Meditation is an effective way that helps many people relieve stress or even reduce the symptoms of their health problems. It’s considered a “mind-body complementary medicine” that works by putting a person in such a deeply relaxed state where any stress, overwhelming thoughts, and anxieties can be addressed and eliminated in a peaceful way.  

When the word meditation is brought up, the first thing many people think of are cross-legged hippies saying “oohm” over and over again. This however, isn’t necessarily what meditation is. While those things can be included in meditation, it’s much simpler and more effective than we’ve been led to believe.

Many doctors believe that engaging in meditation can have incredible benefits. 

“Some research suggests that practicing meditation may reduce blood pressure, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression, and insomnia,” Nccih.gov said. 

Meditation has proven to be especially effective in calming anxiety. 

For example, Apa.org stated, “Researchers reviewed more than 200 studies of [meditation] among healthy people and found mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.”

Research involving Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines showed that when meditation was practiced, the Amygdala, which is the part of the brain that processes fear and threatening situations, shrank. On the other hand, the prefrontal cortex, the area that deals with awareness, became thicker. When this area becomes thicker, our capacity to manage and process fears and anxiety increases.

“Meditation also has benefits for your physical health, as it can improve your tolerance for pain and help fight substance addiction,” theinsider.com said. 

Physical health can be improved through meditation as it decreases metabolism, lowers blood pressure, and can improve heart rates.

Furthermore, there have been instances where meditation has significantly improved the quality of a person’s life. 

In one case, a woman named Cassandra Metzger who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia said “meditation saved me from despair more than once.”

Metzger had tried everything from muscle relaxers to pain killers, none of which brought her the relief she needed. Not until she discovered meditation. 

According to brainandlife.org “During episodes of acute illness, I was saved by knowing that the experience of pain was just one moment in time—maybe an excruciating moment, maybe a long moment, but still a moment. I learned this by meditating,” Metzger said. 

Meditation is known to have many benefits and doctors agree that it can benefit the mind and body by reducing anxiety, lowering heart rate, etc. Headspace.com has great information on meditation, and their app is a great way to start meditating. It’s full effects aren’t fully known yet; however, by doing more research and breaking down the stereotype of meditation, more people will be inclined to practice it and we will know just how much it can do for us.

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