Eastern Mindfulness

This source discusses the basis of mindfulness and the general aspects of mindfulness itself. This source will be used extensively throughout the paper to provide any necessary information regarding mindfullness. This book is the basis for mindfulness and will be used as so.

Based on the evidence, mindfulness could be expanded to be included in teaching individuals not only intrapersonal skills but also the

Mindfulness derives from the religious ideologies of the Eastern world, specifically originating from Buddhism. Mindfulness represents a state of consciousness in which an individual is completely aware of the present moment. The intense awareness of the present moment allows the individual to acknowledge the feelings, thoughts, and emotions being experienced in a nonjudgmental manner. Mindfulness involves cognition about cognition, and the ability to observe thoughts impartially. However, present moment awareness is a vital component to being mindful. Thoughts about the past and future will subside. The individual’s awareness is on the body, the breath, and thoughts only pertaining to the present moment. This awareness and attention allows a person to view the world in a new perspective. Most people constantly and unknowingly think about the past or the future. The intrapersonal communication we experience changes our perspective of the world because we are either comparing the present to a situation from the past or we are ignoring the present by anticipating the future. Practicing mindfulness can enhance interpersonal communication skills in reference to arguments and problem solving, resulting in stronger interpersonal relationships.

Rosenstreich and Margalit’s (2015) study demonstrated the educational/mental improvements in students because of utilizing mindfulness practices. They found that mindfulness program may alleviate the influences of solitude on students’ educational accomplishments. In the same vein, Harnett, Reid, Loxton, and Lee (2016) found that higher levels of mindfulness resulted in lower levels of anxiety. Beshai, McAlpine, Weare and Kuyken’ s (2016) results indicate that a ‘mindfulness-based program’ made for teachers is an encouraging way to reduce stress and enhance welfare and self-kindness among secondary school instructors.

On our first day of eighth grade, we were introduced to the word mindfulness. According to Jon Kabat-Zinn (the founder of modern day mindfulness), “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” Mindfulness involves a conscious direction of awareness about everything that is happening around you. But, there is a difference of being aware of something to being mindful about something. To be mindful, you have to be purposely aware of something, not just vaguely aware.

A psychological state where one practices awareness, acceptance and acquiesce of one’s thoughts, feelings, and physical consciousness in a single moment, mindfulness, has become a highly regarded therapeutic procedure. This is exampled by a study (Clara Strauss, Kate Cavanagh, Annie Oliver and Danelle Petteman, 2014) which studied the use of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as a preventative measure against the relapse of people with depression.

The American version of mindfulness then, had completely detached from its original purpose. The inescapable focus on the self as a resulting of the psychologization of spirituality and meditation then, according to Carrette and King, is then the course of Americans “sense of social isolation and disconnection” (58). I believe American mindfulness then, is the poor attempt to cure the problem it created. Rather than fixing the problem itself, mindfulness is a putting a band aid on a much larger social issue that is unknown to the majority of American citizens as it is engrained in our minds to focus solely on ourselves and that ‘life is difficult’ no matter what.

This essay is about the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in the treatment of depression. The purpose of this essay is to address the question, how mindfulness works to improve mental health when used as part of psychological treatment? Firstly, a brief overview is given about what depression is and what the symptoms are, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). Secondly, It will discuss mindfulness, as it is defined in mental health treatments. The main body of this essay will cover a description of what MBTC is, where it comes from, how it works, and how this treatment is activated in mindfulness based therapies. The final section will review three studies that have used MBCT in the treatment of depression.

It is so sad to say, but many people do not know what mindfulness meditation is and its benefits. Unfortunately I was one of the people that did not know what it meant although I was close, I wasn’t exactly right. I thought it was changing ones state of mind from negative to positive in order to over come a fear of a certain thing. In this research paper, I will discuss the benefits that mindfulness meditation does and the alternatives there are to this meditation.

