Meditation Benefits – Psychological

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
 

Stumble This Post

Welcome back! Keep updated - Subscribe to my RSS feed & Scroll Down to leave a Comment

Technorati Tags: Meditation, Meditation Benefits, Mind Body

Related posts:

1. Acceptance Of Meditation Widens Meditation is becoming increasingly mainstream. A 2007 survey by...
2. 7 Reasons To Learn Meditation If you are thinking about learning meditation, have done...
3. Meditation Slows AIDS & Effects Your Genes Interestingly this article on American research onto the effect...
4. May Is Meditation Month I just read somewhere that May is meditation month...
5. Meditate For A Bigger Brain A group of researchers at UCLA using high-resolution magnetic...