WORK STRESS IS NOW THE BIGGEST 'STRESSOR' IN OUR LIVES

I have written many times about stress on this blog and what happens to the body when we are stressed so I won't repeat this again as my last article explained this. We don't have the stresses we once had as we evolved as our ancestors did and the body's reactions to stressors aided our survival but by far the biggest stressor in our life is work related. Stress evokes the sympathetic nervous system into action, blood pressure is raised senses heightened etc, short term as it was originally designed is fine, for in fact some degree of stress does motivate us, but it was not designed to be long term and when stress continues that is where it begins to affect or health.

So what can we do to alleviated stress? we evoke the opposite to the sympathetic nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, this reverses the increased blood pressure, lowers levels of adrenaline and makes us feel relaxed. One of the best ways to do this is by Holistic Therapies, there are many to choose from. aromatherapy, reflexology, indian head massage, any kind of massage in fact, reiki and one of the easiest, and it costs nothing and you don't need to visit a therapist is 'Meditation'.

There are various methods to induce a meditative state, some like to focus on something, such as the breathing or candle flame, but no matter which method is used, it is beneficial as it has be proven to reduce blood pressure, and reduce activity in the nervous system, namely by invoking the parasympathetic nervous system. Breathing slows and becomes deeper and more efficient, the heart rate slows down and as regards the brain it has been researched that even a small course of meditation strengthens connections between regions of the brain that regulate our emotional responses. In effect meditation has the opposite effect on the body as does Stress.

To find out more about solutions to stress and other holistic therapies click here there you will find a guided meditation you can read and record it and play it back with some music or see the tabs at the top of this page.

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ARTICLE BELOW HERE IS FROM THE DAILY MAIL

Work stress is now the biggest factor driving harassed Britons to drink, drugs and depression

• A third of adults say their job is the most stressful part of their lives, according to a study carried out for Mind
• 57% of adults admit to drinking after work and 14% say they even drink DURING the day 
• 7% of adults say they have suicidal thoughts because of work-related stress

Work stress is now the biggest factor in driving Britons to drink, drugs and depression, according to mental health experts.

More than a third of adults say their job is the most stressful aspect of their lives – more so than money or health worries.

Six in ten (57 per cent) of these hit the bottle after work – with one in seven (14 per cent) even drinking during the day, a survey for mental health charity Mind found.

More than a third of adults say their job is the most stressful aspect of their lives

The organisation also reported that workplace stress caused 7 per cent to have suicidal thoughts, rising to a worrying 10 per cent of those aged 18 to 24.

Companies themselves are also affected, said Mind, as 19 per cent of workers have thrown a sickie because they could not face going in to work that day.

 

Around one in 11 (9 per cent) have resigned from a job because of stress while a quarter (25 per cent) admit they have thought about quitting but have yet to do so, it was found. 

Workers rarely feel they can talk to their bosses about being stressed, even though most employers say they would like to do more to help improve the mental wellbeing of staff, said the charity.

Work is now the biggest factor driving Britons to drink, drugs and depression, experts have warned

Mind’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: ‘Work-related mental health problems are an issue too important for businesses to ignore

‘We know that right now, one in six workers is experiencing depression, stress or anxiety and yet our survey tells us that most managers don’t feel they have had enough training or guidance to support them.’

While 34 per cent say work is the biggest cause of stress, 30 per cent say it is financial problems. And 17 per cent of the 2,000 adults surveyed said health worries were causing them stress or anxiety.

Other ways of coping include using sleeping tablets or anti-depressants, or smoking.

MEDITATION CAN UPLIFT AND GIVE YOU A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

This Article is from the Daily Mail and again re-enforces of what I have been saying about Meditation for years. If you haven't done meditation before it's a good idea to find a class and sit in a group as the atmosphere and discussion will help you with your technique as it can be a bit tricky for the novice. Meditation is not having a nap and you should not fall asleep either as many confuse meditation in this way. The idea behind meditation is to induce deep relaxation and it produces similar brainwave activity as in a state of hypnosis, in meditation you are always aware of your surroundings if you're not, you're asleep! What meditation does is instill discipline within the mind and with that discipline it gives you control over negative thoughts, it is these negative thoughts that lead to anxiety, worry and feelings of loneliness. Meditation teaches you a lot about yourself. It's a well known fact negative thoughts does in time affect our health and people who are more optimistic are far healthier and have a better immune system. From a spiritual point of view positivity attracts more positivity towards us and likewise with negativity, if you are constantly negative in your mindset you will attract negativity towards yourself as this is the "Law of attraction" in action.

