26 Jun Mindful Meditation – Try It!
Effective rehabilitation for your traumatic brain injury can come from many different non-traditional methods. Improvements may be seen when you embrace a holistic approach to recovery. This can include the practice of mindful meditation. While meditation is an ancient practice that has been around for centuries, scientists are just beginning to study its effects on the human body. Mindfulness meditation has been reported to produce positive effects on psychological well-being that extend beyond the time the individual is formally meditating.
Meditation is a set of practices and strategies designed to help us calm and silence our inner chatter (feelings, emotions, thoughts) so we can relax the body, focus our attention, recognize and become aware of feelings, emotions and thoughts, and experience a sense of peace, calmness and serenity. While this can be helpful to everyone, it can be particularly beneficial to those who have suffered a brain injury, helping them to cope with their symptoms affecting their mental health, physical health, cognitive performance, levels of stress and anxiety, and quality of life. Those who engage regularly in meditation have noted improvements in their memory, emotional regulation, and mood.
Meditation can be practised in a group, following a leader through a guided meditation, or individually. This involves training the mind to focus on the present moment without getting swept up in thoughts of the past, or worries about the future.
There are many resources on YouTube to help you get started. A guide to mindful meditation can be found here:
https://mindfulnessmeditationinstitute.org/the-mindfulness-meditation-practice/mindfulness-meditation-techniques/
There are studies that suggest meditating can help you relax and strengthen your immune system. Calmer and relaxed people heal their wounds faster than those who suffer from stress. Stress reduction increases the body’s ability to protect itself from disease. People who meditate cope well with anxiety. Their capacity to deal calmly with dramatic situations and setbacks is enhanced.
Meditating regularly will become easier with practice, but you may still have moments where you might have trouble quieting your mind. We all have off days, it happens to everyone. Stick with it, try again the following day. You will still reap all the rewards of meditation, and should see the benefits before long.
In addition to mindful meditation, you may want to investigate some other holistic approaches with your healthcare provider, including modalities such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and craniosacral therapy.