What if untangling the thoughts in your head could help you lower your blood pressure, decreased anxiety, and understand yourself better? Meditation may be able to help with that. But how does one get started in meditation. Turns out there is much more to it than closing your eyes and chanting ‘ommmm’. Like any skill, it takes time and training to become efficient. I know what you’re going to say…”That sounds like it takes a lot of time”. It actually takes less time than you think!
There are a virtual plethora of cell phone applications that can teach you how to meditate. HeadSpace is one such application and you want to hear the best part? It’s free. It provides you with daily lessons that walk you through meditation in time frames that you specify. It can target your goals for meditation i.e. stress or anxiety reduction, mindfulness, etc.
Research has long suggested that daily meditation can reduced stress, anxiety, and blood pressure. In my own personal practice, I’ve seen meditation help mother’s prepare for birth and during labor. Hypnobirthing programs que into this unique method of pain management in the months leading up to birth. Complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) in labor has soared in popularity in recent years. Through specially modified meditation, hypnobirthing aims to reduce the fear and pain of labor. While it does not reduce labor interventions or pain in its own right, it does yield consistently positive psychological results from mothers (Wright & Geraghty, 2017).
There are hypnobirthing applications that support this preparation and many other that offer education throughout pregnancy. Long story short, health applications have the potential to revolutionize healthcare and patient wellness. They have the potential to provide education and to help patients cope with and manage stress, chronic illness, weight loss and diet, prepare for childbirth, and beyond. Healthcare providers, in my opinion, should recommend applications that they have found to be supported by research and patient care needs.
Disclaimer: Meditation is only a complimentary method of treatment. Please talk to your doctor about meditation and how it could support your health. DO NOT discontinue any medications before talking to your doctor.
Wright, C., & Geraghty, S. (2017). Mind over Matter: Inside Hypnobirthing. Sleep & Hypnosis, 19(3), 54–60. https://doi-org.libpublic3.library.isu.edu/10.5350/Sleep.Hypn.2016.18.0120
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