Meditation & Mental Health (National Meditation Month 2023)

Meditation can be used for mental health reasons especially if you have depression, anxiety, nervousness, and too much work-related stress. If you experienced childhood trauma or trauma as an adult, you could benefit from meditation to help you relax, reduce your stress, reduce panic attacks, and improve your sleep. You do not have to sit down to do meditation and you can do this during your work breaks. Meditation can help you avoid job exhaustion. Yet, it is important to know that meditation is a complementary aspect of your therapy.

Depending on what type of meditation you do and your therapy for your mental health, you will let go of your anxieties and nervousness. The entire month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Meditation Month. Meditation helps you be more self-aware of your physical and mental health. It takes time and effort to get to know oneself through meditation and to shut down the negativity you accept. Meditation may be beneficial for an anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or for a major depressive disorder.

However, with any mental disorder, it needs to be treated with medical intervention and psychological intervention to feel recovered. There are diverse types of meditation such as guided meditation, mindfulness, meditation with mantras, Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong, and positive affirmations to reduce physical and mental stress. Begin by learning about each type of meditation and see which one works for you. As well as getting recommendations from your therapist or a counselor from behavioral services to find the type of meditation you may need for your mental health. A mental disorder does not define you as a person, but it needs to be managed to feel better.

Dedicate this month by adding meditation to your lifestyle such as loving-kindness meditation, gratitude meditation, movement meditation, mindfulness, and guided meditation. Guided meditation helps you focus with visualization techniques to help you feel serene. It also helps you self-reflect, be self-aware, and feel self-love for yourself. You do not need to be spiritual or religious to do meditation; But if you want to incorporate a spiritual meditation to help you organize your thoughts, it does help you feel relaxed, less fearful, and more peaceful. Doing spiritual meditation makes you connect at a deeper level with yourself and to self-reflect more with your feelings.

Do walking meditation, write in your journal, practice chanting meditation, or meditation with sound to relax in less than thirty minutes. Relax with aromatherapy and meditate to feel good about yourself. Make meditation a good habit to include in your lifestyle so you can improve your mental health. If you can not manage your negative thoughts, impulsive behavior, nervousness, anxieties, or other changes in your behavior; Consult with your primary doctor and with a therapist. Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline for emotional support.

Nonetheless, commit your time to improving your mental health with meditation. You can lie down, sit, or walk while you meditate. Let your mind feel calm and release any physical tension while you meditate. Avoid any distractions as you allow your body and mind to relax. Here are website links with more information about meditation and mental health. 

How Meditation Can Improve Your Mental Health:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/meditation/how-meditation-can-improve-your-mental-health/

How Meditation Impacts Your Mind and Body-Very Well Mind:

How Meditation Impacts Your Mind and Body (verywellmind.com)

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