SOME FURTHER ARTICLES ON MEDITATION

Astridestella.info: MEDITATION IMPROVES BRAIN WIRING IN JUST ...

13 Jun 2012

There are many benefits to meditation, it induces a sense of peace and helps us focus on what is really important in life as well as the physical effects by instigating the reducing effects of stress by the parasympathetic nervous ...

Astridestella.info: MEDITATION 1. (A guided meditation)

24 Mar 2011

As you develop stronger you will need to develop mind control in order that you can open up at will psychically and close down so you are not disturbed and one of the ways we do this is by Meditation and Visualisation.

http://www.astridestella.info/

Astridestella.info: STRESS SOLUTIONS PART 4

05 Jul 2012

On several occasions he took a form of meditation lasting 21 days.He took it into hospitals in Japan. Dr. Usui died in 1926 but before he died he passed on Reiki to Dr. Chujiro Hayashi. Dr. Hayashi was a naval doctor.

http://www.astridestella.info/

Loneliness won't leave you alone? How mindful meditation can ease your woes

• The practice also boosted immunity in older adults

Solitude: Mindfulness helps improve your state of mind say scientists

Older adults who suffer from loneliness are at far greater risk of health problems such as heart disease, Alzheimer's and premature death.
Schemes to encourage social networking such as creating community centres have had limited effectiveness.
Now scientists have come up with a new way for people to tackle the social ill - on their own.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found that teaching mindful meditation techniques was effective at reducing feelings of isolation, while at the same time boosting their ability to fight disease.
Study leader J. David Creswell, said: 'We always tell people to quit smoking for health reasons, but rarely do we think about loneliness in the same way.
'We know that loneliness is a major risk factor for health problems and mortality in older adults. This research suggests that mindfulness meditation training is a promising intervention for improving the health of older adults.'
The 2,500-year-old practice dating back to the time of the spiritual leader Buddha focuses on creating an attentive awareness of the present moment.


Published in 'Brain, Behavior & Immunity,' the study also found that meditation lowered inflammation levels, which is thought to promote the development and progression of many diseases.
For the study, the researchers recruited 40 healthy adults aged 55-85 who indicated an interest in learning mindfulness meditation techniques. Each person was assessed at the beginning and end of the study using an established loneliness scale. Blood samples also were collected.
The participants were randomly assigned to receive either the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program or no treatment.

Tranquility: Two-hour meditation classes also reduced inflammation

The MBSR program consisted of weekly two-hour meetings in which participants learned body awareness techniques - noticing sensations and working on breathing - and worked their way toward understanding how to mindfully attend to their emotions and daily life practices.
They also were asked to practice mindfulness meditation exercises for 30 minutes each day at home and attended a day-long retreat.
The researchers found that eight weeks of the mindfulness meditation training decreased the participants' loneliness.
Meanwhile the blood samples revealed that the training reduced the participants elevated levels of an inflammatory-causing gene.
Study co-author Steven Cole from UCLA said: 'Reductions in the expression of inflammation-related genes were particularly significant because inflammation contributes to a wide variety of the health threats including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.
'These results provide some of the first indications that immune cell gene expression profiles can be modulated by a psychological intervention.'

Creswell added that while this research suggests a promising new approach for treating loneliness and inflammatory disease risk in older adults, more work needs to be done.
'If you're interested in using mindfulness meditation, find an instructor in your city,' he said.
'It's important to train your mind like you train your biceps in the gym.'

A MINDFUL EXERCISE - 3 MINUTE BREATHING SPACE

Awareness

Bringing yourself into the present moment, adopting an alert yet comfortable posture, close your eyes, if this is comfortable, and bring your attention inward. Becoming aware of your body and the surface upon which you are sitting, draw your focus to the spine, each vertebra stacked upon the other from sacrum to skull.

