by Zartasha Zainab
Contemporary scientists
and health practitioners have spent almost a decade now focusing largely on the
impact of our mental health using the biomedical paradigm. Research has been directed
towards exploring brain processes, functions and various parts of the brain,
our genetic composition, our biology and
often blaming the victim of mental illnesses for the way they think or behave
while ignoring the social context in which those illnesses or disorders take
root. Several mood disorders that impact our physiological state both mental
and bodily can be treated using natural techniques with fewer side effects. New studies are finding holistic ways that
will enable us to better perform, have better brain functions and better
overall mental health. Whereas studies on drug use to cure mental illness has
shown various hazardous side effects.. Tricyclics and antidepressants such as
Tofranil and Elavil can lead to heart attack, stroke, hypotension, blurred
vision, anxiety, tiredness, dry mouth, constipation, gastric disorders,
erectile failure, and weight gain. The use of MAO inhibitors such as Parnate
can have side effects such as fatal hypertension, dry mouth, dissiness, nausea,
and headaches. The use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as
Prozac can lead to nervousness, fatigue, gastrointenstinal complaints,
dizziness, headaches and insomnia. And finally the use of Lithium can lead to
tremors, gastric distress, lack of coordination, dizziness, cardiac arrhythmia,
blurred vision, fatigue and also death. When weighing the costs and benefits of
drug therapy or biopsychosocial therapies that focus on thought processes that
result in stress, relaxation and the role that our social and environmental
factors play on allowing us to achieve mental health are a lot more effective.4
This article focuses on two key
factors that impact our mental well being. (1) Spending time in nature and (2)
The impact of meditation on mental health which often results in overall well
being.
Have you ever felt extremely stressful and
then gone to a park or a nature walk to find yourself feeling renewed,
refreshed, more tranquil as well as peaceful inside out? Well, that feeling is
not just you. Various studies have shown that being around nature directly
impacts our mental health and overall well being. Studies conducted on children
have shown that children growing up in the inner city who are not often exposed
to as much natural environment are at risk of academic underachievement,
juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy and other important negative outcomes.
In order to avoid these outcomes there is a necessity for self discipline,
which requires directed attention which is a limited resource that can be
renewed through contact with nature. Children who spent more time around nature
showed greater concentration, impulse inhibition, and the ability to delay
gratification. Girls especially showed a remarkable degree of overall better
mental health being in close proximity to nature and boys showed better overall
mental health being close to nature even from a greater distance.1
The next focus of this article is the
impact of meditation on mental health. A variety of studies have shown that
transcendental meditation also has an astonishing impact on overall mental well
being. Transcendental meditation is a mental practice that focuses on putting
the mind and body in a state of complete relaxation. This method has been shown
to reduce anxiety as well as stress and also enhancing mental health. Studies
were conducted over an entire twelve week period and test scores revealed
overall well being in somatisation and anxiety as well as better immune
functioning. Transcendental meditation allows the mind to settle into a quieter
state and the body into a state of deep rest leading to relaxed alertness. It
also reduces anxiety and distress. This is independent of age, sex and marital
status.3 Meditation
also has an enormous impact on our immune system. Meditation boosts antibodies,
it melts away stress, it stimulates immune system brain function regions. Since
our immune system is also linked to thoughts, for reasons unknown, it responds
to both negative and positive thoughts. Meditation creates the perfect
environment for the immune system to flourish allowing for better health, more
energy and greater happiness.2
Through natural environments and
meditations, we are able to have an overall better immune system, better
somatisation, relief from anxieties as well as depression as well as various
stress disorders. These methods are much healthier than using drugs to cure the
mood disorders which are accompanied by hazardous side effects. It also leads
to better concentration and immune system. Meditation and nature allow us to
develop a stronger mental and physiological state improving our autonomous
nervous system as well as central nervous system both within our consciousness
as well as sub consciousness. These are
just a few ways of understanding mental health from a more broader and holistic
perspective that health professionals are beginning to research and target in
order to develop better social, behavioural and environmental outcomes for our
overall mental health and well being. ____________________________________________________________________________________
1Faber, A., Kuo, F., & Sullivan, W. (2002). Journal of Environmental
Psychology, 22(2),
49-63. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494401902415
2Miserandino, M. (2012). Intrapsychic
Foundations of Personality. In Personality
Psychology. New Jersey: Pearson
3Yunesian,
M., Aslani, A., Vash, J., & Yazdi, A. (2008). Effects of Transcendental
Meditation on mental health: A
before-after study. Clinical
Practice and Epidiemiology in Mental Health,4(25).
Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://www.cpementalhealth.com/content/4/1/25
4Davison, G., Blankstein, K., Flett, G., &
Neale, J. (2013). Mood Disorders and Suicide. InAbnormal Psychology Fifth
Canadian Edition (5th ed.,
pp. 260-264). New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons
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