05/11/2018
MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND WELLNESS AFTER CANCER
Professor Peter Smith, Evexia's co-founder, practices and teaches meditation. He describes in this post, the benefits in recovery from cancer that mindfulness and meditation can bring.
The diagnosis of cancer, whether early stage with simple treatment and good prognosis or a more serious form with complex treatment and guarded prognosis, is often an existential turning point in life. One’s sense of personal security and future plans may be suddenly thrown into disarray by the daunting nature of treatment and the uncertainty of the future. During this treatment phase, many people do experience personal and professional support. This phase is often filled with a purpose and a “busyness”. However, when treatment is concluded and “remission” is declared, much of this support falls away.
Many are able to move on with life, family and career. However, a significant number of survivors are left feeling anxious and uncertain about their present circumstances and the future. Anxiety, either free floating or focussed on a range of concerns including body image, relationships, risk of relapse can lead into more profound mood disorders and block return to a state of wellbeing.
These problems can be addressed with medication and psychotherapy. However, there is another path – the path of meditation or its modern offshoot, mindfulness – that can lead to healing and wellbeing.
Meditation is an ancient practice and the capacity to meditate seems to be embedded in our nature as humans. It forms a strand in all known religious traditions. Modern meditation practitioners come from all faiths, or no faith. Many people who describe themselves as agnostic or atheist practice meditation. Perhaps the oldest continuously practiced meditation tradition in the world, is that practised by aboriginal people in northern Australia, often referred to as “dadirri”.
Meditation and mindfulness practice can be divided into three major groups – focussed attention such as when one uses a mantra or focusses on the breath; expanded consciousness; and practices linked to movement, sound or music. While each practice will have its advocates, there is nothing to demonstrate that one is better than another.
What has been established through a number of studies is that, if one chooses a particular practice and follows it faithfully, the practice will produce benefits for the practitioner such as reduced levels of anxiety and episodes of depression, better sleep patterns and lower blood pressure. A recent study of breast cancer patients both during and after treatment, demonstrated that a meditation/mindfulness practice is recommended for anxiety/stress reduction, relief of depression/mood disorders and for improved quality of life.
So, how to proceed?
There are many reputable groups operating in cities and regional areas that can be found through the internet and that will provide an introduction to a meditation/mindfulness practice for little or no cost.
Having found a group and practice with which you are comfortable, the next step is to do it! Remember that this is not a belief system or academic exercise, it is a practice. In order to achieve the benefits, one has to establish the practice. The principles underpinning most practices are very simple. The difficulty is in making the commitment to the practice and accepting that changes and benefits will accrue very slowly – but they will accrue.
Meditation or mindfulness forms an important pillar alongside exercise and good nutrition to assist return to health and wellbeing for those recovering from cancer treatment.
