Taking a few moments to contemplate on your life and everything in it is highly beneficial for your overall well-being. This is why it is considered that meditation works wonders for our overall health. Not only does this activity help you stay more in touch with your inner self, but it also reflects positively on your exterior existence as well.
In fact, it is a perfect way to balance what is on the inside with what lies just outside of our core. And in the case of people who suffer from mental illnesses of varying degrees of severity, that optimal equilibrium is what lacks and what stops them from being whole. Thus, they need to regain it.
It might sound silly to think that something as simple as careful introspection can benefit your mental health to such an extent but just think about it. People haven’t been practicing it for centuries because it doesn’t work. In fact, the opposite is true. Meditation has amazing health benefits when approached correctly, and that includes the brain and all its functions as well.
Mindfulness and Mental Disorders
In the case of patients struggling with mental disorders such as anxiety, depression or even schizophrenia, meditation works similarly to any other control therapy. This practice of mindfulness is known to improve mood and relieve stress, which is obviously beneficial to people suffering from the former two, but what about the latter?
How do people who struggle with schizophrenia benefit from this approach? Studies show that people who are skilled at reflection and general conscious practices have the ability to turn off select areas of their brain which control daydreaming and mental wandering.
For people who suffer from schizophrenia, these particular areas are most active during a psychotic episode. Therefore, being able to control them is certainly beneficial. Furthermore, this might also be a way to alleviate mild hallucinations.
Not all schizophrenia patients experience these, but for those that do, being in total control of their brain certainly helps. Imagine having the ability to tune out all the negative noise constantly crawling in between your synapses. Wouldn’t that be great? Well, that is exactly what self-examination can help you achieve if you go about it the right way.
The Correct Approach
According to Judson A. Brewer, a psychology professor at Yale University and one of the researchers involved in the amplest study regarding meditation and mental health, contemplative practices help people stay in the moment.
This has extremely positive effects on people who are confronted with disorders of the mind because it helps them ease up on their damaging preoccupation with their own thoughts. So, how can you reach this level of mindfulness?
The first thing you need to do is consult with a holistic doctor. Traditional Western medicine tends to be limiting in this respect, but someone who is skilled in the conscious approach will know what the right methods are for you. Don’t neglect your medication either; the best solution is to find the perfect balance between all these aspects of your treatment.
Many therapists have found that coupling contemplation with other Eastern practices such as yoga is also beneficial. By stimulating your physique, you can balance your mood and relieve some of the pent-up stress that your disorder has put you under. On top of that, having a positive occupation to focus on helps ease your mind even more.
You need to remember that there is no right or wrong approach to this. While there are plenty of tips and pieces of expert advice you can lend an ear to, at the end of the day the important thing is doing what makes you happy. It might sound like a cliché, but it’s one of the most important things to keep in mind during this lifetime.
There are many reasons why meditation is a highly beneficial activity for schizophrenia patients, as well as most people in general. You just need to find those that appeal to you best. Even if someone who is a certified professional suggests something to you, take it with a grain of salt. Use this opportunity as a means of self-discovery.
And don’t worry if you don’t get it right in the first, second or even third try. You will get where you need to be eventually, and it will be much more satisfying knowing that you only did what was right for you.
Conclusion
When you live life with mental illness, every day is a battle. But by dedicating yourself fully to controlling your condition and maybe even recovering from it after a while, you can pave your own road towards a better tomorrow. It will be hard to muster up the necessary strength at first, but remember that you have agency over your own fate.
Never let your schizophrenia take over. Even at your worst, you will find the power to build yourself back up again. In the darkest of times, practicing mindfulness can be an irreplaceable source of courage and a guiding light through the darkness of your own mind. Try meditation on for size and develop your own routine to stay on top of your disorder.
And remember that having patience is key. Avoid putting extra pressure on yourself. Your illness is already doing plenty of that, so try your best to practice self-care and love. You will start noticing major improvements in no time. All you need is that initial boost.
- How Meditation May Help Alleviate Schizophrenia - Jun 15, 2018
