Week 10 General Psychology Research Paper

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Week 10 Final Paper Mechele Donnelly Rasmussen College Author Note This research is being submitted on March 9, 2012 for Lisa Prince Rutsky’s General Psychology course. In today’s fast paced world, it’s easy for people to become overwhelmed and bogged down with stress. Stress is responsible for triggering brain signals that are commonly referred to as “fight or flight” mechanism. In our modern world, we have replaced most of the “large predators” with traffic jams, highway noise, office politics, bill collectors, news stories, and holiday shopping crowds. Yet we are walking around in the same bodies as our ancestors. But with our fast paced society, we do not have the luxury between stressors to relax and recharge our nervous system;…show more content…
There are many types of meditation, most of which, originated in ancient religious and spiritual traditions. Mindfulness meditation and Zen Buddhism, focuses attention on breathing. This takes 10-20 minutes a day and can be done anywhere. Mindfulness means to be fully aware of what you are doing and your surroundings (Merkes 2010).This type of meditation requires breathing exercises. With each inhalation oxygen enters the body, it purifies the blood stream and helps invigorate each cell and allows for healthy functioning of the cells, glands, and muscles. When we breathe slow, deep and fill the lungs they work more, the diaphragm moves well, the intercostal muscles, spine and abdominal muscles work together drawing extra oxygen into the blood stream (Sharma 2010). Mindfulness meditation is a term often used in the practice of psychology so that meditation can not be taught without seeming to have a religious implication. Cultivation of mindfulness, the non-judgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment, produces beneficial effects on well being and ameliorates psychiatric and stress-related symptoms. Mindfulness meditation has therefore increasingly been incorporated into psychotherapeutic interventions. Recent empirical research including practitioners self-reports and experimental data provides evidence supporting attention regulation, body awareness, emotion regulation and…show more content…
Mantra is a special sound, word, or phrase used for mind connection or spiritual worship (Huffman pg. 154). Transcendental Meditation technique is a natural, unforced routine that reduces stress and increases an individuals mental and physical potential. It only takes 15 to 20 minutes twice a day. The Transcendental Meditation technique allows your mind to settle inward beyond thought to experience the source of thought-pure awareness, also known as transcendental consciousness, or the unified field. This is the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness-your inner most self. In this state of restful alertness, your brain functions with significantly greater coherence and your body gains deep rest. During this routine one washes away the stress accumulated over the day and is the basis for a pleasurable evening and a restful night. Transcendental Meditation is most effective in reducing apprehension, improving mental health, increasing self awareness, and ridding the abuse of cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol. Transcendental Meditation in clinical analysis proves that meditation can increase control of involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and brain waves (Skye). Scientists believe that meditation for long-term results reduces the quantity of stress hormones, and as a result reduces cholesterol and blood pressure (Wiss 2000). A study
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