Five Ways Meditation Can Help Free People of Psychiatric Drugs
by Chaya Grossberg
by Chaya Grossberg
- Reduces anxiety. Meditation of any sort induces the relaxation response.
- Reduces depression. By focusing on the breath, you end up taking in more oxygen, even if it’s only for 20 minutes a day. You also expand your lungs and diaphragm so you are more likely to take in more air all day long. This improves mood, similarly to how exercise does.
- Increases energy. Unlike psychiatric drugs, which deplete the body of its energy, especially in the long term, by damaging organs and adding more toxins for the liver to deal with, meditation simply and naturally increases your energy. By focusing on your breath and tuning in with your feelings, you harness your own energy rather than squandering it on unnecessary things.
- Helps focus attention. By taking 20 minutes or more per day to focus on your breath or another object of meditation, you train your mind to focus. You can then use that focus for other projects. Focusing also helps you prioritize what is most important, which reduces stress and adds to a sense of accomplishment.
- Slows you down, helps to control “mania” and fear. Meditation slows the heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and thoughts. Slowing down lowers cortisol, reduces the fight or flight response and helps you feel more in control.