Meditation

Regular meditation can give clarity and peace of mind, which could improve your health and well-being. People practise meditation to help their minds and bodies become calm and relaxed.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis and battling through the disease, or helping a loved one through it, can be an overwhelming experience, and often leaves people feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. Meditation uses concentration to deeply relax the mind, helping you to overcome the stress and anxiety of this experience.

It can also help control many other problems, such as:

  • Pain
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Tiredness
  • Nausea
  • High blood pressure

Regular meditation could help people gain a greater sense of control over their bodies and lives. It can also change the way you think about different experiences, enabling you to focus your attention on to the present moment. In turn, this can help you to be more positive, breaking cycles of negative thought behaviour.

Before you begin meditating it is advised that you find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position. You can sit however you like, but try and keep your back straight. This is important as it keeps your mind awake, improving your ability to focus. Once you are in a suitable position, partially close your eyes and turn your focus on to your breathing. Your mind may wander, but try to direct your thoughts back to your breathing. This will become easier the more you regularly practise meditation. Gradually you should start to experience feelings of inner peace and relaxation, which in turn should refresh your mind.

Regularly meditating for a short time each day has been known to reduce feelings of stress, and help patients and loved ones to process their emotions following a diagnosis. It can also help them to regain some sense of control over their bodies and promote both physical and emotional healing. This can provide a much-needed sense of peace and relief for many people affected by cancer.

You can either practise self-guided meditation or share the experience in a group.