Mind and body exercises, such as yoga, guided meditation, dance, music, and Tai Chi have helped many individuals reduce stress, feel calmer, and handle life’s challenges more readily. Now NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is adding these types of mindfulness health practices to its Heart & Minds education program.
They have added a “mindfulness” section to their website. The new section includes information pertaining to various holistic techniques that can enhance the standard treatment regimens of people with psychiatric disorders. It also has a short guided meditation video. By doing so, these practices can help facilitate their recovery.
Many individuals who struggle with psychiatric symptoms such as auditory hallucinations, anxiety, or panic attacks have found meditation and other holistic practices to help them feel more in control of their mental health issues. These practices, along with medication, have helped some individuals stay out of the hospital.
These mindfulness practices are not meant to take the place of traditional psychotherapy and medication for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. And what works for one person may not work for another. By providing information on several different mindfulness exercises, NAMI is providing a great service to individuals who are mentally ill.
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Hearts_and_Minds/Mindfulness/Mindfulness_Main.htm
