Mindfulness may seem like the opposite of ADHD, and in some ways it is. At the same time, practicing mindfulness has been shown to be very beneficial for individuals with ADHD.
The Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA summarized research demonstrating the following benefits from varying lengths and intensities of mindfulness meditation for individuals, from kids to older adults, and with and without AD/HD. Here’s what they have found:
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression
- More positive affect
- Improved stress regulation
- Increase feelings of calmness
- Reduced symptoms of AD/HD
- Improved academic functioning
- Better communication between couples
- Increased satisfaction with parenting
- Improved sleep
- Increased antibody production
- Beneficial changes in the brain structure itself
To read the full summary of research, see: Mindfulness Research Summary. Additional research demonstrating benefits of mindfulness for ADHD has been published even since that summary was written.
Curious whether mindfulness meditation might work for you?
It’s easy to find out!
1) Check out the free guided meditations on the Mindfulness Awareness Research Center’s website: some take as little as three minutes to listen to. Then try this: select one you like and use it daily for a week or so. What do you notice?
2) Explore Lidia Zylowska’s book The Mindfulness Prescription for Adult ADHD. It looks at benefits of mindfulness for a wide array of ADHD symptoms and suggests meditations and other mindfulness practices that can help.
3) Want a little more support in exploring how mindfulness might benefit you? Sign up for my nine-session tele-class on mindfulness and ADHD: http://www.lizahmann.com/mindfulness.html (based on Zylowska’s work). We’ll discuss and explore mindfulness and help you build a practice that can lead to results. The next class starts February 3rd, so sign up today!
For individual help in implementing mindfulness or other strategies for improving your life with AD/HD, consider AD/HD Coaching. Call or email me if you are interested in learning more!
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