Why Try Meditation for Stress Relief?
Recently, I was at a casual get-together and the subject of meditation was brought up. It is reassuring to know that the topic of meditation for stress relief is on more and more peoples’ radar these days. But, there is one comment I hear more often than any other when the conversation turns to meditation…
‘My mind is just too scattered (or busy or distracted or fast-paced, etc., etc., etc.,) to meditate…it just wouldn’t work for me’.
Here’s the thing. Unfortunately, these days, I am convinced that everyone’s mind is too busy! Our brains are full of never-ending to-do lists and worries and are constantly jumping from one thought to another. The pressure of these expectations and demands add up to create a continual feeling of stress and anxiety.
And this is exactly why it is so important that we give our minds some recovery time. Our minds need the opportunity to realize it is o.k. to momentarily step off of the hamster wheel. We don’t need to be constantly attached to the thoughts whizzing through our heads.
So why don’t we do it???
False belief #1:
A common misconception that keeps people from meditating is the belief that it requires an absence of thought.
This is not the case!
It is a quiet time to be with yourself and give your mind permission to settle a little in order to work on letting thoughts come and go.
That’s all.
A chance to not feel compelled to follow every thought down a rabbit hole.
An opportunity to recognize each thought as simply a thought, not a truth or an absolute.
A time to practice letting go of each thought without giving it any more of your energy or attention.
False Belief #2:
Another frequent roadblock to meditation is the disheartening feeling that you suck at it. We believe we are somehow doing it wrong and then quit before any of the extraordinary benefits have time to take hold.
We must keep in mind that just like any other talent, activity, habit or hobby we take part in, meditation takes practice to cultivate. And it is not easy, especially in the beginning because we are unaccustomed to it.
So, like exercise for our bodies, we need to commit to and set aside time for a meditation practice to be successful. Meditation is not supposed to be a quick-fix. It will take time, but eventually the advantages of taking this time will reinforce our developing habit.
If you can get beyond these misconceptions, and are someone that is constantly stressed out or suffering with any type of anxiety, the perks of meditation can be well worth the effort of trying.
What are some of these benefits?
Improved Sleep Quality:
Living in a perpetual state of sleep deprivation seems to be the norm these days. Lack of sleep stresses our bodies and has negative effects on our emotions and moods.
A consistent meditation practice helps counteract this by inducing a sense of peace and calm that can be carried with us throughout the day. Meditation has also been shown to be a useful strategy to improve sleep disturbances such as insomnia and to provide more restful sleep in general. In turn, improving your quality of sleep can alleviate symptoms of anxiety.
Increased Levels of the ‘Feel Good’ Chemical Serotonin:
The relaxation state achieved through meditation is believed to cause the body to release a variety of neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Serotonin is known as the ‘feel-good’ chemical that causes a sense of calm. It is a natural mood stabilizer and helps regulate anxiety.
The release of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, explains why long-time meditators report feelings of well-being and calm.
Counteracts the Effects of the Stress Response:
Many of us spend a large proportion of our time under high levels of stress. Our bodies don’t have the ability to differentiate between the various causes of stress. So we respond to any stress by activating the ‘fight or flight’ mode of our nervous systems.
This physiological state causes many changes in the function of the body which are productive for short term survival in life-threatening situations. But, being in this state for long periods of time due to chronic life stressors is horrible for our health.
Meditation has been shown to counteract many of these stress responses. Some of the healing effects of meditation include:
- Decreased heart rate
- Deeper breathing
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduction of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline
- Strengthened immune function
- Decreased inflammation
Additional Tips:
These are just a few of the numerous benefits a meditation practice can provide. There are many, many more advantages to meditation and mindfulness that you can explore in your own practice.
Keep in mind that meditation is like any other healthy habit we try to make a part of our wellness routine. We should strive for progress, not perfection as we begin our new practice.
As with physical fitness, healthy eating, and restful sleep, our meditation practice may wax and wane. However, if we have taken the time to commit to daily meditation for a set period of time in the beginning however, we will learn the pros and cons of that practice. Then we can better return to meditation again and again when we become aware that we need it.
I recommend trying 5-10 minutes of meditation daily for a month. It is likely that you will be tempted to give up during this time, but remember these benefits for motivation to keep going. Remember it is a free, impactful way to improve our health and it has no negative side-effects!
We deserve these time-outs!
So let go of expectations or notions about what you think meditation should look like or feel like and give it a chance.
If you are looking for a place to start, you may find this article for beginners to be helpful.
Until next time… find your sense of calm as often as you can!
