{"id":1793582,"date":"2023-01-03T10:38:59","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T15:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1793582"},"modified":"2023-01-03T10:39:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T15:39:06","slug":"meditations-surprising-effect-on-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/meditations-surprising-effect-on-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation\u2019s Surprising Effect on Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmeditations-surprising-effect-on-cancer%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1793582&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Cancer leaves many wounds. And while we have a tendency to focus only on the physical effects that cancer causes, anyone who has battled cancer will tell you that the emotional scars can be just as jarring.<\/p>\n<p>Beginning the first day you hear those words,\u00a0<em>\u201cYou have cancer,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0the world as you knew it is suddenly turned upside down. In a matter of minutes, your mind races to comprehend the impact of the words you just heard. And for days afterward \u2013 and any number of long, sleepless nights \u2013 a thousand thoughts may come and go, along with a crushing cascade of emotions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease, walk me down from the emotions of love and joy\u201d \u2013 said no one ever. While there are as many chemical reactions in the body that equate to these positive, desirable emotions than there are to the negative, undesirable emotions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/t-fear\">fear<\/a>, anxiety, and stress, the point is that\u00a0<strong>emotions are powerful influences that affect the state of our health<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Emotions Release Chemicals Throughout Your Body<\/h2>\n<p>The chemistry of emotions has been well researched. An\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/347162876_Chemistry_of_Emotions_-_A_Review\">article<\/a>\u00a0published in the\u00a0<em>International Journal for Modern Trends in Science and Technology<\/em>\u00a0describes emotions as \u201ccomplex chemical reactions in the body\u2019s nervous system characterized by neurophysiologic changes associated with thoughts and behavioral responses.\u201d Put simply, emotions are made up of chemicals and are a direct result of the thoughts we think.<\/p>\n<p>No one would want to be emotion-less, or without emotions, as they enrich our life experience. If we pay attention to our emotions, we can gain insight into how our body is translating the experiences we face.\u00a0It is when there is a prolonged\u00a0<em>imbalance<\/em>\u00a0of negative emotions that our body may become overwhelmed and respond in a negative, unhealthy manner. Put another way, a preponderance of negative emotions results in a preponderance of chemical reactions that, over time, can damage the physical body.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most obvious and easy-to-understand emotions\u2013and its physical consequences\u2013is the emotion of\u00a0<em>fear<\/em>. Fear is a survival response. And fear is very physical. Fear begins when you perceive (in your mind) a threat. In order for your body to handle the perceived threat, myriad physiological responses happen within milliseconds:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The amygdala (your middle brain) springs into action, alerting your nervous system with an all-hands-on-deck emergency alert;<\/li>\n<li>Cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones are immediately released into your body;<\/li>\n<li>Your heart rate rises;<\/li>\n<li>Your blood pressure goes up;<\/li>\n<li>You breathe faster;<\/li>\n<li>And believe it or not, your blood flow changes direction \u2013 it flows away from your heart and into your extremities just in case you need to run fast to outdistance an enemy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In other words, your body is preparing itself for fight-or-flight. It\u2019s doing what it was designed to do. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nm.org\/healthbeat\/healthy-tips\/emotional-health\/5-things-you-never-knew-about-fear\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">5 Things You Never Knew About Fear<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>The emotion of fear is all too real for cancer patients and it can continue for long periods of time. Depression is another emotion that cancer patients often experience. According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhthechange.org\/resources\/mental-health-impacts-of-a-cancer-diagnosis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The National Cancer Institute<\/a>\u00a0(NCI), one in three cancer patients experience mental or emotional distress with a reported 42% percent of breast cancer patients and 41% of head and neck cancer patients leading the way. Also according to the NCI, 25% of cancer survivors experience symptoms of depression, 45% experience anxiety, and many also experience PTSD symptoms. Sadly, cancer survivors are 2x as likely to die by suicide.<\/p>\n<h2>Turning the Tables on Negative Emotions<\/h2>\n<p>So how do we deal with these emotions that are a very real reaction to the physical threat we face \u2014 the threat of cancer? In a fascinating\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.org\/cjon\/20\/4\/mindfulness-intervention-breast-cancer-survivors\">study<\/a>\u00a0reported in the\u00a0<em>Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing<\/em>,\u00a0<strong>mindfulness-based stress reduction<\/strong>\u00a0was demonstrated to be a significant intervention for breast cancer survivors.\u00a0<em>Mindfulness<\/em>\u00a0simply refers to a practice that uses meditative and attention-directed exercises to minimize stress and increase awareness of the present.