Now, turning your attention to your thoughts and feelings, ask, 'What thoughts and feelings are around right now? What bodily sensations are present?'. Acknowledge your experience in this moment, even if it is unwanted.

Gathering

Now, gently direct your awareness to your breathing, following each in breath and each out breath, one after the other, if necessary, saying to yourself, 'I am breathing in. I am breathing out.'

The breath can function as an anchor to bring you into the present moment since the breath is always with us and available at any time as a focus of attention. Regulating the inbreath with the outbreath can assist in maintaining awareness and stillness.

Expanding

Now, expanding your awareness to the whole body, imagine that you are breathing with the body as a whole including your posture and facial expression. When you're ready, open your eyes and return to your day.
Source: Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

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MEDITATION IMPROVES BRAIN WIRING IN JUST A MONTH

I saw this article in the Daily Mail today, I am surprised it taken them so long to realise this, those of us involved in holistic therapies have known this for decades and in fact Clinicians involved with heart disease saw the link and how valuable meditation helped reduce stress and thus lowered the increased risk stress has on the heart in causing heart attacks. There are many benefits to meditation, it induces a sense of peace and helps us focus on what is really important in life as well as the physical effects by instigating the reducing effects of stress by the parasympathetic nervous system. Where adrenaline and other stress hormones have a detrimental effect on the body. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE HOW STRESS AFFECTS THE BODY

Why meditation helps you focus: Mindfulness improves brain wiring in just a month

• Scientists saw improved brain connections after participants had just 11 hours of training

Just a month of meditation training alters brain wiring in ways that could open the door to new treatments for mental disorders, research has shown.
Scientists looked at the effects of integrative body-mind training (IBMT) on two groups of university students.
After just four weeks, or 11 hours, of training scans showed physical changes in the brains of the volunteers.

Becoming mindful: The study gives a much more detailed picture of what changes it is making in the brain

Nerve fibres, known as 'white matter', became denser, providing greater numbers of brain-signalling connections. At the same time there was an expansion of myelin, the protective fatty insulation surrounding nerve fibres.
The effects were seen in the anterior cingulate cortex region of the brain, which helps regulate behaviour.
Poor nerve activity in this part of the brain is associated with a range of mental problems, including attention deficit disorder, dementia, depression, and schizophrenia.
The study built on previous research based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans that first highlighted brain changes induced by IBMT.
Scientists revisited results from two 2010 studies, taking a closer look at what the scans revealed.


One involved 45 US students from the University of Oregon; the other 68 students from China's Dalian University of Technology.
The researchers found greater density of axons, or nerve fibres, after two weeks of IBMT training, but no change in myelin formation.
After a month both increases in axon density and myelin were seen.
Students undergoing IBMT also reported improvements in mood, experiencing reduced levels of anger, depression, anxiety and fatigue. They also had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Study leader Professor Michael Posner, from the University of Oregon, who carried out the original US research, said: 'This study gives us a much more detailed picture of what it is that is actually changing.
'We did confirm the exact locations of the white-matter changes that we had found previously. And now we show that both myelination and axon density are improving.
'The order of changes we found may be similar to changes found during brain development in early childhood, allowing a new way to reveal how such changes might influence emotional and cognitive development.'
The findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In their conclusions, the scientists wrote: 'This dynamic pattern of white matter change involving the anterior cingulate cortex, a part of the brain network related to self-regulation, could provide a means for intervention to improve or prevent mental disorders.'
Neuroscientist Dr Elena Antonova, from the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, said: 'The findings of this study are potentially good news for all of us. If as little as 11 hours of mindfulness training makes the brain wiring more prolific and better insulated, then simply by being mindful, which is accessible to anyone at any time, we might enjoy a lifetime of mental clarity and emotional stability.'
Dr Eva Cyhlarova, head of research at the Mental Health Foundation, said: 'This study is another example of brain neuroplasticity in adulthood and how with some simple techniques we can affect its structure as well as its function.
'Furthermore, these changes appear to lead to improvements in mood, which is consistent with self-regulation being a core feature of many mental health problems.
'If such a simple and cheap method of training shows positive results, there is hope for more people with mental health problems to be able to access support through affordable interventions.'

