testify. While it may be a new field of exploration for western science, the connections between the body and the mind are not new to the spiritual sciences. All the physiological benefits of meditation that we discussed quite naturally then have a corresponding benefit at the psychological level.
The reduction of stress at the physiological level that meditation brings, produces a reduction in the feelings of anxiety at the psychological level. A systematic review of 144 studies found that meditation was markedly more effective in reducing anxiety than other techniques (Journal of Clinical Psychology) Sometimes anxiety becomes paralyzing and overwhelming in the form of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often treated with drugs, but studies by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester and director of the medical center’s Stress Reduction Clinic, show that if people who are prone to panic attacks begin focused, meditative breathing the instant they feel the first signs of an episode, they are less likely to have a full-blown panic attack.
Meditation has also consistently been found to reduce
depression, hostility, and emotional instability, indicating the growth of a more stable, balanced, and resilient personality. In another statistical review of 42 independent research results, meditation was found to be effective in increasing self-actualization-an overall measure of positive mental health and personal development. Further analysis revealed that the technique is exceptionally effective in developing three independent components of this dimension: emotional maturity, a resilient sense of self, and a positive, integrated perspective on ourselves and the world (Journal of Social Behaviour and Personality)
Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and isolation are hallmarks of depression-the nation’s most prevalent mental health problem. Meditation increases self-confidence and feelings of connection to others. Many studies have shown that depressed people feel much better after eliciting the relaxation response of meditation, and practicing meditation reduces their relapse rate by half. Brain scans show that meditation shifts activity in the prefrontal cortex (behind the forehead) from the right hemisphere to the left. People who have a negative disposition tend to be right-prefrontal oriented; left-prefrontals have more enthusiasms, more interests, relax more, and tend to be happier.
The research on meditation has shown significant improvements in mental health, memory, concentration, and productivity. Researchers tested novice meditators on a button-pressing task requiring speed and concentration. Performance was greater at 40 minutes of meditation than after a 40-minute nap. Meditators notice more, but react more calmly than non-meditators to emotionally arousing stimuli. Those with smoking, alcohol, and eating addictions who have been trained in meditation break their addictions with significantly lower relapse rates than those receiving standard therapies. Middle school children who practice meditation show improved work habits, attendance, and GPA (grade point average). Brain scans of meditators show increased thickness in regions of the cortex associated with higher functions like memory and decision making. Meditation appears to slow aging. Those meditating five years or more were 12 years younger than their chronological age. Obviously this has both physical and mental benefits. Overall meditation can help most people feel less anxious and more in control. The awareness that meditation brings can also be a source of personal insight and self-understanding.
The research results will continue highlighting specific points of benefit from meditating, and this will only help to broaden the acceptance of meditation in the culture at large. This type of research can analyse in minute detail the subtle chemical changes in the brain and body that practising meditation produces. It can also measure the psychological improvements, all of this data from reductionist science however, doesn’t really help us to understand meditation.
The first thing that leads to these benefits is not the practice of meditation itself but the desire and commitment to do it. Wanting to meditate and being willing to do it indicates the desire for greater self-awareness and well-being. It is a willingness to take time to be with oneself, no matter what. This in itself is an enormous step for many people. Modern culture is completely oriented towards self distraction through an endless barrage of images and information. The focus is completely external and stimulates the perpetuation of desire.
Each of us regardless of a life circumstances carries within us pains and fears from the past. For the vast majority of us, for the vast majority of the time, these feelings, emotions, and their responding beliefs, influence us subconsciously. Meditation creates the opportunity for our attention to turn inwards and for these things to be made conscious. Without this conscious awareness of our inner fears, pains, and limiting beliefs, the habitual tendency is to project them outwards onto other people and the world at large. Through the practice of meditation, as these things reveal themselves within us, we can expand the depth of our self-awareness, self-responsibility, and develop an increasing empathy for others.
For those of you who like lists, the psychological benefits of meditation are…
▪ Increased brain wave coherence.
▪ Greater creativity.
▪ Decreased anxiety.
▪ Decreased depression
▪ Decreased irritability and moodiness
▪ Improved learning ability and memory.
▪ Increased self-actualization.
▪ Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.
▪ Increased happiness.
▪ Increased emotional stability.
• Increased capacity to learn and better learning achievements
• Increased ability to solve problems
• Increase in productivity.
• Increased concentration.
• Stronger feelings of happiness and contentment
• Greater self-acceptance and empathy
• Increased self confidence
• Increased spontaneity.
• Increased emotional stability.
• Increased self-awareness
• Greater Equanimity
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Related posts:
- Benefits Of Meditation - Physical Health Since the 1970’s there has been a steady flow of...
- Meditation Fun & Fantastic Facts Still wondering why people meditate, what’s can it do for...
- The Problem - Stress The Answer - Meditation Every week we seem to hear about another illness in...
- Meditation - As Good As Sleep? Two ways in which meditation is said to help people,...
- TM Improves ADHD Transcendental Meditation technique (TM) has been found to be an...
Loading ...
This may sound strange, but all of my best ideas come to me when I’m in a delirious, lucid, or meditative state. I guess it’s because my consciousness isn’t too creative.
I always try to compose music I hear in my dreams, but the memory just fleets away before I compose the entire thing, it’s a shame.
A very neat and well planned presentation and easy to navigate. Most importantly, it is very informative as well as educational.
Great site which I`ll visit often. Keep it up and keep the articles coming.
I remember when I was still in High School that I did try to meditate. It did help me to focus more on my studies and thus I got a higher grade. Meditation certainly benefits the mind because you become more focused while you are doing it.
this is a very informative article. i think meditation is not usually used by many people. i have tried it but don’t always time for it. meditation is known to be a good way of relaxating and it helps a lot in giving us a healthy mind, spirit and body.
I am not at all surprised by the long length of the list stating the benefits of meditation. Being one of the people who remembers clearly what it is like before and after starting meditation, I can testify to most of the benefits myself.
Its very good to list all the benefits of meditation like mentioned as above. Because many do not aware about of the meditation and many of them think that it is insane. It really helps in reducing the anxiety, I have experienced during my exam time as well during my first interview. It gives lots of confidence and divine strength which cannot be given by other exercise .