 Meditation and Stress Management
Scientific studies show prolonged exposure to stress
may cause heart attacks, strokes, and some forms of cancer in certain
individuals. When left unmanaged stress can manifest a wide range of
symptoms and affect every part of the body. Although stress has
gotten a bad rap, it's actually not a bad thing. Stress is one of our
body's natural defense mechanisms that warns us of impending danger.
When the body perceives a threat, it sets off a process of biochemical
processes intended to help our body effectively deal with the crisis. Adrenaline
produces the "fight-or-flight" response. It speeds up the heart rate
and increases blood sugar to prepare the body to exert a burst of
energy. Adrenaline is intended to be used on as "as-needed" basis, not
an "all-day, every-day" basis. Cortisol is converted from
corticosteroids which are secreted by the adrenal gland when the body
is under stress. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone and affects
multiple areas of the body. It increases blood pressure and blood sugar
levels, and suppresses the digestive and reproductive systems. Today,
many people are living in constant fight-or-flight mode. This causes
the body to continuously produce and release stress hormones. Exposure
to chronically high levels of stress hormones can lead to obesity,
insomnia, heart disease, depression, digestive ailments and other
complications. Incorporating stress management techniques can
significantly reduce the impact stress has on your body. Meditation is
one of the easiest and most affordable stress management solutions. It
can be performed in the privacy of your home and requires little time. When
people hear the word 'meditation' they oftentimes conjure up thoughts
of Buddhist monks praying in a temple. While this sometimes is the
case, it is not the norm. There are many forms of meditation and the
techniques used vary considerably. Some people practice meditation in
conjunction with their spiritual practices; however, many people use it
solely as a tool for physical and psychological well-being. The
altered state of mind that includes meditation, hypnosis and guided
imagery has been scientifically validated as an effective way to treat
anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem and other psychological
disorders. Meditation can help lower blood pressure, manage chronic
pain and slow, or reverse aging. Meditation has proven to be one
of the safest and most effective treatments for chronic diseases
including arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue,
gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, heart disease and cancer. Practicing
meditation on a regular basis can lead to improved physical and mental
health, but it takes time to see the results. Meditation requires some
level of commitment in order to experience profound changes. It's
unrealistic to expect chronic stress to disappear after one 15-minute
meditation session. Many people prefer to learn meditation by
attending a class or one-on-one instruction, where they can interact
with the instructor. If classes are not an option, meditation books and
CDs can prove just as beneficial. Meditation CDs are a convenient way
to engage in meditation on a regular basis. You can listen to them
whenever you need to relax and unwind. Mini
Meditations are a collection of 15- or 30-minute meditation sessions
directed at a specific topic. Created by Tracy Bonczyk, Master
Hypnotist and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mini Meditations are
the perfect solution for people on the go and can help you manage your
stress, while promoting physical and psychological well-being. To learn
more about the topics available visit http://www.MiniMeditations.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Bonczyk
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