Spiritualism, often defined as a search for something sacred in life–is a highly important topic to many people today. People tend to approach the sphere of spirituality via meditation, religion, yoga, and even personal reflection.
That being said, have you ever considered if your spirituality or faith has an effect on health and recovery? From time to time, news segments and reports feature somebody who has witnessed a profound medical miracle—like the vanishing kidney and brain disease which reportedly paved the way for Mother Teresa’s sainthood.
However, these profound miracles do not happen to everyone. But what about simple everyday spirituality? Can spirituality help people heal in routine, and less profound ways? Research studies have shown that people who are more spiritual or religious and utilize their spirituality in order to cope with life, tend to experience several benefits to their overall health and well-being. For a lot of you, this news would not come as a surprise; this is because spirituality and religious activities have been a great source of comfort as well as relief from stress for many people.
Many experts often describe spirituality as a strong belief in something much bigger than yourself; however, regardless of the definition or specific method of practice (such as prayer, meditation, or yoga), spirituality has some major health benefits. Many studies suggest that both spirituality and prayer are highly beneficial for mental health, physical health and might even add several years to your life.
Here are 5 ways spirituality can make you healthier.
1. Prevents depression
It is worth mentioning that isolation is a huge risk for depression; however, both spirituality and organized religion tend to encourage social engagement, stated William McCann, PsyD, an experienced psychotherapist who specializes in family as well as community medicine at the renowned Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Depression is a mood disorder that tends to cause persistent feelings of guilt, sadness, and hopelessness; it can interfere with your daily life. Although depression could be treated with talk therapy and medication, some studies indicate that spirituality, namely prayer, mindfulness meditation, and yoga, could also help alleviate the adverse effects of depression.
So, volunteering or getting involved in a spiritual community often provides great social support which can lower the risk for depression, whether the “community” is a church group, a yoga class, or even an online group.
2. Quells stress
As a great coping mechanism for stress and anxiety, spirituality could be particularly helpful to caregivers. This is because caregiving presents a number of demands —emotional stress, physical stress, and financial stress and even raises personal health risks — but note that talking to a pastor or chaplain allows many people to reflect deeply on the meaning of what they are doing.
Studies have suggested that spirituality in the form of mindful-based stress reduction, a type of meditation, has revealed positive results when it comes to lowering stress in both sick as well as healthy patients. So if you are feeling a little overwhelmed, then find a quiet and serene spot and reflect for a couple of moments—gradually relinquishing control of whatever it is that burdening you might just be enough to calm your mind.
3. Live longer
Research studies indicate that people who regularly attend church services or/and participate in various religious activities have a considerably lower mortality rate compared to those who do not. A study of more than 74,500 female participants indicates that those who regularly attended services once per week (at least) had a 33% lower risk of death during the course of the study as well as lower risks of cancer and cardiovascular-related death, specifically.
And that is not all as another study that analyzed the religious and health practices of 3,850 older adults, noted that those who participated in private religious or spiritual activity, such as prayer, meditation or even religious study, could live longer compared to those who do not.
4. Restores a sense of purpose
As per Laura Dunn, MD, a professor of behavioural sciences and psychiatry at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, talking with a pastor or chaplain could help people in coming to terms with fractured or strained relationships and regrets.
According to Dr. Dunn’s research, which was presented at a conference, only three sessions (45 minutes each) with a chaplain were extremely helpful for folks with serious illness. That being said, the benefits are not limited to people who are ill.
Dunn says, “At a specific time during a severe health crisis or times of acute stress, fundamental spiritual needs would emerge, and the pastor or chaplain helps identify what that fundamental spiritual need is.”
It might be the dire need for direction and meaning, renewed self-worth, or even reconciliation. Dr. Dunn was amazed at the intensity and numbers of some of the psycho-spiritual progress that these patients were able to make.
5. Lowers blood pressure
A few studies have suggested that people who are more spiritual or religious tend to have lower blood pressure levels than people who are not. This is mainly because stress and high blood pressure are linked; so, a flood of various stress hormones can increase your heart rate while narrowing blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Lowering stress levels via spiritual practice could, in turn, reduce blood pressure.
Final thoughts
Regardless of whether this useful information encourages you to rediscover a long-forgotten spiritual or religious path, helps reinforce your commitment and dedication toward an already established one, or just provides some interesting food for thought, it is merely a sample of all the positive research that has been done on this topic.
Keep in mind that spirituality is often a very personal experience, and everybody’s spiritual path might be unique and different. So, spend a couple of minutes every day in prayer, yoga or meditation. In doing so, you may find yourself better able to encounter and face others and approach a higher power in a novel way, knowing all the time that it would be as good for your body as it is for your spirit.
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring!
Author: James Crook
James Crook is a passionate health and fitness blogger. Currently, he is working with Centra Care – Urgent Care Tampa. Follow @jamescrook911 for more updates.