Maggie Brown (Author)

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THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

 It is well known how Meditation is beneficial to us Holistic Practioners, below are some interesting developments I found on the 'Daily Mail' online.

From a health point of view Meditation, reduces blood pressure and thus heart disease, this will then reduce the negative effects this has on the body as a whole. It instils a feeling of well being and reduces the effects of stress on the body, High Blood Pressure for one and helps restore other negative effects such as an impared immune system.

On a Psychic level, meditation teaches mind control, something very necessary for those who wish to develop their psychic abilities as all work in the field of the psychic and mediumship is done by the use of our mind as it enables us to tap into our higherself our soul. Meditation relaxes and frees up our mind so we can clear it to disassociate it, in order to enable us to work with our spirit. For to enable us to control our psychic abilities to be able to switch it on and off at will, we need to have good mind control. Meditation is therefore a must.

Meditation really is good for the brain as study reveals it switches off areas linked to ADHD and Alzheimer’s

• Meditation decreased activity in area in the brain implicated in a range of neurological disorders
• Yale University scientists suggest it could even slow down the onset of dementia

Meditation could help temper the symptoms of ADHD and Alzheimer's scientists say. A groundbreaking study has revealed that the ancient relaxation technique can switch off areas of the brain associated with a range of psychiatric disorders. It is now hoped that the findings will shed light on how neurological diseases work and prompt the development of effective treatment.



Meditation could help temper the symptoms of ADHD and Alzhemeimer's according to scientists from Yale University  Past research has shown meditation, which has become increasingly popular over recent years, has helped people quit smoking, cope with cancer, and even prevent psoriasis.
But scientists at Yale University now believe it can help people to stay focused and boost happiness, slowing down the onset of dementia. Lead researcher Judson Brewer said: 'Meditation's ability to help people stay in the moment has been part of philosophical and contemplative practices for thousands of years. 'Conversely, the hallmarks of many forms of mental illness is a preoccupation with one's own thoughts, a condition meditation seems to affect.


Brain scans revealed that meditators had decreased activity in an area of the brain implicated in a range of neurological disorders 'This gives us some nice cues as to the neural mechanisms of how it might be working clinically.' During the study, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, both experienced and novice meditators were monitored as they practiced three different meditation techniques. Brain scans revealed that experienced meditators had decreased activity in area called the default mode network. This region of the brain has been implicated in lapses of attention and disorders such as anxiety, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and even the build-up of beta amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease. Reduced activity was shown regardless of the type meditation and also during rest, suggesting that experienced meditators are less susceptible diseases such as autism, schizophrenia.

In a similar vein the University of Wisconsin is planning a study early next year to investigate the neurological effects of meditation and yoga with veterans. It is thought mindfulness meditation holds promise for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which provokes intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness and hypervigilance. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which combines meditation with orthodox 'thought training', is already recommended for depression in Britain and is available on the NHS. A report published by a mental health charity last year argued that if more GPs could offer the therapy it would cut the financial burden of depression, which costs the UK £7.5 billion a year.

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MEDITATION 1. (A guided meditation)

A GUIDED MEDITATION/VISUALISATION

When you start to develop psychically it is essential to have good mind control, this is because and if you have read earlier articles by me, you may find yourself being harassed by lower entities and possibly souls who are trapped in the Astral Plane. The Astral Plane is where we go when we are asleep. When you start to open up psychically its akin to having a flashing beacon above your head and these lower entities will home in on you for they know you are inexperienced and will cause mischief. Remember nothing can possess you nor take over your body nor harm you in anyway however they can give you a fright. As you develop stronger you will need to develop mind control in order that you can open up at will psychically  and close down so you are not disturbed and one of the ways we do this is by Meditation and Visualisation.

Before beginning your meditation ask that your guides look after you and protect you.