Sona Dimidjian and Marsha M. Linehan, from the University of Washington, agree with these points as well. Dimidjian and Linehan published an article in 2003 to the American Psychological Association that dealt with “Defining an Agenda for Future Research on the Clinical Application of Mindfulness Practice.” Scientific and clinical questions that they want answered are along the lines of truly defining mindfulness, what the consequences are with practices and therapies like MBSR and MBCT, what truly makes mindfulness work (or not), how should therapists and teachers be trained, and if mindfulness practices can be spread to all people. An important fact to note is that no study thus far has isolated the effects of the pure mindfulness component in either MBSR and MBCT. Studies that have been done thus far have primarily done pre-post measurements of the results people reported after their practices; however, only a handful have done controlled trials with clinical populations (Baer, 2003). This poses a true threat to the true accuracy and applicability of the results of these studies. Dimidjian and Linehan propose that the isolation of mindfulness and other aspects of these treatments must be done in order to see what is truly making people improve, remain the same, or get worse. Once these dependent and independent variables of these practices and therapies are determined, then those variables can be further tested into their applicability to certain disorders, mental health issues, and much

Mindfulness meditation is referred to as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or MBCT. MBCT is increasing in popularity among new techniques in therapy around the globe. Studies have proven that mindfulness meditation can help to reduce daily turmoil such as depression, anxiety, and stress. It has been stated that “mindfulness is believed to promote good health, and many studies have associated mindfulness with decreases in depression and anxiety. (Good Therapy, 2016). There are many factors that cause one to experience depression, anxiety, or stress. During MBCT individuals are taught new techniques to control their emotions, which plays a big role in depression, anxiety, and stress.

Mindfulness is a Buddhist-based concept centered around self-awareness and acceptance that makes heavy use of meditation to achieve these goals (Hofmann 169–171). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy adapts traditional cognitive–behavioral therapy to include the practices of mindfulness (Hofmann 170). Although a recent phenomenon, considerable research has been conducted in order to ascertain the efficacy of this new psychotherapy in treating anxiety and mood disorders. So far, the majority of research indicates that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy does indeed have positive effects on both anxiety and mood disorders (Bystritsky 38; Hofmann 169–183). Despite these assertions, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has yet to become a regular form of treatment for mental illnesses (due in large part to its religious connotations), although it has slowly begun to be used more often in the treatment of anxiety disorders (Bystritsky 38; Hofmann

Mindfulness is a concept that is well documented in the psychological world. In ancient contempla-tive traditions and religions such as Buddhism, where awareness and being conscious of surround-ings is practised in day to day life. Theorists from all schools of thought, including the personality schools of thought and psychotherapy have mentioned the “importance of observant, open awareness and attention in the optimization of self-regulation and wellbeing” (Brazier, 1995; Mar-tin, 1997). Mindfulness also shares aspects of the Openness to Experience dimension of personali-ty which has been researched by Costa and McRae who have proposed the ‘big five’, which coor-dinate how well traits go together in people’s descriptions of rating

The technique of mindfulness involves “attentional focus on present moment experience and an open, accepting, and non-judgmental attitude toward what unfolds in the present” (Newcombe & Weaver, 2016). This practice is derived from ancient Buddhist traditions. Those struggling with mood disorders being treated with the mindfulness technique are taught to have more compassion and empathy toward themselves as they work through their struggles. The technique of mindfulness trains patients to not be so harsh on themselves, allowing them to heal in an accepting environment. Kearney and Trull (2015) point out that mindfulness allows “greater acceptance of symptoms and how the symptoms can be experienced without severe avoidance” (p. 140). This

Mindfulness is “a practice of learning to focus attention on moment-by-moment experience with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance” (Marchand, 2012). Although the origin of mindfulness resides in the principles and wisdoms of Buddhism, recent research has demonstrated the beneficial effects in a multiple of clinical settings, including major depressive disorder and episodes. Previous research has substantiated that MBCT has broad-spectrum antidepressant and antianxiety effects (Marchand, 2012), and mindfulness-based approaches have been efficaciously applied to manage a wide range of stress-related and health problems (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010). As mindfulness has rapidly gained attention by clinicians, doctors, and other