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A cancer diagnosis is life changing. It brings with it fear, uncertainty, stress, and much more. The body is not only under distress, but the mind is as well. Fortunately, a tool like meditation can benefit the healing journey after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

What Is Meditation

Meditation is the practice of stillness and breath work for a period of time. During meditation, one observes their thoughts without judgement while focusing on the rise and fall of the breath. One can do meditation sitting down, standing up, or laying down, and through movement with Tai Chi, Qigong, or yoga.

Meditation for the Brain

Since meditation brings a person to stillness and focuses on breath control, it has shown to have significant benefits on the brain and body. Studies show that meditation actually rewires the brain’s neural pathways, forming new ways of processing. This shows that we can actually change our thought patterns for the better with the help of meditation. For people that have depression, which can occur after a life changing diagnosis, studies have shown that meditation can better help one cope. The amygdala and prefrontal cortex are brain regions associated with depression that work together. Studies show that meditation can break apart these brain regions, proving the positive power of meditation for the mind.

Meditation’s Impact on Cancer

When one receives a cancer diagnosis, they go through stages of grief and processing, which could lead to anxiety and depression. With it, a cancer diagnosis brings changes and concerns about health, family, finances, and more. Meditation helps lessen the severity of these emotions, as it teaches the value of acknowledging discomfort. This will help throughout their cancer journey, as there will be emotional ups and downs and new information and decisions to make as time goes on.

In practicing meditation for stress reduction, cancer patients may experience lower anxiety, blood pressure, and improved sleep. These benefits assist the patient on their healing journey, giving them a tool to rely on during a time of change.

Meditation can also help with pain management. Cancer and chemotherapy can cause physical pain as a result of the cancer itself or drug side effects. Meditation teaches practitioners to sit with the pain, knowing that it is only temporary and will pass. This can be effective in the healing process, as those who adjust with positivity can help their healing in many ways.

Dr. Carrie Barlow provides a holistic approach to cancer care, giving patients tools like meditation so they experience the benefits of healing with an integrative approach. She understands that the healing journey is about more than just physical healing from illness, it is an emotional and spiritual journey. For more information about how to work with her, contact Dr. Carrie Barlow today.