
The Healing Power Of Mindfulness for Cancer Patients
The Benefits of Mindfulness for Cancer Patients are Many…
Mindfulness is a type of meditation where you use breathing exercises and gentle, repetitive, peaceful sounds (such as running water) to calm the mind. Mindfulness is not just meditation, however, it is also a philosophy of being in the present, enjoying the moment, anchoring yourself in the positive aspects of reality, and taking time out to discover, and explore your hobbies. It can teach you how to be kinder to yourself.
Some people write it off because it seems to be a ‘buzzword’, but just giving yourself a break, taking deep breaths, and relaxing your mind and body is surprisingly powerful. People participating in studies on mindfulness report relief from anxiety and stress and improved mood. You only need five to 20 minutes to yourself to take a mental break, but it has many proven benefits for everyone.
Mindfulness for cancer patients…
BOOSTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Can something as simple as a meditation break improve your health? The answer is yes!
Stress is a major contributor to poor physical and mental health (which, themselves, also cause stress.) Stress can cause increased inflammation, interfere with sleeping, eating, and other essential routines, including taking medications. It also causes damage in the body and can directly affect treatment. Stress is difficult, if not impossible to avoid: We live in a chaotic, stressful world – chronic illness and treatments only add to it. Mindfulness gives people a moment to themselves, a sanctuary from that stress in their own heads that they can take anywhere, at any time, and this can be incredibly helpful.
People who meditate feel more positively about their life and find it easier to self-regulate and remain calm. Because of this, mindfulness meditation has also been used as a tool for recovering from trauma and stabilising mood swings. This sense of stability, even in the face of great adversity, is also known as ‘resilience,’ and allows people to survive, overcome hardship, and make the most out of their life. Mindfulness is just one way to cultivate resilience, but it’s one of the easiest methods out there. In other words, mindfulness meditation might just be a brain-break that allows you to feel safe and secure within yourself, but it is a very powerful brain break that can have lasting effects on physical and mental health. Not bad for something that is easy, and portable,
What else can mindfulness do?
MINDFULNESS & PAIN REDUCTION
People using mindfulness report being able to better tolerate both their symptoms and their treatments, and also feel more free to enjoy their life. This is because mindfulness meditation can reduce the perception of pain and stress. However, the greatest benefit of mindfulness meditation is that it is portable, so it can be done anywhere – whether at home, in transit, at work, or in the hospital! If you need specific soothing sounds, or meditations, these can be provided for you.
Obviously, meditation alone is not a cure – for sure, do not skip the standard of care – but finding the time to take a break and build a sanctuary inside your mind can give you incredible benefits. If you need help taking a break, taking classes can help you build a separation between your everyday life and your meditation space.
Give it a try!
Rochelle
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Mindfulness For Cancer Patients References
Bueno V.F., et al., Mindfulness Meditation Improves Mood, Quality of Life, and Attention in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015: 962857.
Published online 2015 Jun 7. doi: 10.1155/2015/962857
Lesdema D. and Kumano H., Mindfulness-based stress reduction and cancer: a meta-analysis., Psycho-Oncology, 20 November 2008, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/Pon.1400
Seiler A., Jenewein J., Resilience in Cancer Patients., Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2019; 10: 208.
Published online 2019 Apr 5. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00208
Phlippe R.A., et al., Effects of Physical Activity and Mindfulness on Resilience and Depression During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic., Frontiers in Psychology., 29 July 2021
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