Guest Written by Sarah Frick
While the exact origins of meditation are unknown, many believe it’s been around for over 5,000 years. Meditation is the act of focusing or thinking deeply for a period of time. Some people meditate in silence and others speak or chant. Over all, as long as meditation encompasses focusing or thinking deeply, there is really no wrong way to do it. Many people like to set the mood with a quiet setting. The effect meditation can have on people varies depending on the person or type of meditation. However, some of the most common uses for meditation are to ease stress, anxiety, and sleeplessness.
Stress plagues many Americans, and meditation is one of the healthiest ways for people to relieve stress. Stress is emotional or mental strain that can be caused by work, relationships, school, and so many other things. Specifically, work stress can be brutal. My friend, Bob, is a lawyer and works for a foreclosure law firm. The firm is not doing well because the housing market is back up. The firm has laid off many people, and as a result, Bob has to do the work of three attorneys. Regardless of the extra work, the firm still expects the work to be completed in a timely fashion. This has caused Bob’s stress levels to rise. Choosing a type of meditation called Mantra Meditation is a way that he relieves his stress. Mantra Meditation is when you silently repeat calming words, thoughts, or phrases to prevent distracting thoughts. Bob can take five minutes at his desk to help reduce stress to deal with a difficult situation.
Relieving stress isn’t the only positive effect meditation can have for people; meditation can also reduce anxiety. Anxiety refers to extreme fear or worry and is a medical illness that plagues millions of American. Anxiety is a general term that includes but is not limited to anxiety attacks, panic attacks, phobias, and social anxiety. I should give a disclaimer that I am not in any way implying that meditation can replaced the need for medication to treat anxiety. Anxiety is an illness, and if someone is suffering from anxiety, they should be seen by a medical professional. However, meditation can relieve some the symptoms of anxiety. One type of meditation that helps people with anxiety is called Zen Meditation. This type of meditation is done when a person sits or kneels in a Buddha-like position and they breathe smoothly, which slows down the mind and helps encourage good feelings. With anxiety being such a common problem in America today, knowing ways to relieve anxiety is vital.
One of the effects of stress and anxiety is sleeplessness. So many people lie in bed watching the clock tic, but when they close their eyes their mind runs wild. Not getting proper sleep for one night can cause lethargy for a full week. It is vital that everyone gets at least 5 hours of sleep per night. However, whether they’re thinking about work, family, friends, or one of the many ways people over extend themselves, many find themselves turning to over the counter sleep aids. Thankfully, it not necessarily needed. Before grabbing the bottle, it might be worth trying mediation. The type of meditation that can be very helpful for sleeplessness is guided imagery. Guided Imagery is a type of meditation where a guide leads through a series of visualizations. According to urbanwired.com, “It is essentially induced dreaming or daydreaming and it enables the subconscious to express itself while one is actually awake. The practitioner imagines a soothing environment, to help him/her relax, and may project elements causing pain, stress and anger in his/her real life on to the environment. In order to resolve issues in a safe, non-conflictual zone, guided imagery is ideal. One can practice this without a guide once one gets accustomed.” Many people I know have found this method essential to falling asleep at night.
The practice of meditation has been used for centuries. As a kid, I remember my dad using meditation to help my brothers and I feel asleep many times. I have only touched on a few types of meditation. With a quick google search, many different ways that meditation can be done and how it can improve quality of life can be found. Also, applications on phones and tablets can be tremendously helpful. They often feature guides and information that can get you started with ease. Many of these applications are free.
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