5 Meditation Tips for Beginners
Meditation is a great coping tool when you live with RA and other types of chronic illness, but how do you get into the habit? I tried meditating for 30 days and shared some tips in my latest articile for HealthCentral:
“When you’re looking for ways to cope with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), sooner or later, you will come across a recommendation to meditate. Sometimes, it even seems as if it can cure all that ails you, including pain, hangnails, and the urge to eat too much chocolate.
Indeed, multiple studies show that meditation can reduce anxiety, depression, and the experience of chronic pain accompanying any chronic illness. Meditation can also help improve your self-esteem and quality of life, body image, and help you feel more able to participate in your life. The evidence for the benefits is so solid that many pain management programs include lessons on using mindfulness meditation, a type which may be especially helpful for those of us with chronic illness. It focuses on paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Being very present is a great antidote for the anxiety and worry that can come with RA.
I have tried meditating before—multiple times, actually, and with different techniques. It’s always made me feel calmer and more relaxed physically and emotionally. The challenge is making it a regular habit. So this go around, that’s what I focused on: trying to stick with it for 30 days. Here are five strategies that helped me the most.”
Read more about meditating with RA on HealthCentral.
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I think I need to change my ideas about meditation. Well maybe. 🙂