Stress, anxiety, and mild depression affects people around the world. Prolonged encounters with these detrimental conditions may lead to serious health issues that include cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart attacks, and more. Anxiety and depression can be quite detrimental to your health and wellbeing as the continued heighted state of emotion drains your body and opens you up to a myriad of unwanted health conditions.
There are different ways of dealing with these conditions that range from prescribed medications to exercise. However, one of the most effective means of reducing the effects of anxiety, depression, and stress is guided meditation.
What is Meditation?
Put simply, meditation is bringing the mind to focus on one area or aspect such as your breathing and cleaning the mind of other concerns. Meditation has been used in religious ceremonies and rituals for thousands of years. However, the wellness benefits began to be noticed in the mid-20th century and today there are millions of people who meditate every day.
Meditation can be performed at home, in a class, or using guided techniques with a live coach or pre-taped recording. All a person needs are a few minutes of quiet time to focus, concentrate, and relax. By focusing on breathing for example, the anxiety, stress, and mild depression will fade, allowing for a calmer, more relaxed state to enter your mind.
How Meditation Works
Meditation provides much-needed relief that calms the mind, reduces the symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression, and does not involve any medications or other types of treatment. Meditation can be broken down into three basic types;
- Classes
- Guided
- Self or Solo
A class provides an instructor who will guide you and everyone else through the meditation process. You can also take advantage of guided meditation at home through a live coach online or a pre-recorded message. Finally, you can meditate on your own using techniques that you have learned.
Is Guided Meditation Right for You?
If you are suffering from mild forms of depression, anxiety, or stress, then meditation can be a very effective treatment. Whether you choose to do it alone, guided by an instructor, or part of a class is up to you. You may want to try all three to see which one is the most effective.
Of the many benefits, meditation offers effective treatment, no side effects, and can be done in just a few minutes per day at a time of your convenience. It’s little wonder that meditation works for millions of people and continues to be the primary means of dealing with anxiety, stress, and mild forms of depression.
Keep in mind that more severe forms of anxiety or depression will require prescribed treatment from a physician or psychologist. However, meditation may be part of the treatment provided because of the many positive benefits it provides. Plus, you can practice it in the privacy of your home or go to a class and participate with individuals who have the same goals in mind, the choice is yours.