“This [COVID-19 pandemic]situation has induced a rapidly mounting psychological panic not dissimilar to what has historically occurred in response to terror attacks, natural disasters, and life in warzones, especially when there is a lack of resources, information is ambiguous, and instructions are unclear. It’s easy to feel helpless. “ Esther Perel
Before the COVID-19 pandemic
You couldn’t stop moving. And you had to move fast. This was the mantra of the stressed and distressed North-American lifestyle. The stress levels were increasing in parallel with this fast-paced world, of course. Sitting in traffic for hours to go to work, a jam-packed workday. Running around with the children from school to hockey games to birthday parties. Frustration would kick in when driving in circles to find parking, getting a coffee (damn, they didn’t put enough cream …again!). Where should you book on vacation in the Caribbean? Pool view or ocean view? …awww, so hard to choose.
During the COVID-19 pandemic
Stay home to save lives. STAY HOME !!!!. The new deadly virus is spreading all around the world. Europe’s desperate doctors shielded by trash bags, as protective equipment was not available. Only patients under 60 are getting ventilators in Italy, reported a newspaper in March. Grocery stores empty amid coronavirus fear, creating a sense of food insecurity. Toilet paper selling on Kijiji for up to $800 per roll! Hand sanitizers in short supply, nowhere to find. Lockdowns. Where is my job? I can’t keep up with the mortgage! Kids have to stay home. Mixed messages from trusted authorities. The second wave is coming and is going to be more dangerous. Record daily jump in COVID-19 cases. Vaccines won’t be available for the next months. By the way, these are headlines from newspapers.
Mindfulness meditation (MM)- one of the best solution to deal with any type of stress
One of the best gifts you can give your mind, and overall, your health is meditation. Mindfulness meditation effectively lowers your stress level. A recent study found that five to twelve minutes of daily mindfulness meditation is associated with decreased stress and anxiety and increased mindfulness, with more beneficial effects seen following more meditation minutes. People who meditate also seem to have a larger hippocampus, a brain area involved in emotional control, making scientists believe that mindfulness meditation enhances emotional stability.
Do you feel anxious or depressed? Even one single mindfulness meditation session can reduce anxiety in those highly anxious about experiencing high levels of stress. Practicing mindfulness meditation is linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety and temporary banishes negative emotions.
Why does MM work? This practice raises the levels of certain brain chemicals that play key roles in depression and anxiety, particularly dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine.
Meditate regularly, and you’ll get even more benefits. MM makes you sleep better due to its relaxing qualities and by increasing the levels of melatonin. Harvard researchers tell us that MM can reduce the risk of heart diseases. This practice makes you more likely to adopt another healthy lifestyle like a nutritious diet, exercise, and better sleep. MM also improves your high blood pressure and heart variability. A quick note on heart variability. Heart variability tells you how quickly your heart makes small changes between each heartbeat. Higher heart variability means a healthier heart, while low heart variability is linked with heart attacks and strokes. MM helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels. This practice seems to boost longevity by influencing your genes (lengthen the telomers) and increasing anti-aging hormones such as DHEA, and promoting a healthy immune system.
*****From Chapter 2 of my latest book “Pandemic Weight Gain” The 4 Step Formula To Lose Those Pounds And De-stress Your Life.
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