Meditation Information.... from Heart-Links.com

Stress: Guilty As Charged


How To Defend Yourself

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you sometimes feel like you just have too much to think about? Does it make you tired, irritable, or even depressed? What can you do about it?

People rarely go to the doctor to say "I think I have stress," and yet the National Institutes of Health say that 80% of illnesses are caused by stress, directly or indirectly. Hormones, such as adrenalin, are released into your blood when you're stressed. This causes a rise in blood pressure, a faster heart and breathing rate, and faster conversion of glycogen into glucose. These are good things if you need to escape a charging grizzly bear, but when these effects are prolonged, the immune system is depressed, and your body suffers other negative changes.

Common effects of prolonged stress include fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints, headache, mental confusion, depression, anxiety, and irritability. Stress reactions cause your body to use too much energy, which can result in physical and mental weakness.

Managing Stress With Meditation

Years ago at Stanford University, an analysis of 146 meditation studies was done. The conclusion was that meditation not only was beneficial at the time of practice, but that it significantly reduced anxiety as a character trait. The studies focused on transcendental meditation, but it's probable most methods have similar results. (Reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957­974, 1989.)

The bottom line is that stress is a killer, and that meditation really can help you defend yourself. Traditional meditation may have the most beneficial effects, but maybe you're short on time, or uncertain about learning to meditate. In that case, there are two simple techniques you can learn in a few minutes, and start using today.

The first is a breathing meditation. Close your eyes, let the tension drain from your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and breath deeply through your nose, paying attention to your breath. As thoughts or sensations arise, just acknowledge them and return your attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Do this for five or ten minutes.

To use the second technique, stop whatever you're doing when you feel stressed, and take three deep breaths. Watch yourself until you identify what is bothering you. Are you worried about something? Is there a letter you need to write? Maybe your neck is sore. Note everything you find.

Now deal with these stressors. Write the letter that's on your mind, take an aspirin, put things on tomorrow's list. If the best you can do is recognise there's nothing you can do right now - then do that. With practice, you'll get better at finding what's just below the surface of consciousness, irritating you. After you address these things, close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and you'll feel more relaxed and able to think clearly. Try it now.

Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html


MORE RESOURCES:

PsychCentral.com

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17, the center's guided day retreat on “Entering the Heart” will provide deeper insight into how to have a deeper meditation practice. ...


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Jakarta Globe, Indonesia - 11 hours ago
Practitioners say tai chi chih, often described as a “moving meditation,’’ helps improve balance, decrease stress and increase energy. ...


Examiner.com

Want to see God move in your life?
Examiner.com - 9 hours ago
In the early morning, we find Christ in prayer and meditation. Late at night, after a long day of ministry, we once again find Jesus in meditation and ...


The Blessed Future
Blanco County News,  USA - 6 hours ago
Your confession is directly tied to meditation! That’s why in Joshua 1:8, God says, “This book of the law shall not depart FROM OUT OF YOUR MOUTH! ...


Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley Serves Western ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Jan 5, 2009
The Insight Meditation Center of Pioneer Valley announces its classes, retreats and special events for the first half of 2009. ...

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