Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness is one of the most popular mediation technique. It has two parts, attention and acceptance. The definition of mindfulness is the awareness that arises through "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" (Kabat-Zinn, 1994, p. 4). Daily practice of mindfulness can help you to train your brain to focus your attention on what's actually going on around you and inside of you. Mindfulness can also help you step back and avoid making premature assumptions (interpretations) about your own emotions, other people and external events. there are evidence that indicates mindfulness has a positive effect on quality of life, not just in people who are coping with a chronic condition but also in healthy people who wish to reduce stress or live more simply.

A research paper was done in China, titled "Mindfulness Practice for Protecting Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic", found out that practitioners of mindfulness mediation manifested less pandemic-related distress than non practitioners during the pandemic. Research findings have shown that there are improvements in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, especially in experienced practitioners.

Researchers analyzed over 200 studies on mindfulness in healthy people and discovered that mindfulness-based therapy was particularly effective at reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness can also assist in the treatment of various issues such as depression, pain, smoking, and addiction. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can significantly reduce relapse in people who have had previous episodes of major depression. For individuals with chronic pain, MBCT can considerably improve pain, fatigue, and stress. Chronic stress can weaken the immune system and exacerbate a variety of other health issues. Mindfulness may have downstream benefits throughout the body by reducing the stress response.

Cited: Clin Psychol Rev. 2011 August; 31(6): 1041-1056. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006, Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health: A Review of Empirical Studies

Let's Talk