Benefits of Mindfulness
There are many potential benefits which flow from the practice of mindfulness, including more effective stress and pain management, increased immune response, and deep relaxation.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been extensively researched in medical and other settings and has been found to be a helpful adjunct to conventional treatments for a variety of medical and psychological conditions and symptoms, including:
- Heart disease
- Gastrointestinal distress
- Chronic pain
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety and panic
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Chronic fatigue
- Depression
- Skin disorders
- Addictions
Program Effectiveness
The majority of participants who complete The Insight Center's MBSR program report significant decreases in both physical and psychological symptoms, as well as improved ability to relax and deal with short and long term stressful situations. Click here to see charts illustrating these reductions in physical and psychological symptoms.
In addition to these reductions in symptoms, participants report a number of positive changes in their lifestyles and coping:
- 94% of participants report knowing how to take better care of themselves than before the program
- 93% of participants report being better able to handle stressful situations following the program
- 83% of participants have made healthy lifestyle changes as a result of the program
- 97% of those who complete the program state that they have drawn something of lasting value from it.