You probably know that meditation can help relieve stress but it can also be beneficial with other aspects of your life such as diseases and pain management. In our busy and noisy life many people are learning of the benefits of meditation. Many of us are busy most of our waking hours and may be lacking the sleep that we need. Meditating can help you enjoy some quietness and become more aware to our mind and body.

Meditation for Stress Relief

Along with feeling less stressed, it has been published in Psychology Journals that meditation may also decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have experienced lower stress and fatigue when practicing meditation. It has also been determined in studies to improving cognitive function of the brain and protect against mental illness.

It has been found in studies that the amygdala brain region’s response to emotional is changed by meditation even when a person isn’t actively meditating.

Along with benefiting the person meditating it can also benefit people they interact with since they may be more compassionate and have a “do-good” behavior.

Loneliness can be dangerous among seniors since it has been known to raise risks of numerous health conditions. Research has shown that meditation helped decrease feelings of loneliness in elderly and increase their health by reducing the genes linked with inflammation. Teaching meditation to teens can help them reduce stress, anxiety and depression according to recent studies. Depression can be experienced in about one in five pregnant women, however meditation and mindfulness yoga may lead to an empowered and positive feelings throughout their pregnancy.

Meditation

Beyond the ravages cancer can wreak to patients bodies it can also be a very stressful experience. Studies have shown that meditation along with art therapy can decrease stress symptoms of women with breast cancer. If they are less stressed they may be able to handle the treatments and deal with their disease better.

It is common knowledge that exercise can help you reduce your chances of developing some diseases or improve your symptoms. Meditation has also been shown to help benefit your health which will help lower your medical expenses. It may also help you survive cold and flu season without coming down with any major illnesses.

Since it can reduce your stress it may also control illnesses you experience such as heart related disease and others.

Medication is considered as a good strategy for weight loss by seven out of ten psychologists in a Consumer Reports and the American Psychological Association survey. By losing weight you will feel better and typically improve any illnesses you may have. You will feel better physically and also emotionally if you feel better about yourself and your appearance. Many people eat and snack more when they are stressed. By meditating and reducing your stress level, you may also be able to reduce your stress eating.

Sleep Meditation

When you meditate and quiet your mind before you go to bed you may able to help you go to sleep easier and sleep through the night better. It has also been advised to minimize activity such as watching television and computer time within the hour before you are planning on going to bed. Your mind needs a break from the stimulation of the light of these devices to start shutting down for the night. It has also been determined that people have more trouble getting to sleep or sleeping peacefully during the night if that they have electronic devices near their bedside.

You may be aware of the mental and emotional benefits of meditating but there are many health related and physical benefits also. You may think you are too busy and don’t have time to meditate but attempt to set aside a few minutes a day for meditation and quiet time. You may find that your children will behave better and listen to you more if you are less stressed. Better yet, have your children learn to meditate also, which will may help them deal with stresses of their days and concentrate better in school. If they learn to slow down and let their minds rest when they are younger it will increase the chances of them continuing to meditate throughout their lives and possibly reduce physical and mental illnesses in the future.