Interesting article in the newspaper suggesting that Mindfulness is a way and indeed one of the best ways to tackle stress. In the article Hollywood stars are listed as being believers of this practise and the help it can give when dealing with stress and the anxiety. This original Buddhist philosophy believes in trying to encourage and focus one to be in the present.
Their Science correspondent highlights a study completed by the lead author, Dr Elizabeth Hoge, of Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr Hoge is quoted saying,’This is not just a fad, it has been around for thousands of years in Buddhist countries, and we have found it helps people in a very practical sense.’ She goes on to to describe how this practise helps to put a distance between their thoughts and themselves, to show that worries will pass. The results of the study which divided candidates with anxiety disorders and gave them different treatments was interesting. After treatment, the group as a whole were teated for their levels of adrenocorticotropic hormones which is a trigger for stress. the mindfulness group had significant lower levels.
Dr Hoge summarised the study by saying, “We were testing the patients’ resilience, because that’s really the ultimate question – can we make people handle stress and anxiety better?’
I see Mindfulness as a tool that can help with the right state of mind and with the right clients.