Meditation is all the rage these days. Whether it’s to seek enlightenment, improve one’s mental health, or just something to do to fight any boredom, meditation comes with many benefits no matter who you are, or what you’re looking to achieve.
But what are those benefits that are sought after by many meditative practitioners?
In this article, we’ll show you 12 of many benefits that revolve around meditation (AND backed by science!):
- Meditation Is A Stress Reliever
“Stress is one of many symptoms that meditation tackles,” says Calvin Sykes, a lifestyle writer at State Of Writing and Simple Grad. “In fact, according to DisturbMeNot, stress is one of the major causes of coronary disease, which attacks the heart. But with meditation, the likelihood of coronary disease is reduced by 87%, meaning less stress.”
- Meditation Might Be A Cognitive Godsend
For those suffering from cognitive issues, meditation can be beneficial for improving the brain, if not healing it from mental symptoms caused by aging, injury, etc. According to Forbes, people who meditate for an average of 20 years experienced more “grey matter volume” (cognition) in the brain. While meditation won’t prevent diseases like Alzheimer’s, it can still help your brain stay active.
- Meditation Lets You Be More Empathetic
Kindness and compassion are also evident in meditation. In fact, a 22-study research period done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that people who participate in meditation regularly are shown to have more compassion towards themselves and others.
- Meditation Keeps Anxiety At Bay
Anxiety can be a menacing mental issue to deal with. But with meditation, anxiety is nothing more than an afterthought.
DisturbMeNot suggests that meditation (done regularly in a 6- to 9-month period) can reduce anxiety 60% of the time. In other words, consistency in meditating can keep anxious tendencies at bay.
- Meditation Is Beneficial In Pain Management
For those suffering from pain, meditation can be that one treatment that you might not have considered until now. For example, those who suffer from, say, back pain, will see positive effects when they meditate. Research states that back-pain sufferers who meditate have seen significant improvement in their ability to do daily tasks by 30%.
- Meditation Fights Various Addictions
Meditation is all about self-control. This is something that people with addictions should rally behind since, according to the American Addiction Center, a 2017 study showed that:
- Almost 74% of adults abused alcohol, AND
- About 38% of adults abused drugs
However, it’s possible that meditation can change those shocking statistics. According to a 2018 study of 60 participants done by NIH, said participants saw the following effects after 3 months of meditation:
- Lower levels of stress
- Less psychological distress, AND
- Reduced alcohol cravings and usage
- Meditation Improves Your Attention Span
Paying attention can be hard for most people. However, a little meditation can get you focused.
According to another 2018 study by NIH, meditating for at least 13 minutes a day can help enhance attention and memory after an 8-week period.
- Meditation Promotes More Self-Awareness
Want to be more aware of your surroundings? Meditation can help you do that!
The American Psychological Association states that mindfulness can improve self-awareness in the practitioner. In other words, meditation can make a difference in how you do things in your waking life, and how you do things in your mental state, which can lead to enhanced problem-solving skills and better decision making.
- Meditation Lowers Depressive Symptoms
Depression can take a huge toll on someone’s overall health. Therefore, let meditation lift that heavy burden from your shoulders.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the purpose of meditation is to block the negativity that’s causing you to feel depressed. In short, meditation will challenge you to change your thinking from negative to positive.
- Meditation Helps You Manage ADHD
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of many mental disorders that can affect a person’s mental health,” says Gregory Greystone, a business writer at Big Assignments and Academized Review. “WedMD suggests that a third of adults with ADHD will look to meditation to help them manage their symptoms. This form of cognitive therapy is called ‘mindfulness-based,’ because it gets to the bottom of what’s causing one’s impulses and hyperactivity.”
- Meditation Lowers Your Risk Of Heart Disease And Stroke
Heart disease and stroke can be scary to endure. However, if you meditate regularly, you’ll see your risk of either the two be reduced.
Cortisol is responsible for inducing stress levels, which can be harmful for the heart. The good news is, meditation can actually reduce cortisol, which makes it easier on the heart. What happens, according to Penn Medicine, is that meditation activates the body’s “rest-and-digest” functions to counter the “fight-or-flight” responses, thus reduces the harmful effects of cortisol.
AddictionGroup wrote this article about the ways to heal your liver after alcohol abuse. You can find the link here: http://addictiongroup.org/blog/heal-your-liver/
- Meditation Gives You That Creative Spark
Finally, for all the creative gurus, meditation can work for you!
The Harvard Business Review suggests that 10 to 12 minutes (at the very least) of meditation is plenty good enough to get the creative juices flowing. Who wouldn’t want a steady stream of creative ideas?
Conclusion
Based on the amazing benefits listed, meditation is something to behold. If you’re looking for overall improvement in your life, health, etc. then give meditation a try today!
Emily Henry is a writer and editor at Studydemic and Best essay writing services. She is also a contributing writer for Best coursework services. As a digital marketer, she helps companies improve their marketing strategies and concepts.
Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
