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coltech88 | September 21, 2009 02:23 PM | in Meditation | about Stress Management

What is the physiological effect of meditation on the body and mind that helps reduce stress?

tags: beneficial , anxiety , changes , physiology , mental

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BEST ANSWER decided by votes | duenhsiyen | September 21, 2009 05:31 PM

The main effect of meditation is to quiet the mind, to bring a calm alertness by preventing judgmental thoughts triggering stressful emotions. Stressful anger producing thoughts are ones that start with: "I should have......." or "He should have......" Karen Horney called this the "tyranny of the shoulds." Other thoughts involving judgment include "I am a bad person," "He is such a ....." etc. According to J Krishnamurti, "Observation without judgment is the highest form of intelligence."

One way of dealing with such thoughts I outlined above is to preface them with the following phrase: "I am telling myself ....." as in "I am telling myself 'I should have...' " This reframing of your thinking process is known as the "content to process shift."

duenhsiyen

source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Horney
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiddu_Krishnamurti
http://www.gaia.com/quotes/J_Krishnamurti?size=tall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation
http://books.google.com/books?id=7wMBcz8cEAwC&pg=PA186&lpg=PA186&am...

tags: content, process, meditation, judgment, shift

voted helpful: stacylee

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Voted as best: stanar, twinpairs, psionandy

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coltech88 | September 21, 2009 05:43 PM

My question is aimed at the physiological, or biochemical, changes that mindfulness meditation (as well as other forms of meditation) causes in the body, not at the psychological effects.

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duenhsiyen | September 21, 2009 06:47 PM

Meditation, on the physiological level seeks to reduce the level of circulating adrenaline, which is evidenced by a slower heart rate, reduction in hypertension and a general improvement in the feeling state towards peace, harmony, well being, oneness, acceptance, relief and hope.

Hans Selye is the original investigator that hypothesized and proved that the physiological cause of the "Stressed out" state is from the chronic overproduction of the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine). Adrenaline actually is a mood elevator, (antiinflammatory, pain reliever) but the body is not designed to be constantly stimulated by this hormone for long periods of time as commonly occurs in todays society. Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers written in 1994 by Robert M. Sapolsky, traces the history of the research on stress and he insists that animals in the wild are much less likely to suffer from ulcers and the like from too much stress, because they don't have to constantly worry about work, relationships, and all the other dangers you see discussed on TV, mostly exaggerated. Animals in the wild live in the present, and mediation strives to get you thinking about just what is happening in the present.

Also, since meditation is done in a resting, sitting still state, it reduces physical stress and the release of lactate, another stressor of biological systems.

duenhsiyen

PS: I realize my second answer is what you are wanting, so I posted a question about how this can be selected as best answer, if you choose to do so. See sources below:

Sources:

http://www.project-meditation.org/benefits_of_meditation.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Selye
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28biological%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epinephrine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Zebras_Don%27t_Get_Ulcers
http://www.mahalo.com/answers/mahalo-answers-community/i-answered-a-question-a-response-was-made-by-the-asker-and-my-subsequent-response-was-better-how-can-this-2nd-answer-be-selected-as-best

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stacylee | September 21, 2009 10:55 PM

Duenhsiyen - I saw your question about a reply being the better answer than the original? I agree with you, it was much more thorough than your original. (still both great answers though)

(I gave you a helpful answer based on both of these comments combined, I know it doesn't help much, but you need kudos for this)

I hope you can figure it out!

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