Mindfulness for Better Health: Telehealth Therapy Benefits
How Practicing Mindfulness May Support Your Long-Term Physical Health Through Telehealth Therapy
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), mindfulness is “awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings,” which involves focusing on awareness of the present moment.
Mindfulness is well-known as a technique to reduce stress, but research has shown that mindfulness techniques can also enhance physical health. For example, mindfulness practices may address gastrointestinal difficulties, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep issues, chronic pain, and stress reduction. Let’s examine these connections in more detail.
How does mindfulness impact health through telehealth approaches?
Mindfulness meditation, even when practiced through virtual sessions with a licensed clinical social worker, can help people relax, which may benefit their physical and mental wellness. When living with a chronic illness, mental health concerns, or medical conditions, incorporating mindfulness into your telehealth therapy sessions can be a valuable addition to your treatment plan.
Conditions where telehealth mindfulness therapy may help
Below are several conditions for which mindfulness meditation through telehealth therapy may help you experience stress relief and reduction in symptoms:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Sleep disorders or challenges
- Headaches or migraines
- High blood pressure
- Gastrointestinal challenges
- Coping with difficult diagnoses
Chronic pain and mindfulness through telehealth
Chronic pain affects millions of people and can stem from various causes, including genetics, traumatic brain injury, accidents, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some individuals with chronic illnesses experience persistent pain that significantly impacts their daily lives.
Managing your pain effectively is essential regardless of the cause. In addition to following your doctor’s advice regarding medications and treatment, mindfulness practice through telehealth therapy sessions may provide relief.
Research has shown marked improvement in pain perception, mood, and body image concerns through mindfulness programs. One ten-week stress reduction and relaxation program treating 90 people with chronic pain through mindfulness showed reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, with all participants experiencing improvements in their psychological and physical states.
Daily mindfulness practice, guided by a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink’s secure video platform, can make a significant difference. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) integrates meditation and yoga techniques into mental healthcare to help individuals make positive life changes. Research also shows how effective mindfulness practice can be for individuals who experience chronic pain.
Consult professionals before practicing mindfulness
If you’re living with pain and accompanying mental health concerns, consider connecting with a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink’s telehealth platform. Additionally, always consult a medical doctor for any medical challenges or physical symptoms before using mental health methods and lifestyle changes to ensure you’re receiving the most appropriate care.
Mindfulness for obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and heart health
For many people, anxiety isn’t temporary but rather a symptom of a chronic condition like an anxiety disorder. Some individuals ruminate on their thoughts and become preoccupied with worst-case scenarios. Through telehealth sessions, ReachLink’s licensed clinical social workers can teach mindfulness techniques that effectively reduce intense feelings of anxiety and increase productivity.
Anxiety can also contribute to physical health challenges. For example, panic disorder may involve a racing heart (tachycardia), which, if left untreated, could develop into high blood pressure or heart disease. However, treatment for anxiety through telehealth therapy, when integrated with regular mindfulness practice, may make a significant difference.
Gastrointestinal challenges and mindfulness
Recent studies have discovered that meditation may reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and irritable bowel disease (IBD). Research demonstrated that individuals with these conditions who participated in mind-body intervention programs, including yoga and meditation, experienced improvements in their symptoms.
Additional discoveries included findings that meditation could suppress genetics that caused inflammation responsible for aggravating IBS or IBD, indicating how powerful meditation and mindfulness can be. People who practice mindful eating through techniques learned in telehealth sessions may also notice improved digestion or reduced acid reflux.
Substance use recovery and mindfulness
Research shows that mindfulness practice can be beneficial in supporting substance use recovery. Specifically, MBRP (mindfulness-based relapse prevention) supports people in recovery by helping them develop emotional awareness of their dependency and using mindfulness during urges.
When people recognize factors that may prompt dependency urges, they feel more empowered to pause and respond thoughtfully rather than react adversely. This pause helps them remember their coping skills and ground themselves in the present moment.
MBRP focuses on non-judgmental thinking and helps people learn to be gentle with themselves while going through difficult experiences. Through ReachLink’s specialized treatment programs, licensed clinical social workers can guide clients in regular practice of these techniques to support their recovery journey.
Mindfulness for anxiety and depression
Many people living with anxiety and depression experience rumination—struggling to stop thinking about the past or obsessing about how they might have improved past situations. These thoughts may contribute to difficulty sleeping, eating, or socializing. Mindfulness practiced through telehealth therapy may reduce these symptoms.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can help those with anxiety or depression break patterns of rumination. During telehealth sessions, ReachLink’s licensed clinical social workers can guide you in mindfulness practices that help disconnect from obsessive thoughts and feel grounded in reality. These techniques also support non-judgmental thinking and self-compassion.
According to research, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has helped prevent symptom relapse for people with prior episodes of major depression. With MBCT delivered through telehealth, you can learn to observe your thoughts without attaching value to them. Additional studies have confirmed that mindfulness is a significant indicator of reduced stress and anxiety.
Improving sleep quality through telehealth mindfulness therapy
Sleep is crucial for overall wellness, but poor sleeping habits can be challenging to break. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or PTSD may contribute to sleep difficulties. In these cases, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy delivered through ReachLink’s telehealth therapy programs can be especially effective in improving sleep quality. Practicing guided mindfulness exercises before bedtime helps calm the mind and body, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Over time, these practices may reduce the reliance on sleep medications and contribute to more restorative rest, which is essential for maintaining overall health and resilience.
In conclusion, mindfulness practiced through telehealth therapy offers a versatile and accessible tool to support long-term physical and mental health. From managing chronic pain and gastrointestinal issues to reducing anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances, mindfulness techniques can complement traditional medical treatments and empower individuals in their healing journeys.
By integrating mindfulness into telehealth sessions with licensed clinical social workers, clients can receive personalized guidance and develop sustainable habits that enhance well-being in daily life. As healthcare continues to evolve, the blend of telehealth and mindfulness represents a promising path toward holistic and patient-centered care.
Embracing mindfulness through telehealth therapy may be the key step you need to improve your overall quality of life and foster enduring health benefits.
