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Meditation and mental health essay
Meditation and health easy
Meditation and mental health essay
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Mindfulness is a concept that over recent year has gained momentum within the field of psychology helping guide and create treatment options for those suffering from mental illness. Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT) over recent years has become a widespread form of treatment within the present-day psychotherapy (Hofmann et al, 2010) for addressing well-being in patients who suffer from mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The therapy was derived from ancient eastern meditation, Buddhist and Yoga practices (Hofmann et al; Piet et al, 2011), which is characterized as a certain way of experiencing internal thoughts, feeling, bodily reactions and external stimulus. These traditions foster what is considered to be the mind, body and spirit bond helping practitioners find a sense of self and well-being. …show more content…
One of the central ideas within Buddhism is the damaging properties of negative emotions or thoughts, and the healing that embracing positive emotions can have on a person (Hayes et al, 2004). By acknowledging both the positive and negative side of our exitance Buddhism strives to strike a balance between them forming a mindful state. According to Hofmann et al MBT has been adapted into many different forms of treatment including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to name a few. Schuling (2016) states that MBCT was developed to target and prevent the high rate of relapse, and that it may also be effective in lowering the residual levels of depression. Indicating that by approaching the disorders with a compassionate tone to oneself the anguish prevalent within these conditions can be addressed and
Psychotherapy integration is best explained as an attempt to look beyond and across the dimensions of a single therapy approach, to examine what one can learn from other perspectives, and how one’s client’s can benefit from various ways of administering therapy (Corey, 2013). Research has shown that a variety of treatments are equally effective when administered by therapist who believe in them and client’s that accept them (Corey, 2013). Therefore, one of the best aspects of utilizing an integrative approach is that, in most cases, if a therapist understands how and when to incorporate therapeutic interventions, they usually can’t go wrong. While integrating different approaches can be beneficial for the client, it is also important for the
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), a variant of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is a treatment specifically designed to address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Shou et al. 2017). In this group format, CPT will be used to treat individuals who have experienced PTSD, resulting from police brutality. CPT is typically run in a group setting; this form of treatment can be utilized in individual treatment as well (Monson et al. 2013). CPT captures information utilizing; exercise techniques in order for individuals with PTSD to express their internal emotions regarding their traumatic life event that is stored within the brain. Through this technique, clients can associate intrusive or distressing thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks to
An individual cannot achieve the benefits of mindfulness training unless they continue practicing mindfulness techniques after the training is completed. By practicing meditation on a regular basis, mindfulness becomes an intentional practice (Holas & Jankowski, 2013). Measures The type of measurements used in mindfulness-based interventions is self-reporting questionnaires. Reliability testing was done on several individuals that were regular meditators (N=213), demographically similar non-meditators (N=252), a general community sample (N=293) and a student sample (N=259), (Baer et al, 2008) using several different scales to compare the FFMQ to. During exploratory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha statistics were calculated for the individual facets of mindfulness.
There are many forms of mindfulness interventions, some of which include mindfulness based stress reduction, mindfulness based cognitive therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Some mindfulness interventions incorporate mindfulness meditation practices and skills and others incorporate psychological and behavioral versions of mindfulness skills. Mindfulness based interventions entail mindfulness meditation practices and skills gathered from Buddhist philosophical origins, and transformed into a secular context to encompass a more universal perspective and application. Through mindfulness group and in-home practices, individuals develop mindfulness skills and attitudes, which include focusing, maintaining attention through focusing on ones breath, accepting one’s current circumstance and experience, which also includes awareness of physical sensations, all by taking a non-judgmental stance. Furthermore, the three primary components of mindfulness are attitude, attention, and intention. Attitudinal components include non-judgment, acceptance, trust, patience, curiosity, and kindness; Attentional components include maintaining focus and the ability to switch focuses; Intentional components include having an intention to practice and to intentionally self-regulate ones attention. Incorporating these concepts into ones life helps the individual be able to shift their habitual patterns through observation and recognition, and embark on a path of reflective response rather than maladaptive reactive behavior (Burke,
In it's simplest form, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (or CBT as it will be referred to from here on out), refers to the approach of changing dysfunctional behaviors and thoughts to realistic and healthy ones. CBT encompasses several types of therapy focusing on the impact of an individual's thinking as it relates to expressed behaviors. Such models include rational emotive therapy (RET), rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT), behavior therapy (BT), Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT), Schema Focused Therapy, Cognitive therapy (CT). Most recently a few other variations have been linked to CBT such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectic behavioral therapy (DBT), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) (Harrington and Pickles, 2009). The main aspect that all of these branches of therapy share, is that our thoughts relate to our external behaviors. External events and individuals do not cause the negative thoughts or feelings, but, instead the perception of events and situations is the root cause (National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, 2010).
Last Spring, as part of a senior project, I took Tai Chi classes and researched how meditation is used in mind/body medicine. I read several books by doctors who use meditation as a form of healing, in stress-reduction clinics and as treatment for people suffering from severe pain and panic disorders. One doctor in particular, Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches a method he calls mindfulness, in which he has his patients meditate in order to achieve total mind/body awareness. Zinn instructs patients to focus on their pain and to become aware of it. This often helps them realize that they can live with their pain. No pain is too extreme, he says, in the same way that no emotion is a wrong emotion. Awareness is the only absolute, and the only thing that allows people to live in the moment. Not live for the moment, but live in the moment.
