Page 12 Medication Or Meditation Thomas Hushen

Page 12 Medication Or Meditation Thomas Hushen

• 1.
  Medication or Meditation?by Thomas Hushen, Service Coordinator-HRC The answer is BOTH! While prescription There are many great benefits of medita- drugs continue to be the most common tion. Meditation is a time of silence, a time form of relieving mental health to clear the mind from all of our problems. “symptoms,” they do not actually con- It does not make the problems go away; it tribute to the healing of the “cause” of simply allows us to be better equipped to these symptoms. Finding the right com- deal with them. To get significant benefits bination of medication to manage our from meditation, one should meditate for mental health symptoms can be a chal- 15-20 minutes at the same time. Meditat- lenge, one that I am sure we all have ing two times a day—morning and eve- experienced. Every day we are faced ning—is the best way to begin. I have with external life stressors. Sometimes it listed below some of the surprising bene- seems that these stressors all happen fits of this practice that you may not know at once, only to leave us with racing about! thoughts, anxiety and increased depres- sion, and most of all a feeling of being 1. Reduced Heart Rate: Normali- overwhelmed! zation of High Blood Pressure Heart rates and high blood pressures have Thomas Hushen is a Those of us who are mental health con- been found to fall during meditation. The Service Coordinator and sumers tend to easily get overwhelmed effect tends to persist even when not medi- due to the nature of our human condi- tating (in those who have been practicing SacPort Instructor at Human tion and mental illness. On top of our meditation daily). Resource Consultants (HRC) own life stressors, there is always something negative being broadcast on 2. Perfect Rest: Physical Rest and www.hrcrst.org radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, and Relaxation the Internet. All this negativity creates The state of consciousness attained during rather than without for peace and com- and feeds ANTS (Automatic Negative meditation is considered to be the deepest fort. Meditation tends to reduce the need Thoughts). possible rest and relaxation there is for both for us to self-medicate, and allows us to body and mind. Experiments have shown see the world differently with a clear The good news is that there are coping that the overall average breathing reduction mind. skills that help us manage daily stress, rate shows a deeper state of rest and peace depression, and anxiety. One great cop- of mind during meditation. The meditator is 6. Relief from Insomnia ing tool for “life” is meditation! Please able to maintain this perfect physical rest/ Deep-rooted stress and anxiety can be understand that I believe that medica- relaxation even in activities after meditation. one reason for chronic insomnia. As ha- tion is a gift from the universe, and in You become calmer and more relaxed, and bitual meditation and breath work in- many instances, it allows us to have a can experience the activities you participate creases, it dissolves deep-seated in with more clarity and focus. stresses and the sleeping cycle naturally better quality of life. improves. Preventative medicine is progressing, 3. Reduced Stress Stress, as we all know, is a psychologically I encourage you to take a class to learn and medical doctors and psychiatrists agitated state which is the opposite of rest the basics of meditation and breath work. everywhere are embracing alternative and relaxation. Cortisol (a hormone pro- I facilitate Sacramento PsychoSocial practices as a way of healing the body duced by the body) is released in response and preventing disease. Many of these Options for Rehabilitation Training to stress. Cortisol levels are high when a practices help us to manage our (SacPort) groups at HRC and incorpo- person is highly anxious or under stress. “persistent” mental health symptoms. rate this practice in every group. Physiologists have found that during and after meditation there are lower levels of I do take prescription medications for Many group members are “amazed” at cortisol produced by the body, which means conditions that require it, but it alone the level of deep peace they are able to less anxiety! sometimes is just not enough to help feel after meditation. They report that me deal with life and the challenges it 4. Increased Creativity they are able to absorb the material and As you practice daily meditation, you will find support from others more easily as a brings. Meditation is a valuable practice that helps create a balance of body and your level of creativity is enhanced. Once result! In conjunction with meditation, mind and brings harmony to one’s entire there is balance of our mind and body, we breathing exercises will help to regulate “being.” have replaced negative perceptions with your breathing by simply inhaling through positive ones and are now ready to experi- your nose and exhaling through your Here is what meditation WILL do for you ence an increase in creativity. Creativity in mouth. without ANY adverse side effects! itself is another great coping skill! Breathe in calmness and peace, and The Benefits of Meditation 5. Reduced Need to Self-Medicate exhale the negative thoughts that are Some people resort to using alcohol and racing through your mind! Is it really that As a mental health consumer myself, simple? Yes! You will find that even after drugs more when they experience depres- and working with clients at Human Re- sion and anxiety, trying to escape the trou- your first experience in meditation and source Consultants (HRC), I have seen bles and symptoms they have by self- deep breathing exercises, you will truly firsthand the results of this powerful medicating. When we get overloaded, it’s “feel” the difference! practice. time to look within