Anyone try mindfulness meditation?

Hmmm, sounds like bio-feedback combined with the power of positive thinking, combined with meditation, it's gotta work!

Hi Janet,

I read your email with interest. We are actually conducting a NCI funded research study at Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia) on a mindfulness based stress reduction intervention for women with cancer. This intervention incorporates art therapy with all the mindfulness practices you mentioned (body scan, meditation, guided imagery, yoga). A previous study found that the mindfulness based art therapy significantly lowered psychological distress and improved quality of life for women who had been diagnosed with cancer. There is plenty of research that shows the benefits of mindfulness meditation for cancer patients. Wishing all of you all the best.

Aleeze

I like the sound of the art therapy - could you expand a bit please?

Roseinwinter, 

Several years ago, I purchased the Jon Kabat-Zinn book, "Full Catastrophe Living" and accompanying meditation CDs and found them beneficial.  As you know, the author is the doctor that created the Stress Reduction program at Boston to which you're referring.  I live in the Phila area, and earlier this year I took a similar 8-wk program at Univ of Penn, and a good friend of mine took the program offered by Jefferson.  Both programs were very good.  I have continued to practice almost daily, and it has made a big difference in how I feel.  My husband has noticed the change.  I also attend a weekly art therapy class that is offered by my hospital's oncology dept. for free.  It has components of mindfulness.  My hospital recently held a complementary medicine conference, and I attended a session on mindful art therapy.  The art therapist was from Jefferson Hospital, and the session was quite interesting and informative.

Roseinwinter, how cool is that that you got to do the 8-wk program in Boston!  I do agree that consistency and commitment are necessary to reap the benefits of this type of program, but it's definitely worth the effort.  Meditating has done more for me than anything in dealing with the aftermath of BC.  I really feel that I had been traumatized by the lengthy diagnostic process and the painful expansion phase of my reconstruction.  I find that I am dealing better with anxiety, problems with sleep, and with the current pain I am experiencing with one of my implants.  I can't say enough about my art therapy classes as well.  I also attend a monthly BC support group.  For me, creating a safety net of various coping tools and skills and support system has made all the difference in the world.  

Tina 

P.S. -- I can relate to the "ferret on speed" comment.    When I first started doing mindful meditation, I actually felt MORE anxious!  That was because I became more aware of how I was actually feeling.  I knew I was anxious, but wow!!  While I still have episodes of anxiety, they aren't always as intense or as long in duration as previously.  Wish I could magically make it go away, but that's not going to happen.  I'm willing to work on it and see where it takes me.