For thousands of years people have practiced mediation for spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. Albeit there are many mediation types, in this paper I will be discussing and focusing on mindfulness mediation. Before further exploring mindfulness mediation, it is crucial to define mediation as a whole. Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016 state “Meditation can be defined as a form of mental training that aims to improve an individual’s core psychological capacities, such as attentional and emotional capacities” (p.213). Having that in mind, we can dive into mindfulness mediation. Mindfulness meditation is defined as “nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experiences (Tang, Holzel, & Posner, 2016).” A useful analogy to consider is going to the gym, going to the gym allows one to enhance the body, well similarly, practicing mindfulness is akin to taking the mind to the psychic gym, it enhances it. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on your breathing and then bringing your mind’s attention to the present all while dismissing discursive thoughts and maintaining a special focus on breathing.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a method of correcting invalid thought patterns to a more positive view of the person and their place in their world. Some people do not believe that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a real treatment for depression, claiming it is a form of positive thinking ("The Daily Mail," 2009). On the opposite end of the spectrum, others argue that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy should be used in all therapies for depression as it allows the patient to take an active role in their treatment. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the benefit of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a viable treatment of depression, either as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with other therapies.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that focuses on examining the relationships between thoughts, feelings and behaviors (NAMI, 2012). It is designed to modify the individual’s normative dysfunctional thoughts. The basic cognitive technique consists of delineating the individual's specific misconceptions, distortions, and maladaptive assumptions, and of testing their validity and reasonableness (Beck, 1970). By exploring thought patterns that lead to maladaptive behaviors and actions and the beliefs that direct these thoughts, people with mental illness can alter their thought process to improve coping. CBT is different from oth...
Mindfulness is an ideal that has been present for thousands of years (positivepsychologyprogram.com). It has roots in almost every major religion: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and most renown, Buddhism and Hinduism (positivepsychologyprogram.com). Psychology Today defines mindfulness as “a state of active, open attention on the present.” Dr. Shauna Shapiro during a TEDx Talk defines mindfulness as “intentionally paying attention with kindness” (Shapiro, S., 2017). Mindfulness has many principles involved with it, but the short version is to be aware. It is to be aware of the present moment deliberately. Jon Kabat-Zinn, considered the father of the western movement for mindfulness by some, defines mindfulness as, “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally” (Bodhipaksa, 2007). We, as humans, get caught up in the business of life; so, we need to stay oriented to the present. Another way to describe this is “acting with awareness rather than on ‘automatic autopilot’” (Caldwell, et al, 2010). Mindfulness is non-judgmental about life. Mindfulness is to not be over-reactive by what’s going on around us (mindful.org). Mindfulness is being non-reactive to your environment. There are many things that stem from this thinking,
Mindfulness is a concept or practice that was founded nearly 2600 years ago. It is a very integral component of the Buddhist faith and is believed to be associated with many benefits including self-control, tolerance, flexibility, objectivity, concentration, mental clarity, emotional intelligence, kindness, compassion, acceptance, and equanimity.
To begin with, mindfulness is when someone can pay attention to the present moment “without being devoted to different points of view” (Martin, 1997). Along with staying focused on the present moment, mindfulness is when the particular person does not judge the current experience as the person tries to comprehend the present situation. Mindfulness makes a person reflect on one’s self by not only figuring out one’s thoughts, but also the feelings that go along with it. The complex nature of mindfulness demonstrates that it has multiple purposes that cultivates a person into realizing the potential of the brain (Davis & Hayes,
Jon Kabat-Zinn (Kabat-Zinn, 2003) is a pioneer in the field of mindfulness. Thirty years ago, he developed mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy for use in the field of medicine. According to Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”
In the past two decades, many philosophers, spiritual leaders, and psychological transitions have accentuated the importance of the quality of consciousness for the maintenance and enhancement of well-being. One of the characteristics of consciousness that has been discussed in relation to well-being is mindfulness. In concentration with the psychology discipline, mindfulness meditation practices have been increasingly used to treat a majority of pain, stress and anxiety-related conditions and also, increasing well-being. The ideology of mindfulness meditation has core roots in Buddhist philosophy and other pensive traditions where awareness and conscious attention are actively cultured (Brown, Kirk Warren,2003).
There are 3 essential components of mindfulness: intention, attention, and attitude which are not separate, but intertwined (Shapiro, 2006, as cited in Marchand 2012). Zen meditation focuses on awareness of breathing pattern. MBSR incorporates mindfulness, education about stress, body scans, yoga, and becoming an impartial witness to one’s own experience. (Kabat-Zinn, 2005, as cited in Marchand 2012). MBCT consists of meditation and recognition of deteriorating mood with the aim of disengaging from self-perpetuating patterns of ruminative, negative thoughts that contribute to relapse (Segal, Williams, and Teasdale, 2002, as cited by Marchand, 2012). Yoga and breathing exercises shift the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic