How Meditation Benefits Mental Health

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   Mental health comprises all the qualities that lead to the achievement of personal and social well being.

   Healthy individuals are productive and live rewarding lives. Mental health is particularly important at all stages of life, from early childhood and adolescence to adulthood. For most people, mental health has been quite good throughout their lives. However, for some people - especially those with learning disabilities, autism, or schizophrenia - mental health can be poor.

   It is believed that some mental illnesses are caused by the interaction between two systems in the brain, namely, the autonomic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The autonomic system is controlled by the brain stem itself which signals the rest of the body through the spinal cord and the nerves. This nervous system provides the body with the benefits of breathing, heartbeat, digestive processes as well as the responses to external stimuli such as light, sound, and touch.    The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the avoidance of dangerous stressors, such as anxiety and panic attacks, as well as the flight or fight response.

   It is the ability to cope with stress and anxiety that play a key role in ensuring healthy brain functioning. Stress and anxiety can have a detrimental effect on the brain's functioning. Some research indicates that up to 75 percent of all illnesses are linked to stressful life events. Psychotherapy and relaxation techniques can help to reduce the physical and emotional symptoms associated with stress.

   Meditation, a type of mindful exercise, has been shown to enhance overall wellness in the human body as well as the brain. Regular meditation practice has been shown to decrease the symptoms of both heart disease and hypertension, and to increase vitality and well-being. It helps the body learns how to better deal with stress and has been used for decades as a treatment for depression and other emotional disorders.     The goal of regular meditation practice is to cultivate a sense of balance by regulating emotional responses to external stimuli as well as learning how to better manage stress. How to work with stress and learn talk about yourself with new people?(my website resource) 

   Meditation is not easy, but many of the techniques can be learned from guided meditation or self-study.

  Guided meditation is often recommended by those who practice various forms of meditation and who have become proficient at it. A teacher will often provide students with a step-by-step process of becoming proficient at meditating. Those who are not familiar with the process may find it helpful to enroll in a class of mediators who are more experienced and who may be able to provide advice and assistance with the beginning steps.

   Self-study allows those who are not familiar with meditation and other practices to learn how to meditate without being concerned about progressing to a more advanced level. Learning to meditate is an excellent way to achieve relaxation, as well as improving sleep patterns. During meditation, it is possible to clear the mind of many of the distracting factors that keep us awake. This can have a positive impact on sleep, as well as improving mood and energy levels.

   Regular meditation sessions can help lower the amount of stress one experiences during the day. Many of us find that stress and anxiety are a major cause of physical problems such as headaches and tension. By reducing the amount of stress a person is experiencing on a daily basis, he or she can help to avoid the onset of physical problems that can develop as a result of continued stress. For those who are unfamiliar with meditation, it is often beneficial to start out with short meditation sessions that allow a person to become accustomed to the process before progressing to longer periods of focus and greater tranquility.

   Another benefit of meditation is improved blood circulation. Some researchers believe that meditation helps to regulate the heart rate. During meditation, a person can gain a greater awareness of his or her breathing and a greater ability to control its rhythm. This can lead to a reduction in cardiac stress, which can ultimately lead to a healthier heart. In addition, many scientists believe that meditation helps to regulate blood pressure. Many physicians highly recommend meditation as a means of reducing both the frequency and severity of many heart-related conditions.