A Healthy Lifestyle December 2013 | Page 16

Third, studying the effect of meditation on people with anxiety and stress problems was done by conducting a study on 22 patients with DSM-III-R-defined anxiety disorders. After 8-week outpatient physician-referred group stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation, the results showed a significant improvement in the symptoms of anxiety and panic. Also, 20 people from the study demonstrated a remarkable reduction in Hamilton, Beck Anxiety and Depression scores post intervention and at 3-month follow-up. In addition, after 3-year follow up on 18 from the original 22 subject whom were under the study, new data were obtained. These data showed maintenance of the gains obtained in the original study on the Hamilton [F(2,32) = 13.22; p < 0.001] and Beck [F(2,32) = 9.83; p < 0.001] anxiety scales as well as on their respective depression scales, on the Hamilton panic score, the number and severity of panic attacks, and on the Mobility Index-Accompanied and the Fear Survey. These results showed that meditation doesn’t have only a positive impact when it comes to anxiety, panic and stress problems, but it is also a long lasting effect. (Three-year Follow-up…..Disorders) In essence, these are only few examples of the huge benefits of Meditation. Thus, it’s not surprising that meditation is considered as

religious ritual in religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. More to add, there are many different methods and ways of meditation in which a person can practice meditation (ex. Transcendental meditation, Vipassana meditation, Taoist meditation, Mindfulness meditation, Zen meditation). Also, there is yoga which is considered a developed method of meditation with a combination of physical exercises. Finally, meditation health benefits has been scientifically approved and this should be a huge incentive for more people to practice it, because it’s our responsibility to take care of our body, and meditation has been proven to help in doing that.

By: Mahmoud