The following is an example of a routine, you can do this in a group with other like minded souls or you can record yourself reading out the following accompanied by gentle soft music. You will need a comfortable chair one that is upright so that your feet also touch the floor. Your spine should be straight to allow Universal energy through the chakras and both feet need to be firmly on the floor.

" I want you to focus on your breathing take some slow deep breaths, and loosen your shoulders and have your hands loosely placed on your lap. Gently close your eyes. Now breath in slowly through your nose and out via the mouth but make your out breath slower than your in breath do this a few times. Anything that pops into to your head, any worries, don't ignore it but rather acknowledge them and put them to one side all the while focusing on your breathing, slowly in through the nose and ever slower out the mouth. With every breath you take you find your shoulders dropping and you become more and more relaxed. Should anything pop into your head again acknowledge it and come back to focussing on your breathing.

Now I want you to visualise there is a tiny white light just above the crown on your head, it does not matter if you cannot see this, just accept there is and know this is so. Visualise with every breath you take the light becomes brighter and brighter, its a pure bright sparkling light and gradually that light gets bigger and brighter. Now imagine your body is made of glass and from now on every breath you take you breathe in this pure white and sparkling light going all the way from the crown of your head to each toe. The light is pure and cleansing and you become more and more relaxed and at ease. All the while breathing in slowing and allowing the pure white and cleansing light  to fill up your body.

When your body is completely full of this pure white light visualise the light becomes brighter and slowly fills up the room in which you are sitting from the floor all the way up to the ceiling. You are full of bright white light, surrounded in pure white light and feel light and cushioned and wrapped up in white light, you feel relaxed and at ease. Knowing you are protected and loved by spirit. Remember to come back to your breathing should your mind start to wander.

When the room is entirely full of this pure white light imagine you are floating and cushioned and protected by the white light you begin to rise on the chair you are sitting being carried high and higher by this pure white light out through the roof of the building in which you were sitting. Higher and higher you go, protected loved and surrounded by the white light focussing on your breathing rising higher into the sky high above the white clouds you drift allowing the white light to carry you to the most wonderful place of peace and tranquility. You feel relaxed and loved carried by this wonderful light.

Gradually the white light gently takes you to what appears to be a door of the most opulent building, there is a gentle breeze, the door is open and you know it is safe to go inside. You feel totally at ease, it feels like you have come home, there is a certain familiarity about this place. You walk up the three steps slowly and you go inside, the ceiling is high and it is light and airy inside and on the floor are large silk cushions in beautiful colours, colours so bright and so beautiful that you have never seen the like before. You sit down on the cushions, you feel safe, you feel at home.

You then become aware you are not alone three people have come to greet you and are so pleased and joyful to see you at last, they speak softly to you listen to what they say………. I will leave you a few moments to share the knowledge that is given to you……………..
PERIOD OF DEEP MEDITATION AND MESSAGES

Then all too soon it is time to go, you are given love and a gift, hold on to this gift and treasure it. You now find you are alone the door is now open and as you go through the door and down the three steps, the white light surrounds you completely it is soft and comforting and you feel at peace, deeper and more relaxed than before. You find yourself supported and being carried gently as if flowing on a gentle breeze down through the clouds slowly descending, down through the roof of the building where you once were, still holding on to your gift and what knowledge was given to you.

Soon you find yourself sitting on your chair, your feet are firmly on the floor and the pure white light carries down through your feet as if to grow roots so that your feet are firmly rooted deep in the earth below. The light then starts to fade around you but leaving you at peace and keeping you safe but fading and receding until it is a tiny white light above the crown of your head and then disappears into the heavens.

You are now firmly sitting upon your chair back in the room feet firm on the floor take a slow deep breath open your eyes when your are ready and make sure you have a glass of water stretch and make sure you are grounded."

Thank your guides for this wonderful trip and for keeping you safe and protected and loved

NOW YOU CAN DISCUSS OR WRITE DOWN YOUR EXPERIENCES WHAT YOU SAW? WAS ANYTHING SAID TO YOU? WHAT KNOWLEDGE WAS BESTOWED ON YOU? AND WHAT WAS THE PARTING GIFT?

Maggie Brown (Author)

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