Mindfulness Meditation Can Help

Mindfulness meditation is gaining popularity in society as an effective form of treatment for loneliness, social anxiety disorder, depression and other similar conditions. The need for mindfulness meditation arose from the lack of effective treatment options currently available, as well as the push for a more natural approach to treatment. 

How Are These Conditions Commonly Treated?

There are a variety of treatment options for depression. The 2 that are most commonly used today are psychological counseling or psychotherapy, and medications. For some people, these treatments are effective. However, for a growing number of people, they are not.

There is also a large body of people who successfully control their symptoms with the use of medications; however, they are seeking a more natural treatment option that does not involve dependency on antidepressant drugs. According to holistic principle, using medication to treat depression is only covering up the problem and treating the symptoms, rather than addressing the root cause. This is where mindfulness meditation comes in. This type of meditation can also be used as a complementary approach to treatment in conjunction with therapy and medication.

Social anxiety disorder is currently treated in a similar way to depression. The most common treatment is psychological counseling, followed by the use of antidepressants and anxiety medications. Many individuals do well with just counseling. Individuals who have a more severe case of social anxiety often rely on medications as well. Mindfulness meditation is a promising treatment alternative.

What is Mindfulness Meditation?

Mindfulness meditation is a specific type of meditation in which individuals direct their focus on the present. They take a mindful approach to their thoughts and feelings, paying close attention to their thoughts and being aware of their feelings and actions in the present moment. Mindfulness involves letting go of the past, focus on the present and doing so without self-judgment, guilt or criticism. Current research has shown that mindfulness meditation can help to improve overall mood, decrease and in some cases eliminate stress, boost self-confidence and improve the immune system.

In existence for more than 2,000 years, there are several types of mindfulness meditation. One type in particular, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction was developed for patients experiencing recurring, chronic pain. The technique involves an eight week training course that teaches the individual mindful meditation techniques to alleviate stress, reduce depression, calm anxiety and reduce pain associated with these conditions. This technique, along with all forms of mindfulness meditation, teaches individuals how to focus their attention on the experiences in their present and eliminating negative thoughts and feelings. This reduction is negativity can lead to a significant decrease in symptoms, including chronic pain.

What Does the Research Say?

Two separate studies have recently been conducted on mindfulness meditation and its effect on loneliness, depression and social anxiety disorder. The first study, appearing in Brain, Behavior and Immunty’s October 2012 edition, was conducted on adults ages 55-85. The group was divided into 2 groups. One group received Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the other was placed on a waiting list. Participants in the MBSR group experienced a reduction in loneliness, as opposed to the other group who experienced a slight increase. When stress proteins and proinflammatory gene expression was measured, participants receiving MBSR experienced a decrease in inflammation, lowering their risk of heart disease and stroke.

The second study was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience’s August 2012 edition. This study suggests that individuals suffering from social anxiety disorder and depression experienced a significant reduction in negative feelings when participating in MBSR.