Meditative Prayer And Anxiety Essay

Meditative Prayer and Anxiety Disorders

Introduction

The prevalence of prayer, meditation, and other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States has increased in the last few decades (Bystritsky, et. al, 2012). Data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found sixty-two percent of adults utilize some form of CAM in the United States (Barnes et. al., 2004). The most commonly used CAM therapy found were mind-body therapies, which include meditation and the use of prayer for health purposes (Barnes et. al., 2004). Individuals with psychiatric disorders are more likely to use CAM therapies, especially those diagnosed with anxiety

When meditation and spiritual or religious beliefs are combined, it is often referred to as contemplative practice. Contemplative practice arose from ancient “mystical” tradition and emphasizes the spiritual encounters that result from meditation. Individuals who practice contemplative meditation acknowledge a belief in God or a higher power that transcends normal life. Meditating is a way of encountering this ultimate divine spirit, allowing one to experience reality from a completely different frame of reference (Finney & Malony, 1985). Therefore, contemplative practice functions as a means of deepening ones relationship with God or a divine spirit.

Religion and spirituality are viewed as valuable coping strategies for individuals with anxiety disorders. It adds a sense of meaning and purpose to individuals who are struggling with difficult life circumstances, and facilitates psychological integration. It also promotes a positive and optimistic worldview, aids in the acceptance of suffering, and offers a community of support, both with the divine and with other human beings, in order to reduce social isolation and withdrawal. Finally, regardless of financial, physical, or mental circumstances, meditative prayer is available to anyone, at all

This approach is compatible with cognitive reappraisal, a technique used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a way of reducing stress by changing the meaning associated between a person and their environment (Gross, 1998). In contemplative and centering prayer, by deepening one’s relationship with God or a higher power, one is free to experience the world as it as, letting go of expectations and demands. Individuals entrust in God’s healing presence and action, which provides them with inner resources to endure stress and anxiety. Meditative prayer changes how individuals relate to the world by offering one a sense of peace that comes from a deeper spiritual level of awareness (Ferguson, Willemsen, & Castaneto,