Chronic stress has gradually become a background condition for millions of people. It does not always manifest itself immediately, but has the property of accumulating in the body and "shooting out" in the form of insomnia, anxiety, digestive problems, pressure, or constant fatigue. Doctors call meditation one of the most effective ways to influence the underlying causes of stress. Neurologist and founder of the Meditation Training Center Viktor Matsyshyn talked about how it works and why it helps restore the nervous system.
Stress is a non-specific reaction of the body to an impact for which the nervous system is not ready. It can occur not only due to serious events, but also due to minor everyday stimuli. When the adaptation resource is reduced, even a minor situation causes anxiety or irritation. Stress penetrates the subconscious, accumulates there and over time manifests itself in physical or psycho-emotional symptoms.
Consciousness can be compared to the ocean. Only a small part is conscious, while most processes occur in the subconscious. If stress exceeds the capabilities of the nervous system, it forms persistent “knots” in the subconscious, which constantly produce negative signals. Over time, they lead to chronic anxiety, depression, headaches, sleep disorders and other problems.
Prolonged stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for mobilization and tension. At the same time, the parasympathetic system, which is responsible for recovery and digestion, is blocked. This makes food less digestible, even if it is healthy and balanced. As a result, the body does not receive the necessary energy, which further exhausts the nervous system.
Meditation works not with the consequences, but with the root causes of stress. It allows you to reach the deep levels of consciousness where tensions accumulate, and neutralize them naturally. It is not a fight against stress, but creating conditions in which the nervous system restores balance itself.
There are several main directions of meditative practices.
Concentration practices are aimed at focusing attention and activating mental activity.
Open monitoring practices help to detach from stressful thoughts and reduce tension.
Spontaneous self-transcendence practices lead the mind deep into consciousness, to the source of thoughts, where the dissolution of accumulated stress occurs.
Regular meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowers cortisol levels, and promotes deep recovery. The mind naturally calms, the body relaxes, and the nervous system gets a chance to “rewrite” harmful stress responses.
Although basic techniques can be found in the public domain, a specialist helps to avoid mistakes and achieve results faster. Professional instruction is especially important for people with chronic stress, anxiety disorders, or psychosomatic illnesses.
Meditation is suitable for most people. However, if you have severe mental disorders, including acute psychosis or schizophrenia, the practice should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.
Regular practice reduces anxiety, improves sleep, normalizes blood pressure, has a positive effect on digestion, immunity and concentration. It also increases emotional resilience, improves relationships with others and helps to adapt to change more easily.
Meditation techniques are used for PTSD, anxiety and depressive disorders, chronic pain, cardiovascular and gastroenterological diseases, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and sleep disorders.