<\/p>\n<p>The goal of mindfulness is to purposefully disengage from beliefs, thoughts, or emotions and to focus instead on the present moment. If you can teach yourself to detach yourself from the thoughts and emotions you are experiencing, you can discover a power you never even knew you had.<\/p>\n<p>Another study, \u201cEvidence for the Role of Mindfulness in Cancer: Benefits and Techniques\u201d published by\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6623989\/\">Cureus<\/a><\/em>, researchers evaluated the effects of various mindfulness techniques on cancer patients. Their conclusions?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cancer-related sleep disorders:<\/strong>\u00a0results indicated a notable decrease in insomnia and other sleep disturbances commonly experienced by cancer patients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Radiation therapy:<\/strong>\u00a0participants who actively practiced Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) experienced significant improvement as compared with those who did not practice the technique.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mindfulness and the Immune Response:<\/strong>\u00a0T-cells of participants in the group that participated in MBSR were more readily activated. These T-cells are the heroes of the immune system, effective in fighting cancer cells and other unwanted intruders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Practice Sitting Meditation:<\/strong>\u00a0sit in a comfortable position and direct your full attention on the sensation of breathing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Perform Your Own Internal Body Scan:<\/strong>\u00a0focus awareness on individual parts of your body.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice Being Non-judgmental:<\/strong>\u00a0pay full attention to whatever is occurring at the current moment, but do not judge it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Have Patience:<\/strong>\u00a0accept the fact that events unfold in their own time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Develop a Beginner\u2019s Mind:<\/strong>\u00a0try to see everything as if it were happening for the first time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Trust Yourself:<\/strong>\u00a0Learn to honor your feelings rather to suppress or distrust them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid Striving Too Hard:<\/strong>\u00a0practice having no goal other than meditation itself, accepting what thoughts come and go.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Learn to Let Go:<\/strong>\u00a0try not to hold onto, or reject your experience.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice Kindness:<\/strong>\u00a0practice being kind and warm in the face of difficulties while avoid being self-critical.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Develop Your Innate Curiosity:<\/strong>\u00a0investigate whatever appears in your experience, without automatic judgment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Develop the Art of Acceptance:<\/strong>\u00a0practice being objective as you completely accept all thoughts, feelings, sensations, and beliefs that come and go in your mind\u2019s process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Start by steering your mind toward positive thoughts. It can take a little practice because the natural tendency is to stray from the thought at hand. When you notice your mind doing this \u2013 stop, breathe, focus, and redirect your thoughts. Allow yourself to envision a healthier body, a body without cancer.<\/p>\n<p>In order to stay as positive as possible, you may find, as I did, that I needed to disengage from negative people that surrounded me and find like-minded people who encouraged me and understood what I was going through. If that is the case for you, too, realize that this may be an opportunity for you to give yourself permission to focus on what you need to fight the battle you\u2019re fighting. And make no mistake \u2013 cancer is a battle. Why not try incorporating the\u00a0<em>art of mindfulness<\/em>\u00a0into your arsenal of cancer-fighting techniques?<\/p>\n<p><em>Republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/templetonwellness.com\/\">templetonwellness.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"author_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"one_author_block round\">\n<div class=\"top_row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/author-james-templeton\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ttl7dayw4X_WEB_JamesTempleton.jpg\" alt=\"James Templeton\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"bio\">James Templeton founded Uni Key Health Systems in 1992 and now the <a href=\"https:\/\/templetonwellness.com\/\">Templeton Wellness Foundation<\/a> as a way of giving back and helping others achieve the health and wellness they are seeking.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cancer leaves many wounds. And while we have a tendency to focus only on the physical effects that cancer causes, anyone who has battled cancer will tell you that the emotional scars can be just as jarring. Beginning the first day you hear those words,\u00a0\u201cYou have cancer,\u201d\u00a0the world as you knew it is suddenly turned &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1739300,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[5458,8047,13009,3819,13010],"class_list":["post-1793582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-bongino","tag-cancer","tag-meditations","tag-report","tag-surprising"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1793582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1793582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1793582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1739300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1793582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1793582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1793582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}