Can Spirituality Help Your Mental Health? | Guest Post by Jane Sandwood
Recent reports and studies done by psychiatrists have found that embracing spirituality is important for your mental health and can help to treat the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Spirituality is not the same as religion; it is simply the belief that you are part of a connected universe and that events are unfolding just as they should be. It is the understanding that your place in the world is important. The rules of spirituality, unlike mainstream religions, aren’t set in stone – they are personal and unique to you. From meditation to practicing mindfulness, there are many ways you can invite spirituality into your life.
Looking for guidance
Sometimes it is not apparent how you can move forward with your life in a positive way or change the situation that you are in. It is important in these situations that you look for guidance so that you can shed some light on your emotions. It may help you to focus on one area of your life at a time, such as your career, a particular relationship, or a goal that you want to achieve – otherwise everything may feel overwhelming. Spiritual practices like Numerology can help with this, giving you a positive outlook on your daily tasks. Finding meaning in numbers can help you see what focus to work on in your life. These spiritual ideas create a support network that you can rely on for answers when you need them most and help you find meaning in life.
Managing stress
Practicing spiritual meditation and mindfulness is an ideal way to manage the stress in your life which causes depression and anxiety. Researchers from John Hopkins University in Baltimore worked through data from 19,000 different studies on meditation and found that meditation had a positive effect on managing stress, particularly if practiced regularly. The findings of their research were published on the Jama International Medicine site. Mindfulness has also been shown to help reduce stress levels, helping you to manage feelings and emotions in a productive way. Studies have shown that this spiritual practice actually has a marked effect on brainwave patterns, particularly in the prefrontal cortex – the part of your brain that is linked with depression.
Recovery from illness
A report done by the Mental Health Foundation showed significant links between spirituality and recovery. It is extremely beneficial to people who are dealing with the aftermath of trauma, as well as those who are battling with addiction. Spirituality gives us a sense of self and purpose that is key to personal strength. Having this can help you to cope with the daily challenges that life throws at you. Many spiritual practices also focus on the positive emotions, such as hope, belief, love, forgiveness and simply being content with your situation. This can help you to prepare for recovery and the feelings that come with this.
Looking after your mental health is important to combat depression and anxiety. Having a sense of spirituality, even with your own personal beliefs or traditions can help you to work through your emotions and deal with your feelings in a positive way.