<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Those who follow mental health are aware of the connection between it and &ldquo;alternative&rdquo; practices, such as meditation and chanting.&nbsp; However, very few understand the connection itself.&nbsp; Fewer, still, believe that there is a documented relationship between meditation and mental health, outside of those who live an alternative lifestyle.</p> <p><strong>What is the empirical connection between meditation and mental health?</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Many assume that meditation is about &ldquo;mind over matter&rdquo; and you must simply ignore your stresses and worry while you turn your attention inward.&nbsp; While meditation is about turning your focus inward, there is more to it.&nbsp; Namely, there is a documented connection between meditation and heart rate.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When you meditate, your breathing slows and deepens.&nbsp; This will, in turn, slow your heart rate and your other body functions.&nbsp; Deep breathing and meditation -- done correctly -- will trigger the body&rsquo;s parasympathetic nervous system and will help it to, physically speaking, calm down and reduce a lot of physiological and emotional.mental effects associated with mental health disorders.</p> <p><strong>How can meditation be used as mental health treatment?</strong></p> <p>Physical and mental health are closely linked.&nbsp; Meditation can, therefore, be a useful technique specifically to help use the physical in order to &ldquo;treat&rdquo; the mental.&nbsp; For example, meditation can help in the following ways:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Reduces heart rate and breathing rate:</strong> As mentioned, meditation will help slow heart rates down to calm levels (similar to sleeping).&nbsp; As a result, breathing will be deeper and steadier, too.&nbsp; This brings the entire body down and can promote a calmer body.&nbsp; A calmer body often means the mind will follow suit.&nbsp; Done regularly, this promotes a stronger mind.</li> <li><strong>Promotes muscle relaxation:</strong> Meditation also helps prioritize physical details such as better muscle relaxation.&nbsp; Since tense muscles are common symptoms and complaints of those with mental health, having &ldquo;forced&rdquo; relaxation of the body and its muscles, alleviates a lot of symptoms and promotes better overall relaxation in the body and mind.</li> <li><strong>Clears the mind:</strong> Meditation is deliberately designed to help clear&nbsp; the mind.&nbsp; Contrary to popular belief, the goal is to simply acknowledge thoughts and let them pass, bringing attention back to the body, rather than clearing the mind entirely.&nbsp; This focus on the body helps curb a lot of mental health issues, including anxiety, depressive swings, and more.</li> <li><strong>Steadies emotions and thoughts:</strong> By focusing on the body and its breathing, emotions and thoughts steady themselves for easier comprehension and acknowledgement after meditation.&nbsp; By &ldquo;distracting&rdquo; the conscious mind, the body is able to organize emotions and thoughts to help them seem more logical after a session.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Top findings of the use of meditation for mental health treatment</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While there is conclusive evidence, many who deal with mental health on a daily basis find that practicing meditation can help ease a lot of the side effects as well as onsets of mental health crises.&nbsp; There is a strong connection between regulation and meditation, when it is practiced properly and regularly.&nbsp; The emphasis is on the implementation of meditation with proper teachings, in combination with other mental health treatments.</p> <p>Sources:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382018304591">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382018304591</a></li> <li><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1745-0179-4-25">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1745-0179-4-25</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/29/5/29_5_245/_article/-char/ja/">https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/biomedres/29/5/29_5_245/_article/-char/ja/</a></li> </ul>